This is my IELTS writing task 1 sample answer essay on the topic of household and leisure activities featuring a table and a bar chart.

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IELTS Task 1: Household and Leisure Activities

The given charts illustrate household and leisure activities among men and women in terms of average minutes each day. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that women spent far more time on household chores, with the exception of time spent on repairs. In terms of leisure activities, both sexes were far more likely to watch television, video, or listen to the radio, and figures for reading and sport were relatively comparable.

Regarding activities in the household, women spent more than twice the amount of time cooking and washing and washing clothes and ironing (78 minutes to 30 minutes and 30 minutes to 10 minutes). The difference in time spent shopping was less extreme at 25 minutes for men and 37 minutes for women. In contrast, men spent double the time on repairs per day (19 minutes) to women (9 minutes).

For leisure time, the data for TV, video, and radio were surveyed at 137 minutes for males and 118 minutes for females. Other free time activities included reading (18 minutes for men and 19 minutes for women) and sport, 15 minutes and 11 minutes for men and women, respectively.

Analysis

1. The given charts illustrate household and leisure activities among men and women in terms of average minutes each day. 2. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that women spent far more time on household chores, with the exception of time spent on repairs. 3. In terms of leisure activities, both sexes were far more likely to watch television, video, or listen to the radio, and figures for reading and sport were relatively comparable.

1. Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
2. Write a clear overview.
3. Your overview should be two sentences.

1. Regarding activities in the household, women spent more than twice the amount of time cooking and washing and washing clothes and ironing (78 minutes to 30 minutes and 30 minutes to 10 minutes). 2. The difference in time spent shopping was less extreme at 25 minutes for men and 37 minutes for women. 3. In contrast, men spent double the time on repairs per day (19 minutes) to women (9 minutes).

1. Begin describing the data.
2. Make sure that you compare between sentences.
3. And include as much data as possible.

1. For leisure time, the data for TV, video, and radio were surveyed at 137 minutes for males and 118 minutes for females. 2. Other free time activities included reading (18 minutes for men and 19 minutes for women) and sport, 15 minutes and 11 minutes for men and women, respectively.

1. Switch to the other table.
2. Vary short and long sentences.

Vocabulary

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

The given charts illustrate household and leisure activities among men and women in terms of average minutes each day. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that women spent far more time on household chores, with the exception of time spent on repairs. In terms of leisure activities, both sexes were far more likely to watch television, video, or listen to the radio, and figures for reading and sport were relatively comparable.

Regarding activities in the household, women spent more than twice the amount of time cooking and washing and washing clothes and ironing (78 minutes to 30 minutes and 30 minutes to 10 minutes). The difference in time spent shopping was less extreme at 25 minutes for men and 37 minutes for women. In contrast, men spent double the time on repairs per day (19 minutes) to women (9 minutes).

For leisure time, the data for TV, video, and radio were surveyed at 137 minutes for males and 118 minutes for females. Other free time activities included reading (18 minutes for men and 19 minutes for women) and sport, 15 minutes and 11 minutes for men and women, respectively.

Answers

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

The given charts illustrate – The provided graphs depict

average minutes each day – the mean number of minutes per day

Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that – From an overall standpoint, it is immediately clear that

spent far more time on household chores – devoted significantly more time to domestic tasks

with the exception of – apart from

repairs – maintenance work

In terms of – With regard to

sexes – genders

far more likely to – considerably more inclined to

figures – statistics

relatively comparable – fairly similar

Regarding activities in – Concerning activities in

more than twice the amount of time – over twice as much time

The difference in time – The disparity in time

less extreme at – less pronounced at

In contrast – By comparison

double the time – two times as much time

surveyed at – recorded at

included – comprised

respectively – in that order

Pronunciation

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

ðə ˈɡɪvᵊn ʧɑːts ˈɪləstreɪt

ˈævᵊrɪʤ ˈmɪnɪts iːʧ deɪ

ˈlʊkɪŋ frɒm ən ˌəʊvəˈrɔːl pəˈspɛktɪv, ɪt ɪz ˈrɛdɪli əˈpærᵊnt ðæt

spɛnt fɑː mɔː taɪm ɒn ˈhaʊshəʊld ʧɔːz

wɪð ði ɪkˈsɛpʃᵊn ɒv

rɪˈpeəz

ɪn tɜːmz ɒv

ˈsɛksɪz

fɑː mɔː ˈlaɪkli tuː

ˈfɪɡəz

ˈrɛlətɪvli ˈkɒmpᵊrəbᵊl

rɪˈɡɑːdɪŋ ækˈtɪvətiz ɪn

mɔː ðæn twaɪs ði əˈmaʊnt ɒv taɪm

ðə ˈdɪfᵊrᵊns ɪn taɪm

lɛs ɪkˈstriːm æt

ɪn ˈkɒntrɑːst

ˈdʌbᵊl ðə taɪm

ˈsɜːveɪd æt

ɪnˈkluːdɪd

rɪˈspɛktɪvli

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 ___________ illustrate household and leisure activities among men and women in terms of average ____________ day. Looking ______________________________________ that women spent _________________________________ chores, with _____________ of time spent on r______s. In _______of leisure activities, both s______s were far __________ to watch television, video, or listen to the radio, and f______s for reading and sport were relatively _____________e.

Regarding ____________in the household, women spent more _________________________ time cooking and washing and washing clothes and ironing (78 minutes to 30 minutes and 30 minutes to 10 minutes). The __________________ time spent shopping was less ____________at 25 minutes for men and 37 minutes for women. In _________t, men spent double _____ time on repairs per day (19 minutes) to women (9 minutes).

For leisure time, the data for TV, video, and radio were surveyed ___t 137 minutes for males and 118 minutes for females. Other free time activities i________d reading (18 minutes for men and 19 minutes for women) and sport, 15 minutes and 11 minutes for men and women, r__________y.

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:

Working husbands in U.S. have more leisure time than working wives do, especially among those with children

Speaking Practice

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

Evenings

1. Do you prefer studying in the morning or in the afternoon?

2. What do you usually do in the evening?

3. What did you do in the evening when you were little? Why?

4. Are there any differences between what you do in the evening now and what you did in the past?

Writing Practice

Practice with the related IELTS essay topic:

IELTS Cambridge 18: Households Annual Income