This is an IELTS writing task 1 sample answer essay on the topic of people leaving and unemployment in Ireland.

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IELTS Task 1: Unemployment Rate in Ireland

The line chart details the unemployment rate and number of people leaving Ireland from 1988 to 2008. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that the figures followed a roughly complementary pattern except for an extended period in the 1990s. Both data sets declined overall though individuals leaving the country ended with an upwards trend.

In 1988, 17% of individuals were unemployed in Ireland and a slightly lower 15.5% decided to leave the country. Starting in 1990, the rates diverged with between 12% and 13% being unemployed up until 1996 and far fewer proportionally moving abroad (between 14% and 8%).

After 1996, a steep drop in terms of unemployment (down to a low of 5% by 2000) recreated a more symmetrical pattern. Individuals leaving the island nation was broadly stable around 7% before a sharp uptick over the final four years of the period to end at 13%. The rise for unemployment figures was more gradual and was finally registered at 6%.

Analysis

1. The line chart details the unemployment rate and number of people leaving Ireland from 1988 to 2008. 2. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that the figures followed a roughly complementary pattern except for an extended period in the 1990s. 3. Both data sets declined overall though individuals leaving the country ended with an upwards trend.

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 1988, 17% of individuals were unemployed in Ireland and a slightly lower 15.5% decided to leave the country. 2. Starting in 1990, the rates diverged with between 12% and 13% being unemployed up until 1996 and far fewer proportionally moving abroad (between 14% and 8%).

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

1. After 1996, a steep drop in terms of unemployment (down to a low of 5% by 2000) recreated a more symmetrical pattern. 2. Individuals leaving the island nation was broadly stable around 7% before a sharp uptick over the final four years of the period to end at 13%. 3. The rise for unemployment figures was more gradual and was finally registered at 6%.

1. Write about the final other parts of the graph – include everything!
2. Compare the categories.
3. Don’t leave out any information but try to group as well.

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 unemployment rate and number of people leaving Ireland from 1988 to 2008. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that the figures followed a roughly complementary pattern except for an extended period in the 1990s. Both data sets declined overall though individuals leaving the country ended with an upwards trend.

In 1988, 17% of individuals were unemployed in Ireland and a slightly lower 15.5% decided to leave the country. Starting in 1990, the rates diverged with between 12% and 13% being unemployed up until 1996 and far fewer proportionally moving abroad (between 14% and 8%).

After 1996, a steep drop in terms of unemployment (down to a low of 5% by 2000) recreated a more symmetrical pattern. Individuals leaving the island nation was broadly stable around 7% before a sharp uptick over the final four years of the period to end at 13%. The rise for unemployment figures was more gradual and was finally registered at 6%.

Answers

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

details shows

unemployment rate people without jobs

number of people leaving Ireland individuals moving abroad

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

figures followed a roughly complementary pattern except for an extended period in numbers were similar in their shape but for one long time

data sets declined overall numbers went down by the end

ended with an upwards trend increased near the end

slightly lower a little less

decided to leave the country chose to move abroad

Starting in beginning

diverged went in different directions

up until leading up to

far fewer proportionally moving abroad not as many people in terms of the percentage leaving for other countries

After next

a steep drop in terms of a big fall concerning

down to a low of dropping to a nadir of

recreated happened again

more symmetrical pattern similar trend

island nation country that is an island

broadly stable around roughly unchanged near

before a sharp uptick over big increase over time

end at finish at

rise grow

gradual slow

finally registered at at last recorded at

Pronunciation

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

ˈdiːteɪlz 
ˌʌnɪmˈplɔɪmənt reɪt 
ˈnʌmbər ɒv ˈpiːpᵊl ˈliːvɪŋ ˈaɪələnd 
ˈlʊkɪŋ frɒm ən ˈəʊvərɔːl pəˈspɛktɪv, ɪt ɪz ˈrɛdɪli əˈpærᵊnt ðæt 
ˈfɪɡəz ˈfɒləʊd ə ˈrʌfli ˌkɒmplɪˈmɛntəri ˈpætᵊn ɪkˈsɛpt fɔːr ən ɪksˈtɛndɪd ˈpɪəriəd ɪn 
ˈdeɪtə sɛts dɪˈklaɪnd ˈəʊvərɔːl 
ˈɛndɪd wɪð ən ˈʌpwədz trɛnd 
ˈslaɪtli ˈləʊə 
dɪˈsaɪdɪd tuː liːv ðə ˈkʌntri 
ˈstɑːtɪŋ ɪn 
daɪˈvɜːʤd 
ʌp ənˈtɪl 
fɑː ˈfjuːə prəˈpɔːʃᵊnᵊli ˈmuːvɪŋ əˈbrɔːd 
ˈɑːftə 
ə stiːp drɒp ɪn tɜːmz ɒv 
daʊn tuː ə ləʊ ɒv 
ˌriːkriˈeɪtɪd 
mɔː sɪˈmɛtrɪkᵊl ˈpætᵊn 
ˈaɪlənd ˈneɪʃᵊn 
ˈbrɔːdli ˈsteɪbᵊl əˈraʊnd 
bɪˈfɔːr ə ʃɑːp ʌp tɪk ˈəʊvə 
ɛnd æt 
raɪz 
ˈɡræʤuəl 
ˈfaɪnəli ˈrɛʤɪstəd 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 u__________________e and n_________________________d from 1988 to 2008. L______________________________________________________________________t the f_______________________________________________________________________________n the 1990s. Both d______________________l though individuals leaving the country e_________________d.

In 1988, 17% of individuals were unemployed in Ireland and a s______________r 15.5% d______________________________y. S____________n 1990, the rates d_________d with between 12% and 13% being unemployed u________l 1996 and f____________________________________d (between 14% and 8%).

A_______r 1996, a______________________f unemployment (d_______________f 5% by 2000) r____________d a m________________________n. Individuals leaving the i____________n was b_________________d 7% b__________________________r the final four years of the period to e______t 13%. The r____e for unemployment figures was more g______l and was f____________________________t 6%.

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.lonelyplanet.com/articles/best-places-to-visit-ireland

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