This is my IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of women in employment.

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IELTS Task 1 Essay: Women in Employment

The line chart details the percentages for females working in various countries around the world from ages of 15 to 64. Looking from a general perspective, it is readily apparent that employment rose in all nations except for Iceland, where there was a marginal decline, and Turkey, where the percentage was stable overall. The three more developed nations also generally registered higher employment percentages compared to Chile and Turkey.

In 2003, there were approximately 10% differences in the figures for female employment in Iceland, Canada and Germany at 81%, 69%, and 59%, respectively. Over the next 4 years, these percentages were generally stable before Canadian employment began to diverge upwards to finish at 65% in 2009 and Iceland experienced the inverse trend dropping to end at 78%. Canada was more stable and concluded the period at precisely 70%.

In contrast, Chile and Turkeys’ female employment ratios were lower throughout with the former beginning at 35% and plateauing just above 40% for the remainder of the surveyed timeframe. The latter, in comparison, fell from 25% in 2003 to near 20% in the middle years of the period, before a full recovery in the final year.

Analysis

1. The line chart details the percentages for females working in various countries around the world from ages of 15 to 64. 2. Looking from a general perspective, it is readily apparent that employment rose in all nations except for Iceland, where there was a marginal decline, and Turkey, where the percentage was stable overall. 3. The three more developed nations also generally registered higher employment percentages compared to Chile and Turkey.

1. Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
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 2003, there were approximately 10% differences in the figures for female employment in Iceland, Canada and Germany at 81%, 69%, and 59%, respectively. 2. Over the next 4 years, these percentages were generally stable before Canadian employment began to diverge upwards to finish at 65% in 2009 and Iceland experienced the inverse trend dropping to end at 78%. 3. Canada was more stable and concluded the period at precisely 70%.

1. Begin writing about the data for the first categories.
2. Compare between each sentence.
3. Vary short and long sentences.

1. In contrast, Chile and Turkeys’ female employment ratios were lower throughout with the former beginning at 35% and plateauing just above 40% for the remainder of the surveyed timeframe. 2. The latter, in comparison, fell from 25% in 2003 to near 20% in the middle years of the period, before a full recovery in the final year.

1. Write about the final other parts of the graph – include everything!
2. The paragraphs should be about equal length.

Vocabulary

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

The line chart details the percentages for females working in various countries around the world from ages of 15 to 64. Looking from a general perspective, it is readily apparent that employment rose in all nations except for Iceland, where there was a marginal decline, and Turkey, where the percentage was stable overall. The three more developed nations also generally registered higher employment percentages compared to Chile and Turkey.

In 2003, there were approximately 10% differences in the figures for female employment in Iceland, Canada and Germany at 81%, 69%, and 59%, respectively. Over the next 4 years, these percentages were generally stable before Canadian employment began to diverge upwards to finish at 65% in 2009 and Iceland experienced the inverse trend dropping to end at 78%. Canada was more stable and concluded the period at precisely 70%.

In contrast, Chile and Turkeys’ female employment ratios were lower throughout with the former beginning at 35% and plateauing just above 40% for the remainder of the surveyed timeframe. The latter, in comparison, fell from 25% in 2003 to near 20% in the middle years of the period, before a full recovery in the final year.

Answers

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

Here are synonymous phrases for each line:

