This is an IELTS writing task 1 sample answer essay on the topic of British Emigration to selected destinations from 2004 – 2007 (presented in a bar chart).

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IELTS Task 1 Essay: British Emigration

The bar chart provides information comparing emigration out of the UK to 5 countries. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that emigration to Australia was most common throughout the period. Besides Australia, all countries saw decreases in the number of British immigrants.

The countries accepting the most British were Australia and Spain, with the former beginning at over 40,000 in 2004, dipping slightly in 2005, before a surge to over 50,000 in 2006, and a fall back to around 44,000 by the end of the period. In contrast, the latter started at around 34,000, rose imperceptibly the next year, and then declined steadily to finish at under 30,000 in 2007.

The other countries generally remained below 30,000 British emigrants, beginning with New Zealand (falling at steady intervals from 23,000 to 21,000 in 2007) and the USA , which decreased steeply from the same starting point to under 20,000 in 2005, more than recovering to 24,000 and then declining again to 20,000. In France, there was a sharp uptick of 10,000 emigrants to 33,000 in the first year before a precipitous fall to under 20,000, the lowest figure for all nations.

Analysis

1. The bar chart provides information comparing emigration out of the UK to 5 countries. 2. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that emigration to Australia was most common throughout the period. 3. Besides Australia, all countries saw decreases in the number of British immigrants.

1. Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
2. Write a general overview that covers all the main trends.
3. Make sure everything is covered – aim for a 2 setence overview.

1. The countries accepting the most British were Australia and Spain, with the former beginning at over 40,000 in 2004, dipping slightly in 2005, before a surge to over 50,000 in 2006, and a fall back to around 44,000 by the end of the period. 2. In contrast, the latter started at around 34,000, rose imperceptibly the next year, and then declined steadily to finish at under 30,000 in 2007.

1. Begin to include the data.
2. Compare different countries to each other.

1. The other countries generally remained below 30,000 British emigrants, beginning with New Zealand (falling at steady intervals from 23,000 to 21,000 in 2007) and the USA , which decreased steeply from the same starting point to under 20,000 in 2005, more than recovering to 24,000 and then declining again to 20,000. 2. In France, there was a sharp uptick of 10,000 emigrants to 33,000 in the first year before a precipitous fall to under 20,000, the lowest figure for all nations.

1. Describe the rest of the data.
2. Make sure all countries have been covered in full.

Vocabulary

What do the words in bold below mean?

The bar chart provides information comparing emigration out of the UK to 5 countries. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that emigration to Australia was most common throughout the period. Besides Australia, all countries saw decreases in the number of British immigrants.

The countries accepting the most British were Australia and Spain, with the former beginning at over 40,000 in 2004, dipping slightly in 2005, before a surge to over 50,000 in 2006, and a fall back to around 44,000 by the end of the period. In contrast, the latter started at around 34,000, rose imperceptibly the next year, and then declined steadily to finish at under 30,000 in 2007.

The other countries generally remained below 30,000 British emigrants, beginning with New Zealand (falling at steady intervals from 23,000 to 21,000 in 2007) and the USA , which decreased steeply from the same starting point to under 20,000 in 2005, more than recovering to 24,000 and then declining again to 20,000. In France, there was a sharp uptick of 10,000 emigrants to 33,000 in the first year before a precipitous fall to under 20,000, the lowest figure for all nations.

Answers

provides information illustrates

emigration leaving to live in another country

looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that overall

most common happened the most

throughout the period over the whole graph time period

besides also

saw underwent

immigrants people who have left their country

accepting allowing in

with first of all

former country mentioned before

dipping slightly falling a little

surge increase a lot

fall back decrease

by the end of the period by 2007

in contrast in comparison

latter country mentioned second

imperceptibly barely noticeably

declined steadily decreased at steady intervals

finish done, complete

generally remained below overall was under

beginning with starting with

falling at steady intervals decreasing steadily

decreased steeply fell quickly

more than recovering getting back to the numbers from before and more

declining again decreasing a second time

sharp uptick increase quickly

precipitous fall steep decrease

lowest figure for all nations low point for all countries

Pronunciation

prəˈvaɪdz ˌɪnfəˈmeɪʃən 
ˌɛmɪˈgreɪʃən 
ˈlʊkɪŋ frɒm ən ˈəʊvərɔːl pəˈspɛktɪv, ɪt ɪz ˈrɛdɪli əˈpærənt ðæt 
məʊst ˈkɒmən 
θru(ː)ˈaʊt ðə ˈpɪərɪəd
bɪˈsaɪdz 
sɔː 
ˈɪmɪgrənts
əkˈsɛptɪŋ 
wɪð 
ˈfɔːmə 
ˈdɪpɪŋ ˈslaɪtli 
sɜːʤ 
fɔːl bæk 
baɪ ði ɛnd ɒv ðə ˈpɪərɪəd
ɪn ˈkɒntrɑːst
ˈlætə 
ˌɪmpəˈsɛptəbli 
dɪˈklaɪnd ˈstɛdɪli 
ˈfɪnɪʃ 
ˈʤɛnərəli rɪˈmeɪnd bɪˈləʊ 
bɪˈgɪnɪŋ wɪð 
ˈfɔːlɪŋ æt ˈstɛdi ˈɪntəvəlz 
diːˈkriːst ˈstiːpli 
mɔː ðæn rɪˈkʌvərɪŋ 
dɪˈklaɪnɪŋ əˈgɛn 
ʃɑːp ʌptɪk 
prɪˈsɪpɪtəs fɔːl 
ˈləʊɪst ˈfɪgə fɔːr ɔːl ˈneɪʃənz

Vocabulary Practice

Remember and fill in the blanks:

The bar chart p________________________n comparing e______________n out of the UK to 5 countries. L____________________________________________________________t emigration to Australia was m_________________n t_____________________d. B_________s Australia, all countries s___w decreases in the number of British i________________s.

The countries a_____________g the most British were Australia and Spain, w______h the f_________r beginning at over 40,000 in 2004, d________________y in 2005, before a s________e to over 50,000 in 2006, and a f__________k to around 44,000 b__________________________d. I____________t, the l_________r started at around 34,000, rose i___________________y the next year, and then d_____________________y to f__________h at under 30,000 in 2007.

The other countries g______________________w 30,000 British emigrants, b______________________h New Zealand (f___________________________s from 23,000 to 21,000 in 2007) and the USA , which d_____________________y from the same starting point to under 20,000 in 2005, m_______________________g to 24,000 and then d___________________n to 20,000. In France, there was a s________________k of 10,000 emigrants to 33,000 in the first year before a p___________________l to under 20,000, the l____________________________s.

Listening Practice

Learn about immigration to Britain here:

Reading Practice

Learn more about migration trends on the BBC here:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/z8x6wxs/revision/3

Speaking Practice

Practice your speaking with these related questions from the real IELTS exam:

Where you Live

1. Have you lived for a long time in your current city?
2. What kind of a home are you living in?
3. How could your living area be improved?

Writing Practice

Write about the following graph then check with my sample answer:

IELTS Writing Task 1 Sample Answer Essay: UK Households Bar Chart