This is an IELTS writing task 1 sample answer essay on the topic of internet use and average spending online from the real IELTS exam.
Find my full IELTS Ebooks here.
Dave
IELTS Task 1 Essay: Internet Use

The bar chart details the percentage of internet users according to nation and the pie chart delineates how much individuals from those same countries spent on average shopping online. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that Sweden had by far the largest proportion of the population using the internet followed by the UK, German, France, and Spain. There were slight differences in terms of spending as the UK spent the most over Sweden, France, Germany and then Spain, which had a marginal figure overall.
Considering the table firstly, Swedish citizens used the internet most often at 35%. This figure was nearly double the United Kingdom (20%) and each subsequent nation was 5% lower with Germany at 15%, France at 10%, and Spain at 5%.
For spending, the UK had the highest figure (Є87), slightly above Sweden at Є76. There was a large drop to France at Є57 and Germany at Є46. Spain trailed the other nations considerably and residents spent just Є10 per person on average.
Analysis
1. The bar chart details the percentage of internet users according to nation and the pie chart delineates how much individuals from those same countries spent on average shopping online. 2. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that Sweden had by far the largest proportion of the population using the internet followed by the UK, German, France, and Spain. 3. There were slight differences in terms of spending as the UK spent the most over Sweden, France, Germany and then Spain, which had a marginal figure overall.
- Paraphrase what the table shows.
- Write a clear overview summarising the differences.
- You might need another sentence for your overview.
1. Considering the table firstly, Swedish citizens used the internet most often at 35%. 2. This figure was nearly double the United Kingdom (20%) and each subsequent nation was 5% lower with Germany at 15%, France at 10%, and Spain at 5%.
- Begin writing about the data for the first categories.
- Make sure you compare as much as possible.
1. For spending, the UK had the highest figure (Є87), slightly above Sweden at Є76. 2. There was a large drop to France at Є57 and Germany at Є46. 3. Spain trailed the other nations considerably and residents spent just Є10 per person on average.
- Write about the final, other parts of the graph – include everything!
- Compare the categories.
- Don’t leave anything out!
Vocabulary
What do the words in bold below mean? Take some notes on a piece of paper to aid your memory:
The bar chart details the percentage of internet users according to nation and the pie chart delineates how much individuals from those same countries spent on average shopping online. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that Sweden had by far the largest proportion of the population using the internet followed by the UK, German, France, and Spain. There were slight differences in terms of spending as the UK spent the most over Sweden, France, Germany and then Spain, which had a marginal figure overall.
Considering the table firstly, Swedish citizens used the internet most often at 35%. This figure was nearly double the United Kingdom (20%) and each subsequent nation was 5% lower with Germany at 15%, France at 10%, and Spain at 5%.
For spending, the UK had the highest figure (Є87), slightly above Sweden at Є76. There was a large drop to France at Є57 and Germany at Є46. Spain trailed the other nations considerably and residents spent just Є10 per person on average.
Answers
Try to write down or think of an antonym/opposite word for further practice:
details hows
percentage %
internet users people online
according to as it relates to
delineates describes
spent on average shopping online the normal amount of money used to buy items on the internet
Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that overall
by far a lot more than
proportion ratio, percentage
followed by before
slight differences small divergences
in terms of when it comes to
marginal figure overall low numbers in general
considering looking at
nearly double almost twice as much
subsequent after that
lower less than
highest figure biggest number
slightly above a little over
large drop big decline
trailed were behind
considerably much more
residents people living there
per person for each individual
Pronunciation
Practice saying the words below using this tip with Google voice dictation:
ˈdiːteɪlz
pəˈsɛntɪʤ
ˈɪntəˌnɛt ˈjuːzəz
əˈkɔːdɪŋ tuː
dɪˈlɪnɪeɪts
spɛnt ɒn ˈævərɪʤ ˈʃɒpɪŋ ˈɒnˌlaɪn
ˈlʊkɪŋ frɒm ən ˈəʊvərɔːl pəˈspɛktɪv, ɪt ɪz ˈrɛdɪli əˈpærənt ðæt
baɪ fɑː
prəˈpɔːʃən
ˈfɒləʊd baɪ
slaɪt ˈdɪfrənsɪz
ɪn tɜːmz ɒv
ˈmɑːʤɪnəl ˈfɪgər ˈəʊvərɔːl
kənˈsɪdərɪŋ
ˈnɪəli ˈdʌbl
ˈsʌbsɪkwənt
ˈləʊə
ˈhaɪɪst ˈfɪgə
ˈslaɪtli əˈbʌv
lɑːʤ drɒp
treɪld
kənˈsɪdərəbli
ˈrɛzɪdənts
pɜː ˈpɜːsn
Vocabulary Practice
The bar chart d_________s the p____________e of i____________s a_______________o nation and the pie chart d_________s how much individuals from those same countries s_________________________e. L________________________________________________t Sweden had b_______r the largest p___________n of the population using the internet f_____________y the UK, German, France, and Spain. There were s_________________s i______________f spending as the UK spent the most over Sweden, France, Germany and then Spain, which had a m____________________l.
