This is an IELTS writing task 1 sample answer essay on the topic of requests for information at tourist office.

There is a ton of data in this one – just try to include as much as possible!

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IELTS Task 1: Tourist Office

The chart shows requests for information at a tourist office in the United Kingdom from January to June.

The line chart details the frequency of requests in person, by letter/email, and by telephone at a UK tourist office in the first 6 months of a given year. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that in-person requests increased from the least to most common over the period, overtaking telephone, which also rose. Information requests by email and letter declined and were by far the least frequent by the end of the time surveyed.

In January, in-person information requests were the lowest of all 3 categories at approximately 420. In contrast, written requests and telephone calls stood at 770 and 900 in turn. By mid-March, in-person questions (1,000) had surpassed other queries, an upwards trend that persisted and culminated at 1,900 to finish the period.

In comparison, telephone requests fluctuated between 800 and 1,000 until the beginning of April prior to growing sharply to end just behind in-person requests at 1,600. Letter and email requests fell marginally until March (to 700), before a steep drop, and a levelling off at 400 from May to June.

Analysis

1. The line chart details the frequency of requests in person, by letter/email, and by telephone at a UK tourist office in the first 6 months of a given year. 2. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that in-person requests increased from the least to most common over the period, overtaking telephone, which also rose. 3. Information requests by email and letter declined and were by far the least frequent by the end of the time surveyed.

  1. Paraphrase what the bar chart shows.
  2. Write a clear overview summarising the differences.
  3. This one is a little complex so it needs a second sentence for the overview.

1. In January, in-person information requests were the lowest of all 3 categories at approximately 420. 2. In contrast, written requests and telephone calls stood at 770 and 900 in turn. 3. By mid-March, in-person questions (1,000) had surpassed other queries, an upwards trend that persisted and culminated at 1,900 to finish the period.

  1. Begin writing about the data for the first categories.
  2. Compare between each sentence.
  3. Make sure all the data is included.

1. In comparison, telephone requests fluctuated between 800 and 1,000 until the beginning of April prior to growing sharply to end just behind in-person requests at 1,600. 2. Letter and email requests fell marginally until March (to 700), before a steep drop, and a levelling off at 400 from May to June.

  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 frequency of requests in person, by letter/email, and by telephone at a UK tourist office in the first 6 months of a given year. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that in-person requests increased from the least to most common over the period, overtaking telephone, which also rose. Information requests by email and letter declined and were by far the least frequent by the end of the time surveyed.

In January, in-person information requests were the lowest of all 3 categories at approximately 420. In contrast, written requests and telephone calls stood at 770 and 900 in turn. By mid-March, in-person questions (1,000) had surpassed other queries, an upwards trend that persisted and culminated at 1,900 to finish the period.

In comparison, telephone requests fluctuated between 800 and 1,000 until the beginning of April prior to growing sharply to end just behind in-person requests at 1,600. Letter and email requests fell marginally until March (to 700), before a steep drop, and a levelling off at 400 from May to June.

Answers

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

details shows

frequency how often it happens

requests in person questions asked face to face

by letter/email sending written questions

UK tourist office in a traveler’s department in the United Kingdom

first 6 months of a given year from January to July

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

from the least to most common over the period not happening as much the whole time

overtaking becoming more common

Information requests questions for details

declined went down

by far the least frequent by the end of the time surveyed didn’t happen as much by the finish

lowest the least

approximately around

In contrast in comparison

stood at were at

in turn respectively

mid-March the middle of March

surpassed overtook

queries questions

upwards trend pattern going up

persisted continued

culminated finished

finish the period ended the time

In comparison in contrast

fluctuated between … and … until the beginning of April prior to growing sharply went up and down after April until it increased quickly

end just behind finish a little less than

fell marginally until went down a little up to

before a steep drop preceding a big fall

a levelling off atfrom …. to …. steady from one number to another

Pronunciation

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

ˈdiːteɪlz 
ˈfriːkwənsi 
rɪˈkwɛsts ɪn ˈpɜːsn
baɪ ˈlɛtə/ˈiːmeɪl
juː-keɪ ˈtʊərɪst ˈɒfɪs ɪn 
fɜːst siks mʌnθs ɒv ə ˈgɪvn jɪə
ˈlʊkɪŋ frɒm ən ˈəʊvərɔːl pəˈspɛktɪvɪt ɪz ˈrɛdɪli əˈpærənt ðæt 
frɒm ðə liːst tuː məʊst ˈkɒmən ˈəʊvə ðə ˈpɪərɪəd
ˌəʊvəˈteɪkɪŋ 
ˌɪnfəˈmeɪʃən rɪˈkwɛsts 
dɪˈklaɪnd 
baɪ fɑː ðə liːst ˈfriːkwənt baɪ ði ɛnd ɒv ðə taɪm sɜːˈveɪd
ˈləʊɪst 
əˈprɒksɪmɪtli 
ɪn ˈkɒntrɑːst
stʊd æt 
ɪn tɜːn
mɪd-mɑːʧ
sɜːˈpɑːst 
ˈkwɪəriz
ˈʌpwədz trɛnd 
pəˈsɪstɪd 
ˈkʌlmɪneɪtɪd 
ˈfɪnɪʃ ðə ˈpɪərɪəd
ɪn kəmˈpærɪsn
ˈflʌktjʊeɪtɪd bɪˈtwiːn … ænd …. ənˈtɪl ðə bɪˈgɪnɪŋ ɒv ˈeɪprəl ˈpraɪə tuː ˈgrəʊɪŋ ˈʃɑːpli 
ɛnd ʤʌst bɪˈhaɪnd 
fɛl ˈmɑːʤɪnəli ənˈtɪl 
bɪˈfɔːr ə stiːp drɒp
ə ˈplætəʊ æt … frɒm …. tuː ….

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 f___________y of r_________________n, b______________l, and by telephone at a U___________________n the f______________________r. L_______________________________________________________t in-person requests increased f_________________________________________________d, o_________g telephone, which also rose. I_________________________s by email and letter d_________d and were b______________________________________________________________d.

In January, in-person information requests were the l_________t of all 3 categories at a___________y 420. I________t, written requests and telephone calls s__________t 770 and 900 i_______n. By m__________h, in-person questions (1,000) had s_____________d other q________s, an u______________d that p_____________d and c___________d at 1,900 to f_________________d.

I______________n, telephone requests f______________________________________________________________________________________y to e________________d in-person requests at 1,600. Letter and email requests f___________________l March (to 700), b________________p, and a_____________t 400 f_____m May t__ June.

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://think.ing.com/articles/lack-of-chinese-tourists-hindering-asias-economic-recovery/

Speaking Practice

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

Offices

  1. Do you work in an office?
  2. Is it common for people in your country to work in office?
  3. Where do most of your friends work?
  4. Would you like to design an office?

Writing Practice

Practice with the related IELTS chart below:

IELTS Essay: Crime in the City Center Line Chart

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