This is an IELTS writing task 1 sample answer essay on the topic of noise levels in Europe from the real IELTS exam.

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You can find line charts here and bar charts here.

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IELTS Task 1 Essay: Noise Levels in Europe

The bar charts detail noise levels in Europe in 2007 delineated by time of day and rural or urban location. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that traffic was overwhelmingly the main source of noise, followed by trains, aircraft, and finally industry. Noise levels were also higher during the day in both rural and urban areas though cities were generally noisier at all times.

Traffic noise in cities during the day and at night was very common, affecting 64 million and 48 million residents, respectively. Rural figures for traffic noise were approximately half as high at 34 million and 24 million. Turning to noise from trains, in cities, 10 million individuals were impacted in the day and 8 million at night. In rural areas, this data was only slightly lower (8 million and 6 million).

Aircraft and industry accounted for considerably less noise disturbance in 2007 with just 4 million and 1 million affected by flights in cities during the day and at night, in turn. 2 million residents also heard aircrafts at night in the countryside, with half as many aware of daytime flights. In terms of industry, the data for the countryside was negligible and in cities stood at 1 million impacted during days and .25 during nights.

Analysis

1. The bar charts detail noise levels in Europe in 2007 delineated by time of day and rural or urban location. 2. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that traffic was overwhelmingly the main source of noise, followed by trains, aircraft, and finally industry. 3. Noise levels were also higher during the day in both rural and urban areas though cities were generally noisier at all times.

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

1. Traffic noise in cities during the day and at night was very common, affecting 64 million and 48 million residents, respectively. 2. Rural figures for traffic noise were approximately half as high at 34 million and 24 million. 3. Turning to noise from trains, in cities, 10 million individuals were impacted in the day and 8 million at night. 4. In rural areas, this data was only slightly lower (8 million and 6 million).

1. Begin writing about the data for the first categories.
2. Make sure you compare as much as possible.
3. Keep describing and comparing.
4. This one has lots of data so is a little longer than normal.

1. Aircraft and industry accounted for considerably less noise disturbance in 2007 with just 4 million and 1 million affected by flights in cities during the day and at night, in turn. 2. 2 million residents also heard aircrafts at night in the countryside, with half as many aware of daytime flights. 3. In terms of industry, the data for the countryside was negligible and in cities stood at 1 million impacted during days and .25 during nights.

1. Write about the final, other parts of the graph – include everything!
2. Compare the categories.
3. Finish all the data.

Vocabulary

What do the words in bold below mean? Take some notes on a piece of paper to aid your memory:

The bar charts detail noise levels in Europe in 2007 delineated by time of day and rural or urban location. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that traffic was overwhelmingly the main source of noise, followed by trains, aircraft, and finally industry. Noise levels were also higher during the day in both rural and urban areas though cities were generally noisier at all times.

Traffic noise in cities during the day and at night was very common, affecting 64 million and 48 million residents, respectively. Rural figures for traffic noise were approximately half as high at 34 million and 24 million. Turning to noise from trains, in cities, 10 million individuals were impacted in the day and 8 million at night. In rural areas, this data was only slightly lower (8 million and 6 million).

Aircraft and industry accounted for considerably less noise disturbance in 2007 with just 4 million and 1 million affected by flights in cities during the day and at night, in turn. 2 million residents also heard aircrafts at night in the countryside, with half as many aware of daytime flights. In terms of industry, the data for the countryside was negligible and in cities stood at 1 million impacted during days and .25 during nights.

Answers

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

detail show

noise how loud it is

delineated describe, detail

rural countryside

urban location from cities

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

overwhelmingly a lot more

main source where most comes from

aircraft planes

industry business, factories, etc.

higher larger than

though despite

generally overall

at all times always

common prevalent

affecting impacting

respectively in turn

figures data

approximately about

half as high 50%

Turning to next

impacted affected

slightly lower a lot less

accounted for was reported at

considerably less a lot less

disturbance being annoyed by

in turn respectively

residents people

heard listened to

half as many 50% as much

aware know about

In terms of concerning

negligible not important at all

stood at was at

Pronunciation

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

ˈdiːteɪl 
nɔɪz 
dɪˈlɪnɪeɪtɪd 
ˈrʊərəl 
ˈɜːbən ləʊˈkeɪʃən
ˈlʊkɪŋ frɒm ən ˈəʊvərɔːl pəˈspɛktɪv, ɪt ɪz ˈrɛdɪli əˈpærənt ðæt ˈtræfɪk 
ˌəʊvəˈwɛlmɪŋli 
meɪn sɔːs 
ˈeəkrɑːft
ˈɪndəstri
ˈhaɪə 
ðəʊ 
ˈʤɛnərəli 
æt ɔːl taɪmz
ˈkɒmən
əˈfɛktɪŋ 
rɪsˈpɛktɪvli
ˈfɪgəz 
əˈprɒksɪmɪtli 
hɑːf æz haɪ 
ˈtɜːnɪŋ tuː 
ɪmˈpæktɪd 
ˈslaɪtli ˈləʊə 
əˈkaʊntɪd fɔː 
kənˈsɪdərəbli lɛs 
dɪsˈtɜːbəns 
ɪn tɜːn
ˈrɛzɪdənts 
hɜːd 
hɑːf æz ˈmɛni 
əˈweə 
ɪn tɜːmz ɒv 
ˈnɛglɪʤəbl 
stʊd æt 

Vocabulary Practice

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

The bar charts d________l n_____e levels in Europe in 2007 d___________d by time of day and r____l or u___________n. L_______________________________________________t t_______c was o____________y the m_________e of noise, followed by trains, a_______t, and finally i____y. Noise levels were also h______r during the day in both rural and urban areas t_______h cities were g_________y noisier a________s.

Traffic noise in cities during the day and at night was very c_______n, a______g 64 million and 48 million residents, r___________y. Rural f______s for traffic noise were a________________y h_____________h at 34 million and 24 million. T____________o noise from trains, in cities, 10 million individuals were i_________d in the day and 8 million at night. In rural areas, this data was only s___________r (8 million and 6 million).

Aircraft and industry a_______________r c___________________s noise d___________e in 2007 with just 4 million and 1 million affected by flights in cities during the day and at night, i_____n. 2 million r____________s also h________d aircrafts at night in the countryside, with h________________y a________e of daytime flights. I____________f industry, the data for the countryside was n_____________e and in cities s___________t 1 million impacted during days and .25 during nights.

Listening Practice

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

Reading Practice

Read more and use these ideas to practice:

Noise pollution map shows worst affected areas in London

Speaking Practice

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

Noise

1. Do you live in a noisy area?
2. How often to do overhear other people’s conversations?
3. Would you like to live in a quiter place?
4. Where are the noisiest places in your country?

Writing Practice

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

IELTS Essay: Airline Ticket Prices