C____________g the table firstly, Swedish citizens used the internet most often at 35%. This figure was n______________e the United Kingdom (20%) and each s______________t nation was 5% l_______r with Germany at 15%, France at 10%, and Spain at 5%.
For spending, the UK had the h_______________e (Є87), s_______________e Sweden at Є76. There was a l___________p to France at Є57 and Germany at Є46. Spain t________d the other nations c_______________y and r___________s spent just Є10 p______________n on average.
Listening Practice
Reading Practice
https://www.wmagazine.com/culture/lorde-internet-addiction-cure
Speaking Practice
Practice with the following related questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:
Shopping
- What do you usually shop for?
- Do you often go to malls?
- Do you shop online a lot?
- How common are shopping centers in your country?
Writing Practice
Practice with the related chart below and then check with my sample answer:

Exceptionally excellent – l’m an ielts and language instructor do believe firmly that ur pedagogy is quite different—- l recommended my students to watch and follow ur channel
Happy to hear that Manjeet – keep working hard for your students!
Hi Dave
I see no date, why are you using the simple past tense instead of the present tense?
Thanks in advance for your answer.
Hi T, for this one, present or past will both be fine – clearly the internet has been used so it implies the past but you are correct that normally when there is no time period, it is best to use present simple.
Hope that helps!
Thank you!
Well I’m student of IELTS so I want to learn something new from here
Great – keep looking around the site then, Tallat!
Hello Dave,
why do you have to mention all countries in your overview? ‘ it is readily apparent that Sweden had by far the largest proportion of the population using the internet followed by the UK, Germany, France, and Spain.’ Instead, can I say just the highest and the lowest here? For example, the proportion of Internet users was by far the highest in Sweden, while the opposite was true for Spain.
Thanks in advance!
Hello, in this essay can we use both past and present tense simultaneously or is it advisable to stick to just one particular tense through out the essay? Either present or past?
I wonder whether we say “considering the table firstly” or “considering the table first”. Could anyone please tell me which one is grammartically correct? Thanks
Hello Dave,
I have been following all your material for some time now, and I believe that your essays are the best. I am trying to imitate your style of writing. Could you give me some advice on how I’m doing so far? Thanks
The bar chart details the number of people using the internet in five countries, while the pie chart compares the mean amount of money spent on online shopping in each country. From an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that the internet is being used the most in Sweden and then the UK. However, the British spend the most on online shopping, and following them are the Swedish. The least amount in both charts belongs to people from Spain.
In terms of internet usage, 35% of Sweden’s population is using the internet, while the amount spent on the internet for shopping purposes per person in this country is 76 €. However, this amount for the UK (the next in line for internet usage (with 20% of the population) is 87€. In Germany, 15% of people use the internet, and their average spending is 46€. The Internet is not as popular in France and Spain. 10% of the former’s population uses the internet, and for the latter, this percentage decreases to 5%. As for the average amount of money spent online, Spain, with an average of 5€ per person, is the least amount among all countries surveyed. However, in France, this number is 57€ which is noticeably high considering the number of people using the internet.
Hi Dave! I have a punctuation question here:
can you use ‘and’ without a comma to link two independent clauses?