This is an IELTS writing task 1 sample answer essay on the topic of the share of income earned by the top 1 percent from 1975 to 2015.

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IELTS Task 1: Share of Income Earned by Top 1 Percent

The line chart shows the total percentage of income earned by the top 1% of the population in 7 different countries from 1975 to 2015. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that wealth distribution became more unequal over time, particularly in the United States and to a lesser extent in Germany, Canada and the UK. Distributions were more equal in the other nations though they increased overall.

In terms of the countries with the greatest increases, the United States rose steadily from 8% in 1975 to 9% by 1986 before a precipitous climb to 13% over the next several years and a surge with occasional fluctuations over the remainder of the period to finish at around 18%. The rises for Germany, the UK, and Canada followed similar though slightly lower trajectories with only the former beginning high (11%) and all 3 nations finishing with comparable dips to near 13% in 2015.

For the nations with more marginal rises, there were similar declines to near 2% for France, Japan, and Italy for the first decade in question prior to steady rises in the 1980s. In 1990, France and Japan fell again to around 3%, though all 3 countries recovered and continued to increase consistently until the end of the period, with final figures just below 5%.

Analysis

1. The line chart shows the total percentage of income earned by the top 1% of the population in 7 different countries from 1975 to 2015. 2. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that wealth distribution became more unequal over time, particularly in the United States and to a lesser extent in Germany, Canada and the UK. 3. Distributions were more equal in the other nations though they increased 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 terms of the countries with the greatest increases, the United States rose steadily from 8% in 1975 to 9% by 1986 before a precipitous climb to 13% over the next several years and a surge with occasional fluctuations over the remainder of the period to finish at around 18%. 2. The rises for Germany, the UK, and Canada followed similar though slightly lower trajectories with only the former beginning high (11%) and all 3 nations finishing with comparable dips to near 13% in 2015.

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

1. For the nations with more marginal rises, there were similar declines to near 2% for France, Japan, and Italy for the first decade in question prior to steady rises in the 1980s. 2. In 1990, France and Japan fell again to around 3%, though all 3 countries recovered and continued to increase consistently until the end of the period, with final figures just below 5%.

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 shows the total percentage of income earned by the top 1% of the population in 7 different countries from 1975 to 2015. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that wealth distribution became more unequal over time, particularly in the United States and to a lesser extent in Germany, Canada and the UK. Distributions were more equal in the other nations though they increased overall.

In terms of the countries with the greatest increases, the United States rose steadily from 8% in 1975 to 9% by 1986 before a precipitous climb to 13% over the next several years and a surge with occasional fluctuations over the remainder of the period to finish at around 18%. The rises for Germany, the UK, and Canada followed similar though slightly lower trajectories with only the former beginning high (11%) and all 3 nations finishing with comparable dips to near 13% in 2015.

For the nations with more marginal rises, there were similar declines to near 2% for France, Japan, and Italy for the first decade in question prior to steady rises in the 1980s. In 1990, France and Japan fell again to around 3%, though all 3 countries recovered and continued to increase consistently until the end of the period, with final figures just below 5%.

Answers

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

total percentage of income earned by amount of money made by

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

unequal not equal, uneven

particularly in especially for

to a lesser extent somewhat true but not as true for

Distributions now it is allocated

though but

In terms of regarding

rose steadily increased consistently

before a precipitous climb to prior to a big rise to reach

surge with occasional fluctuations over the remainder of the period to finish at around increased a lot with an erratic trend for the rest of the time to end at

rises increases

followed similar though slightly lower trajectories went in the same direction but a little lower

the former the one mentioned first

finishing with comparable dips to near ending with similar falls to close to

marginal rises small increases

similar declines to near comparable falls to close to

the first decade in question prior to steady rises the first 10 years detailed before consistent increases

recovered came back up

continued to increase consistently until the end of the period kept going up steadily to the end

Pronunciation

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

ˈtəʊtᵊl pəˈsɛntɪʤ ɒv ˈɪnkʌm ɜːnd baɪ
ˈlʊkɪŋ frɒm ən ˈəʊvərɔːl pəˈspɛktɪv, ɪt ɪz ˈrɛdɪli əˈpærᵊnt ðæt wɛlθ ˌdɪstrɪˈbjuːʃᵊn
ʌnˈiːkwəl
pəˈtɪkjələli ɪn
tuː ə ˈlɛsər ɪkˈstɛnt
ˌdɪstrɪˈbjuːʃᵊnz
ðəʊ
ɪn tɜːmz ɒv
rəʊz ˈstɛdɪli
bɪˈfɔːr ə prɪˈsɪpɪtəs klaɪm tuː
sɜːʤ wɪð əˈkeɪʒᵊnᵊl ˌflʌkʧuˈeɪʃᵊnz ˈəʊvə ðə rɪˈmeɪndər ɒv ðə ˈpɪəriəd tuː ˈfɪnɪʃ æt əˈraʊnd
ˈraɪzɪz
ˈfɒləʊd ˈsɪmɪlə ðəʊ ˈslaɪtli ˈləʊə ˈtræʤɪktəriz
ðə ˈfɔːmə
ˈfɪnɪʃɪŋ wɪð ˈkɒmpərəbᵊl dɪps tuː nɪə
ˈmɑːʤɪnᵊl ˈraɪzɪz
ˈsɪmɪlə dɪˈklaɪnz tuː nɪə
ðə fɜːst ˈdɛkeɪd ɪn ˈkwɛsʧən ˈpraɪə tuː ˈstɛdi ˈraɪzɪz
rɪˈkʌvəd
kənˈtɪnjuːd tuː ɪnˈkriːs kənˈsɪstᵊntli ənˈtɪl ði ɛnd ɒv ðə ˈpɪəriəd

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 shows the t_______________________________________y the top 1% of the population in 7 different countries from 1975 to 2015. L___________________________________________________________________________________n became more u________l over time, p________________n the United States and t_________________t in Germany, Canada and the UK. D__________________s were more equal in the other nations t________h they increased overall.

I_____________f the countries with the greatest increases, the United States r_____________y from 8% in 1975 to 9% by 1986 b_______________________________o 13% over the next several years and a s__________________________________________________________________________________________d 18%. The r_____s for Germany, the UK, and Canada f_________________________________________________s with only t_____________r beginning high (11%) and all 3 nations f________________________________________r 13% in 2015.

For the nations with more m_______________s, there were s_______________________r 2% for France, Japan, and Italy for t______________________________________________s in the 1980s. In 1990, France and Japan fell again to around 3%, though all 3 countries r___________d and c____________________________________________________________________d, with final figures just below 5%.

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.britannica.com/money/topic/income-inequality#:~:text=income%20inequality%2C%20in%20economics%2C%20significant,social%20stratification%20and%20social%20class.

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 Cambridge 18: Average Monthly Change Line Chart