This is an IELTS writing task 1 sample answer essay on the topic of the world’s forests and timber from the real exam.

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IELTS Essay Task 1: The World’s Forests

The pie charts give information about the world’s forest in five different regions.

Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

The pie charts detail information about the world’s forests and timber according to continent. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that most of the world’s forests are in Africa and North America, followed by Europe, South America, and lastly Asia. In contrast, Africa possesses the least timber while North America has the most.

Looking first of all at North America and Africa, the former continent represents 25% of the world’s forest and the latter 27%. In terms of timber, the figure is slightly higher for North America (30%) and drastically lower for Africa (9%).

Forest and timber ratios are more even in the other regions. European nations contain 18% of the world’s forests and 20% of its timber. South America is marginally lower at 16% for forests and moderately higher at 23% for timber. Finally, Asian forests constitute 14% of the global total and 18% of all timber.

Analysis

1. The pie charts detail information about the world’s forests and timber according to continent. 2. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that most of the world’s forests are in Africa and North America, followed by Europe, South America, and lastly Asia. 3. In contrast, Africa possesses the least timber while North America has the most.

1. Paraphrase what the table shows.
2. Write a clear overview summarising the differences.
3. You might need another sentence for your overview.

1. Looking first of all at North America and Africa, the former continent represents 25% of the world’s forest and the latter 27%. 2. In terms of timber, the figure is slightly higher for North America (30%) and drastically lower for Africa (9%).

1. Begin writing about the data for the first categories.
2. Make sure you compare as much as possible.

1. Forest and timber ratios are more even in the other regions. 2. European nations contain 18% of the world’s forests and 20% of its timber. 3. South America is marginally lower at 16% for forests and moderately higher at 23% for timber. 4. Finally, Asian forests constitute 14% of the global total and 18% of all timber.

1. Write about the final, other parts of the graph – include everything!
2. Compare the categories.
3. Keep adding more data.
4. 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 pie charts detail information about the world’s forests and timber according to continent. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that most of the world’s forests are in Africa and North America, followed by Europe, South America, and lastly Asia. In contrast, Africa possesses the least timber while North America has the most.

Looking first of all at North America and Africa, the former continent represents 25% of the world’s forest and the latter 27%. In terms of timber, the figure is slightly higher for North America (30%) and drastically lower for Africa (9%).

Forest and timber ratios are more even in the other regions. European nations contain 18% of the world’s forests and 20% of its timber. South America is marginally lower at 16% for forests and moderately higher at 23% for timber. Finally, Asian forests constitute 14% of the global total and 18% of all timber.

Answers

Try to write down or think of an antonym/opposite word for further practice:

detail information about shows data for

forests the woods

timber wood that is cut down and sold

according to regarding

continent Africa, Asia, etc.

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

followed by after that

lastly finally

In contrast in comparison

the least the lowest amount

while however

looking first of all at considering firstly

former mentioned first

represents accounts for

latter mentioned second

In terms of regarding

slightly higher for a little above

drastically lower a lot lower

ratios proportions

even equal

other regions different places

European nations contain countries in Europe have

marginally lower a little less

moderately higher a little above

constitute make up

the global total the world’s entire figure

Pronunciation

Practice saying the words below using this tip with Google voice dictation:

ˈdiːteɪl ˌɪnfəˈmeɪʃən əˈbaʊt 
ˈfɒrɪsts 
ˈtɪmbə 
əˈkɔːdɪŋ tuː 
ˈkɒntɪnənt
ˈlʊkɪŋ frɒm ən ˈəʊvərɔːl pəˈspɛktɪv, ɪt ɪz ˈrɛdɪli əˈpærənt ðæt 
ˈfɒləʊd baɪ 
ˈlɑːstli 
ɪn ˈkɒntrɑːst
ðə liːst 
waɪl 
ˈlʊkɪŋ fɜːst ɒv ɔːl æt 
ˈfɔːmə 
ˌrɛprɪˈzɛnts 
ˈlætə 
ɪn tɜːmz ɒv 
ˈslaɪtli ˈhaɪə fɔː 
ˈdræstɪk(ə)li ˈləʊə 
ˈreɪʃɪəʊz 
ˈiːvən 
ˈʌðə ˈriːʤənz
ˌjʊərəˈpi(ː)ən ˈneɪʃənz kənˈteɪn 
ˈmɑːʤɪnəli ˈləʊə 
ˈmɒdərɪtli ˈhaɪə 
ˈkɒnstɪtjuːt 
ðə ˈgləʊbəl ˈtəʊtl 

Vocabulary Practice

Remember and fill in the blanks. Note it on a piece of paper so you can remember better:

The pie charts d__________________________t the world’s f_________s and t_______r a_________________________t. L_________________________________________________________t most of the world’s forests are in Africa and North America, f______________y Europe, South America, and l________y Asia. I__________t, Africa possesses t_________t timber w____e North America has the most.

L____________________t North America and Africa, the f________r continent r_________s 25% of the world’s forest and the l________r 27%. I__________f timber, the figure is s_____________________r North America (30%) and d_______________r for Africa (9%).

Forest and timber r________s are more e___n in the o______________s. E____________________________n 18% of the world’s forests and 20% of its timber. South America is m_______________r at 16% for forests and m________________r at 23% for timber. Finally, Asian forests c____________e 14% of t_______________l and 18% of all timber.

Listening Practice

Listen to the related topic below and practice with these activities:

Reading Practice

Read more and use these ideas to practice:

https://www.travelandleisure.com/trip-ideas/nature-travel/most-beautiful-forests-in-the-world

Speaking Practice

Practice with the following related questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:

Outdoors

1. Did you like to go outdoors when you were younger?
2. Do you still go outdoors a lot now?
3. Do you like reading outside?
4. Where do people in your country like to go outside?

Writing Practice

Practice with the related chart below and then check with my sample answer:

IELTS Writing Task 1 Sample Answer: Working Pie Charts (Real Past IELTS Exam/Test)