Academic Writing - Model Answer (Task 1)

The two pie charts show where 25-year-old Londoners prefer to stay in two different time periods; the 1990s and the 2010s and the table shows available housing during this period.

In 1990 about a quarter of this age group preferred to live either with their parents, in a shared house or in a flat alone. A smaller percentage chose to share a flat. The smallest proportion of 25 year olds lived in a house alone.

Twenty years later fewer young adults stayed with their parents while the proportion of those living in a shared house and flat increased. The amount of those living in a flat alone fell considerably to about 5%, while those living in a house alone were around the same percentage (5%).

In the 1990s, 47,000 3-4 bedroom houses were available and there were 39,000 flats with the same number of bedrooms. There were 2,000 more available 1-2 bedroom houses (34,000) than there were 1-2 bedroom flats in the 1990s. The number of 3-4 bedroom houses increased in 2010 to 48,500, while the amount of 3-4 bedroom flats dropped by 7,000. 1-2 bedroom houses and flats became less available at 12,000 and 10,000 respectively.

In conclusion, shared flats and houses became more popular accommodation choices for young Londoners and all types of available housing became scarcer except for 3-4 bedroom houses.

Question taken from Get Ready for IELTS Writing p.73