This is an IELTS writing task 1 sample answer essay on the topic of UK residents visits from the real IELTS exam.

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IELTS Task 1: UK Residents Visits

The charts detail the percentages and numbers for visitors to and from the UK from 1979 to 1999. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that both travel directions increased, in particular those leaving the UK. Among the most popular destinations, nearby countries in western Europe were most common, followed distantly by the United States and locales further away in eastern Europe.

In 1979, around 12 million UK citizens travelled abroad, a data point that rose steadily to reach 10 million by 1986 before a surge to 30 million over the next year. From 1988, there was a precipitous and consistent climb until a peak of 55 million in 1999 was recorded. The number of individuals coming to the UK grew at steady intervals as well, though to a much less extent as these statistics more than doubled from 10 million at the beginning of the period to approximately 22 million by the end.

In terms of the preferred destinations, most English people travelled to France (14 million), followed by Spain (13 million) and then the United States, Greece and Turkey all received under 3 million visitors.

Analysis

1. The charts detail the percentages and numbers for visitors to and from the UK from 1979 to 1999. 2. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that both travel directions increased, in particular those leaving the UK. 3. Among the most popular destinations, nearby countries in western Europe were most common, followed distantly by the United States and locales further away in eastern Europe.

1. Paraphrase what the bar chart shows.
2. Write a clear overview summarising the differences and the overall trend.
3. This one is a little complex so it needs a second sentence for the overview.

1. In 1979, around 12 million UK citizens travelled abroad, a data point that rose steadily to reach 10 million by 1986 before a surge to 30 million over the next year. 2. From 1988, there was a precipitous and consistent climb until a peak of 55 million in 1999 was recorded. 3. The number of individuals coming to the UK grew at steady intervals as well, though to a much less extent as these statistics more than doubled from 10 million at the beginning of the period to approximately 22 million by the end.

1. Begin writing about the data for the first categories.
2. Compare between each sentence.
3. Include all the data.

1. In terms of the preferred destinations, most English people travelled to France (14 million), followed by Spain (13 million) and then the United States, Greece and Turkey all received under 3 million visitors.

1. Write about the final other parts of the graph – include everything!

Vocabulary

What do the words in bold below mean? Make some notes on paper to aid memory and then check below.

The charts detail the percentages and numbers for visitors to and from the UK from 1979 to 1999. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that both travel directions increased, in particular those leaving the UK. Among the most popular destinations, nearby countries in western Europe were most common, followed distantly by the United States and locales further away in eastern Europe.

In 1979, around 12 million UK citizens travelled abroad, a data point that rose steadily to reach 10 million by 1986 before a surge to 30 million over the next year. From 1988, there was a precipitous and consistent climb until a peak of 55 million in 1999 was recorded. The number of individuals coming to the UK grew at steady intervals as well, though to a much less extent as these statistics more than doubled from 10 million at the beginning of the period to approximately 22 million by the end.

In terms of the preferred destinations, most English people travelled to France (14 million), followed by Spain (13 million) and then the United States, Greece and Turkey all received under 3 million visitors.

Answers

For extra practice, write an antonym (opposite word) on a piece of paper to help you remember the new vocabulary:

detail show

percentages proportions

numbers figures

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

travel directions increased going to and from went up

in particular especially

Among concerning / within

destinations places you are going to

nearby next to

common prevalent

followed distantly by after that a lot further behind

locales further away in destinations a greater distance from that

abroad in other countries

data point figure

rose steadily to reach went up a lot to get to

before a surge to prior to a big increase to

precipitous and consistent climb until a peak of fast and stead rise to a high point of

recorded detailed

at steady intervals consistently

though to a much less extent not as much

more than doubled 200%+

at the beginning of the period to approximately from the start to around

by the end towards the final year

In terms of concerning

preferred destinations place you want to go

followed by after that

received under got less than

Pronunciation

Practice saying the vocabulary below and use this tip about Google voice search:

diːteɪl 
pəˈsɛntɪʤɪz 
ˈnʌmbəz 
ˈlʊkɪŋ frɒm ən ˈəʊvərɔːl pəˈspɛktɪv, ɪt ɪz ˈrɛdɪli əˈpærᵊnt ðæt 
ˈtrævᵊl daɪˈrɛkʃᵊnz ɪnˈkriːst
ɪn pəˈtɪkjələ 
əˈmʌŋ 
ˌdɛstɪˈneɪʃᵊnz 
ˈnɪəbaɪ 
ˈkɒmən 
ˈfɒləʊd ˈdɪstᵊntli baɪ 
ləʊˈkɑːlz ˈfɜːðər əˈweɪ ɪn 
əˈbrɔːd 
ˈdeɪtə pɔɪnt 
rəʊz ˈstɛdɪli tuː riːʧ 
bɪˈfɔːr ə sɜːʤ tuː 
prɪˈsɪpɪtəs ænd kənˈsɪstᵊnt klaɪm ənˈtɪl ə piːk ɒv 
rɪˈkɔːdɪd 
æt ˈstɛdi ˈɪntəvᵊlz 
ðəʊ tuː ə mʌʧ lɛs ɪkˈstɛnt 
mɔː ðæn ˈdʌbᵊld 
æt ðə bɪˈɡɪnɪŋ ɒv ðə ˈpɪəriəd tuː əˈprɒksɪmɪtli 
baɪ ði ɛnd 
ɪn tɜːmz ɒv 
prɪˈfɜːd ˌdɛstɪˈneɪʃᵊnz 
ˈfɒləʊd baɪ 
rɪˈsiːvd ˈʌndə

Vocabulary Practice

I recommend getting a pencil and piece of paper because that aids memory. Then write down the missing vocabulary from my sample answer in your notebook:

The charts d____l the p__________s and n__________s for visitors to and from the UK from 1979 to 1999. L______________________________________________________t both t______________________________d, i_____________r those leaving the UK. A______g the most popular d____________s, n_________y countries in western Europe were most c___________n, f___________________________y the United States and l____________________________n eastern Europe.

In 1979, around 12 million UK citizens travelled a________d, a d_________t that r_______________________h 10 million by 1986 b____________o 30 million over the next year. From 1988, there was a p____________________________________f 55 million in 1999 was r_________d. The number of individuals coming to the UK grew a_________________________s as well, t_____________________________t as these statistics m_________________d from 10 million a______________________________________y 22 million b___________d.

I____________f the p______________________s, most English people travelled to France (14 million), f_________________y Spain (13 million) and then the United States, Greece and Turkey all r__________________r 3 million visitors.

Listening Practice

Learn more about this topic by watching from YouTube below and practice with these activities:

Reading Practice

Read more about this topic and use these ideas to practice:

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attractions-g186216-Activities-United_Kingdom.html

Speaking Practice

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

Your Home Nation/Country

1. Where are you from?
2. What do you like the most about your country?
3. Where would you like to live in your country?
4. Are people in your country patriotic?

Writing Practice

Practice with the related IELTS chart below:

IELTS Task 1: Foreign Tourists Visiting a Country