1. Details the percentages for various countries around the world from
   • Provides the distribution of percentages across different nations globally from
2. Looking from a general perspective, it is readily apparent that
   • From a broader viewpoint, it is clear that
3. Rose in all nations except for
   • Increased in every country except for
4. A marginal decline
   • A slight decrease
5. The percentage was stable overall
   • The proportion remained consistent overall
6. More developed nations
   • Economically advanced countries
7. Generally registered higher employment percentages compared to
   • Typically showed greater employment rates in comparison to
8. Approximately
   • Around
9. The figures for
   • The data for
10. Respectively
    • In the same order
11. Generally stable
    • Largely consistent
12. Diverge upwards to finish at
    • Increase and conclude at
13. Experienced the inverse trend, dropping to end at
    • Followed the opposite pattern, falling to conclude at
14. Concluded the period at precisely
    • Ended the period at exactly
15. In contrast
    • Conversely
16. Ratios
    • Proportions
17. Lower throughout with the former beginning at
    • Consistently lower, starting at
18. Plateauing just above
    • Stabilizing just above
19. The remainder of the surveyed timeframe
    • The rest of the observed period
20. The latter
    • The second one
21. In comparison
    • When compared
22. Near
    • Close to
23. In the middle years of the period
    • During the middle part of the timeframe
24. Before a full recovery in the final year
    • Prior to a complete rebound in the last year

Pronunciation

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

ˈdiːteɪlz ðə pəˈsɛntɪʤɪz fɔː
ˈveəriəs ˈkʌntriz əˈraʊnd ðə wɜːld frɒm
ˈlʊkɪŋ frɒm ə ˈʤɛnᵊrᵊl pəˈspɛktɪv, ɪt ɪz ˈrɛdɪli əˈpærᵊnt ðæt
rəʊz ɪn ɔːl ˈneɪʃᵊnz ɪkˈsɛpt fɔː
ə ˈmɑːʤɪnᵊl dɪˈklaɪn
ðə pəˈsɛntɪʤ wɒz ˈsteɪbᵊl ˌəʊvəˈrɔːl
mɔː dɪˈvɛləpt ˈneɪʃᵊnz
ˈʤɛnᵊrᵊli ˈrɛʤɪstəd ˈhaɪər ɪmˈplɔɪmənt pəˈsɛntɪʤɪz kəmˈpeəd tuː
əˈprɒksɪmətli
ðə ˈfɪɡəz fɔː
rɪˈspɛktɪvli
ˈʤɛnᵊrᵊli ˈsteɪbᵊl
daɪˈvɜːʤ ˈʌpwədz tuː ˈfɪnɪʃ æt
ɪkˈspɪəriənst ði ɪnˈvɜːs trɛnd ˈdrɒpɪŋ tuː ɛnd æt
kənˈkluːdɪd ðə ˈpɪəriəd æt prɪˈsaɪsli
ɪn ˈkɒntrɑːst
ˈreɪʃiəʊz
ˈləʊə θruːˈaʊt wɪð ðə ˈfɔːmə bɪˈɡɪnɪŋ æt
ˈplætəʊɪŋ ʤʌst əˈbʌv
ðə rɪˈmeɪndər ɒv ðə ˈsɜːveɪd ˈtaɪmˌfreɪm
ðə ˈlætə
ɪn kəmˈpærɪsᵊn
nɪə
ɪn ðə ˈmɪdᵊl jɪəz ɒv ðə ˈpɪəriəd
bɪˈfɔːr ə fʊl rɪˈkʌvᵊri ɪn ðə ˈfaɪnᵊl jɪə

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 line chart d_________________________r females working in v________________________________m ages of 15 to 64. L_____________________________________________________t employment r________________________________r Iceland, where there was a________________________________e, and Turkey, where t____________________________l. The three m______________________s also g______________________________________________________________________o Chile and Turkey.

In 2003, there were a___________y 10% differences in t_____________r female employment in Iceland, Canada and Germany at 81%, 69%, and 59%, r____________y. Over the next 4 years, these percentages were g____________e before Canadian employment began to d_____________________t 65% in 2009 and Iceland e___________________________________________________t 78%. Canada was more stable and c____________________________y 70%.

I_____________t, Chile and Turkeys’ female employment r______s were l_________________________________________________t 35% and p__________________e 40% for t______________________________________e. T_________r, i___________n, fell from 25% in 2003 to n____r 20% i__________________________________d, b_________________________________r.

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:

The history of women’s work and wages and how it has created success for us all

Speaking Practice

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

Work (alternate)

What do you do for work?

What are your responsibilities?

Is there some other kind of work you would rather do?