This is an IELTS writing task 1 sample answer essay on the topic of a comparison of the number of jobs in three different industries in the United States.

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IELTS Task 1: Number of Jobs

The line chart shows trends in terms of employment in the USA in millions and predictions for the future.

The line chart details the number of individuals working in manufacturing, services, and agriculture over a 50-year period in the United States. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that agriculture has and will continue to decline greatly from being the most to least common occupation, while the opposite is true for service jobs. The trend for manufacturing is less consistent though it is anticipated to be roughly stable overall.

In 1975, the vast majority of workers (60 million) were farmers, a figure in stark contrast to those in manufacturing (9 million) and agriculture (10 million). After a two-year period with little change for all jobs, there was a steep decline in the number of agricultural workers to 42 million by 1979. In the same year, the data for service workers began to rise consistently, with an expected peak of 90 million by 2025.

In comparison, workers in agriculture have fallen at varying rates and the final statistic is anticipated to be just over 10 million by 2025. The number for manufacturing rose to 40 million in 1980, where the figures for all categories converged, before a rapid decline that will continue to 2025 and end at 10 million.

Analysis

1. The line chart details the number of individuals working in manufacturing, services, and agriculture over a 50-year period in the United States. 2. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that agriculture has and will continue to decline greatly from being the most to least common occupation, while the opposite is true for service jobs. 3. The trend for manufacturing is less consistent though it is anticipated to be roughly stable overall.

  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 1975, the vast majority of workers (60 million) were farmers, a figure in stark contrast to those in manufacturing (9 million) and agriculture (10 million). 2. After a two-year period with little change for all jobs, there was a steep decline in the number of agricultural workers to 42 million by 1979. 3. In the same year, the data for service workers began to rise consistently, with an expected peak of 90 million by 2025.

  1. Begin writing about the data for the first categories.
  2. Compare between each sentence.
  3. Add as much detail as possible.

1. In comparison, workers in agriculture have fallen at varying rates and the final statistic is anticipated to be just over 10 million by 2025. 2. The number for manufacturing rose to 40 million in 1980, where the figures for all categories converged, before a rapid decline that will continue to 2025 and end at 10 million.

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

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 number of individuals working in manufacturing, services, and agriculture over a 50-year period in the United States. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that agriculture has and will continue to decline greatly from being the most to least common occupation, while the opposite is true for service jobs. The trend for manufacturing is less consistent though it is anticipated to be roughly stable overall.

In 1975, the vast majority of workers (60 million) were farmers, a figure in stark contrast to those in manufacturing (9 million) and agriculture (10 million). After a two-year period with little change for all jobs, there was a steep decline in the number of agricultural workers to 42 million by 1979. In the same year, the data for service workers began to rise consistently, with an expected peak of 90 million by 2025.

In comparison, workers in agriculture have fallen at varying rates and the final statistic is anticipated to be just over 10 million by 2025. The number for manufacturing rose to 40 million in 1980, where the figures for all categories converged, before a rapid decline that will continue to 2025 and end at 10 million.

Answers

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

details shows

manufacturing making of things, production

services doing things such as driving a taxi or working in a restaurant

agriculture farming

50-year period over 50 years

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

has and will continue to decline greatly in the past and the future will keep going

the most to least common occupation happens a lot to doesn’t happen much

while the opposite is true for the converse is the case for

trend pattern

less consistent though not as steady however

anticipated expected

roughly stable overall about the same by the end

the vast majority of most of

a figure in stark contrast to a number completely different from

steep decline big fall

agricultural related to farming

In the same year also that year

consistently steadily

an expected peak of an anticipated high point of

In comparison in contrast

fallen dropped

varying rates different patterns of change

final statistic last number

anticipated to be just over expected to be a bit above

rose increased

where the figures for all categories converged at the point in which all numbers are the same

before a rapid decline prior to a big fall

end at finished finally at

Pronunciation

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

ˈdiːteɪlz 
ˌmænjʊˈfækʧərɪŋ 
ˈsɜːvɪsɪz 
ˈæɡrɪkʌlʧə 
fɪftɪ: jɪə ˈpɪərɪəd 
ˈlʊkɪŋ frɒm ən ˈəʊvərɔːl pəˈspɛktɪvɪt ɪz ˈrɛdɪli əˈpærənt ðæt 
hæz ænd wɪl kənˈtɪnjuː tuː dɪˈklaɪn ˈɡreɪtli 
ðə məʊst tuː liːst ˈkɒmən ˌɒkjʊˈpeɪʃᵊn
waɪl ði ˈɒpəzɪt ɪz truː fɔː 
trɛnd 
lɛs kənˈsɪstənt ðəʊ 
ænˈtɪsɪpeɪtɪd 
ˈrʌfli ˈsteɪbᵊl ˈəʊvərɔːl
ðə vɑːst məˈʤɒrɪti ɒv 
ə ˈfɪɡər ɪn stɑːk ˈkɒntrɑːst tuː
stiːp dɪˈklaɪn 
ˌæɡrɪˈkʌlʧərəl 
ɪn ðə seɪm jɪə
kənˈsɪstəntli 
ən ɪksˈpɛktɪd piːk ɒv 
ɪn kəmˈpærɪsn 
ˈfɔːlən 
ˈveəriɪŋ reɪts 
ˈfaɪnl stəˈtɪstɪk 
ænˈtɪsɪpeɪtɪd tuː biː ʤʌst ˈəʊvə 
rəʊz 
weə ðə ˈfɪɡəz fɔːr ɔːl ˈkætɪɡəriz kənˈvɜːʤd 
bɪˈfɔːr ə ˈræpɪd dɪˈklaɪn 
ɛnd æt 

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______s the number of individuals working in m______________g, s_______s, and a____________e over a 5_______________d in the United States. L__________________________________________________t agriculture h___________________________________y from being t__________________________________________n, w________________________________r service jobs. The t_____d for manufacturing is l______________________________h it is a___________d to be r_____________________l.

In 1975, t______________________f workers (60 million) were farmers, a____________________________o those in manufacturing (9 million) and agriculture (10 million). After a two-year period with little change for all jobs, there was a s____________e in the number of a_____________l workers to 42 million by 1979. I__________________r, the data for service workers began to r_____________________y, with a______________________f 90 million by 2025.

I_____________________n, workers in agriculture have f_________n at v________________s and the f_______________________c is a________________________r 10 million by 2025. The number for manufacturing r___e to 40 million in 1980, w__________________________________________d, b________________________e that will continue to 2025 and e______t 10 million.

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.usnews.com/info/blogs/press-room/articles/2023-01-10/u-s-news-world-report-announces-the-2023-best-jobs

Speaking Practice

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

Work (Model answer available on my Patreon)

  1. Are you student or are you working now?
  2. What do you like about your job/school at the moment?
  3. What job would you like to do in the future?

Writing Practice

Practice with the related IELTS chart below:

IELTS Essay: Crime in the City Center Line Chart

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