This is an IELTS writing task 1 sample answer essay on the topic of male and female olympic participants from the real IELTS exam.

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IELTS Task: Male and Female Olympic Participants

The charts detail the number of participants at the Olympics every 30 years from 1924 to 2014 in total and by gender. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that while the totals rose steadily, there was more dramatic growth in terms of female participants to the point where there emerged a less noticeable gap between the genders by the end of the period.

In 1924, the disparity between the sexes was significant with just over 100 women and precisely 3000 men. Over the next 30 years, the figure for males rose to 4,500 and women more than double to a still minor 500. In 1984, there was more impressive growth for women (1,800) and a steady increase for men (5,100). Finally, the difference between the genders narrowed considerably in 2014 with 5,800 men and 4,900 of their female counterparts participating in the Olympics.

In terms of the overall totals, the data began at slightly over 3,000 in 1924 and rose consistently for the next 90 years, reaching a final high of greater than 10,000 in 2014.

Analysis

1. The charts detail the number of participants at the Olympics every 30 years from 1924 to 2014 in total and by gender. 2. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that while the totals rose steadily, there was more dramatic growth in terms of female participants to the point where there emerged a less noticeable gap between the genders by the end of the period.

  1. Paraphrase what the table shows.
  2. Write a clear overview summarising the differences.

1. In 1924, the disparity between the sexes was significant with just over 100 women and precisely 3000 men. 2. Over the next 30 years, the figure for males rose to 4,500 and women more than double to a still minor 500. 3. In 1984, there was more impressive growth for women (1,800) and a steady increase for men (5,100). 4. Finally, the difference between the genders narrowed considerably in 2014 with 5,800 men and 4,900 of their female counterparts participating in the Olympics.

  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. In terms of the overall totals, the data began at slightly over 3,000 in 1924 and rose consistently for the next 90 years, reaching a final high of greater than 10,000 in 2014.

  1. Write about the final, other parts of the graph – include everything!

Vocabulary

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

The charts detail the number of participants at the Olympics every 30 years from 1924 to 2014 in total and by gender. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that while the totals rose steadily, there was more dramatic growth in terms of female participants to the point where there emerged a less noticeable gap between the genders by the end of the period.

In 1924, the disparity between the sexes was significant with just over 100 women and precisely 3000 men. Over the next 30 years, the figure for males rose to 4,500 and women more than double to a still minor 500. In 1984, there was more impressive growth for women (1,800) and a steady increase for men (5,100). Finally, the difference between the genders narrowed considerably in 2014 with 5,800 men and 4,900 of their female counterparts participating in the Olympics.

In terms of the overall totals, the data began at slightly over 3,000 in 1924 and rose consistently for the next 90 years, reaching a final high of greater than 10,000 in 2014.

Answers

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

detail show

participants people taking part in

Olympics an international sporting event

every 30 years from each 30 years starting in

in total overall

by gender according to male/female

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

totals overall figures

steadily consistently

dramatic growth going up a lot

in terms of concerning

female participants women athletes

to the point where at the level at which

emerged came out at

less noticeable gap not as big of a difference

genders by the end of the period sexes at the end of the time surveyed

disparity difference

sexes genders

significant considerable

just over slightly above

precisely exactly

Over the next 30 years for the follow 3 decades

figure number

rose increased

more than double to more than 2x

still minor continues to be negligible

impressive growth considerable rise

steady increase consistent rise

narrowed considerably became much more equal

female counterparts participating in the Olympics women in the Olympics

In terms of concerning

data began numbers started

slightly a little

rose consistently went up steadily

reaching a final high of finishing at a peak of

Pronunciation

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

ˈdiːteɪl 
pɑːˈtɪsɪpənts 
əʊˈlɪmpɪks 
ˈɛvri 30 jɪəz frɒm 
ɪn ˈtəʊtl 
baɪ ˈʤɛndə
ˈlʊkɪŋ frɒm ən ˈəʊvərɔːl pəˈspɛktɪvɪt ɪz ˈrɛdɪli əˈpærənt ðæt 
ˈtəʊtlz 
ˈstɛdɪli
drəˈmætɪk grəʊθ 
ɪn tɜːmz ɒv 
ˈfiːmeɪl pɑːˈtɪsɪpənts 
tuː ðə pɔɪnt weə 
ɪˈmɜːʤd 
lɛs ˈnəʊtɪsəbl gæp 
ˈʤɛndəz baɪ ði ɛnd ɒv ðə ˈpɪərɪəd
dɪsˈpærɪti 
ˈsɛksɪz 
sɪgˈnɪfɪkənt 
ʤʌst ˈəʊvə 
prɪˈsaɪsli 
ˈəʊvə ðə nɛkst 30 jɪəz 
ˈfɪgə 
rəʊz 
mɔː ðæn ˈdʌbl tuː 
stɪl ˈmaɪnə 
ɪmˈprɛsɪv grəʊθ 
ˈstɛdi ˈɪnkriːs 
ˈnærəʊd kənˈsɪdərəbli 
ˈfiːmeɪl ˈkaʊntəpɑːts pɑːˈtɪsɪpeɪtɪŋ ɪn ði əʊˈlɪmpɪks
ɪn tɜːmz ɒv 
ˈdeɪtə bɪˈgæn 
ˈslaɪtli 
rəʊz kənˈsɪstəntli 
ˈriːʧɪŋ ə ˈfaɪnl haɪ ɒv 

Vocabulary Practice

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

The charts d________l the number of p_____________s at the O_________s e_____________________m 1924 to 2014 i_________l and b_________r. L_______________________________________________________________t while the t_______s rose s_________y, there was more d__________________h i_________________f f_______________s t____________________e there e_______d a l___________________p between the g____________s b_________________________d.

In 1924, the d_________y between the s____s was s____________t with j_________r 100 women and p_________y 3000 men. O_____________________s, the f_____e for males r____e to 4,500 and women m__________________________o a s____________r 500. In 1984, there was more i_______________________h for women (1,800) and a s_______________e for men (5,100). Finally, the difference between the genders n_______________________y in 2014 with 5,800 men and 4,900 of their f____________________________s p____________________________s.

I_______________f the overall totals, the d____a b_____n at s_________y over 3,000 in 1924 and r__________________y for the next 90 years, r______________________f greater than 10,000 in 2014.

Listening Practice

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

https://www.youtube.com/c/Olympics

Reading Practice

Read more and use these ideas to practice:

https://olympics.com/ioc/faq/sports-programme-and-results/where-will-the-next-olympic-games-be-held

Speaking Practice

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

Sports and Games

  1. What is your favorite sport?
  2. What sport did you play when you were younger?
  3. Which sports do you enjoy watching on TV?
  4. What is most popular sport in your country?

Writing Practice

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

cambridge 16 line chart electrical appliances

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