Academic Writing - Model Answer (Task 1)

The bar chart shows how long various age groups spend on the computer, TV and listening to the radio in the U.K.

The oldest age group, 55+ spends 4 hours daily watching television. Those aged 25-54 spend a little over 3 hours on this media whilst the youngest age group watches a little less than 3 hours per day.

Youngsters spend 3 and a half hours on the computer and the next age group slightly less than this. The 45-54 year olds are on the computer 2 and a half hours per day and the 55+ group 1 and a half hours less. Lastly, the 45-54 year olds listen to the radio for 1 and a half hours each day and the 25-44 and 55+ group are tuned in for an hour. The youngsters have the radio on for half an hour only.

Television is the most popular medium preferred by all groups and in particular the 55+ group. Radio is not used frequently. Computers are used less as the age group gets older.

Question taken from Direct to IELTS Student's book p.113

Academic Writing - Model Answer (Task 1)

The bar chart shows how British children felt about reading in 2009.

First, about 45% of the boys like reading only a little bit while 35% of the girls also feel the same about reading. 32% of the girls find reading enjoyable and 5% less is true for boys. Approximately 30% of the girls really enjoy reading whereas about half of this percentage of boys enjoy reading very much. Very few boys and girls aged 8 to 16 do not enjoy reading at all. Less than 15% of the children have this attitude towards reading.

We can see that most of the children (around 40%) are not very keen on reading, but only 10% don’t enjoy reading at all. In terms of enjoying reading quite a lot and very much, the percentages for all children are 28% and 22% respectively. It also seems that girls enjoy reading more than boys as their percentages were greater in the first two categories.

Question take from Direct to IELTS Student's Book p.114

Academic Writing - Model Answer (Task 1)

The two pie charts show the proportion of fruit and vegetables produced in the E.U. in 2009.

57 million tons of vegetables were cultivated in 2009, the largest percentage was 46.7% which corresponds to other vegetables. Almost 30% of the produce was tomatoes. Onions and carrots were produced in almost equal proportions whilst only 4.2% of the vegetables were lettuces.

A considerably less amount of fruit was produced, 36 million tons, a third of which were apples and 3.3% less other fruit. Oranges accounted for 17.8% of the fruit produced, while the production of peaches was considerably less (8.2%). Pears and strawberries made up 7.7% and 2.6% of the fruit produced.

In 2009 the E.U. produced more vegetables than fruit. Apples were the most grown fruit while strawberries were not grown very much. In terms of vegetables, almost half the vegetables produced were other vegetables and the least grown were lettuces.

Question taken from Direct to IELTS Student's Book p.112

Academic Writing - Model Answer (Task 1)

The expenditure of Aim One Ltd and ZTA Ltd for 2012 are shown in the two pie charts.

To begin with, ZTA spends 30% on the salaries of its employees and 10% less on research and development which is almost equal to the amount spent on equipment. 15% goes to consultancy fees and the remaining 14% on training and managers’ salaries.

A much larger proportion, 40% of Aim One Ltd's expenditure is on employees’ salaries. Half of this amount is given to training and 15% on equipment. Research and development makes up 11% of the expenditure. Finally consultancy fees account for 9% of the expenditure and the smallest amount is given to managers as a salary.

Both technology companies spend the most on worker’s salaries and the least on their managers. While ZTA Ltd values research and development and spends on equipment, Aim One Ltd places importance on training.

Question taken from Direct to IELTS Student's Book p.111

Academic Writing - Model Answer (Task 1)

The line graph shows how many men and women are employed in the U.K. as qualified teachers on a full-time basis at public schools from 1987 until 2008.

There were 160.000 women working at nursery and primary schools in 1981/2 and this number increased slightly to 165.000 in 2007/8. 40.000 less female teachers were employed at secondary schools in 1981/2. This figure increased gradually to around 130 thousand in 2007/8.

Full-time qualified men in nursery and primary schools stood at 40.000 in the first time period. This number was relatively stable and ended up at 39 thousand at the end of the given period. Male teachers at secondary schools stood at 160.000 and this amount fell gradually to approximately 90.000.

Nursery and primary state schools in the U.K. had more full-time qualified female teachers than male ones. Even though initially there were more men working as secondary school teachers this amount dropped and by 2007/8 there were approximately 40 million more women qualified and teaching in these schools.

Question taken from Direct to IELTS Student's Book p.110

Academic Writing - Model Answer (Task 1)

The line graph shows how many people aged between 15 and 45+ went to the cinema between 1997 and 2009.

60 million youngsters aged 15-24 watched films at the cinema in 1997 and a little above this number in 2009. The lowest attendance for this age group is noted in 2004 (52 million viewers) while the following year attendance was 62 million. 

Around 40 million 25-34 year olds visited the cinema between 1997 and 2000. A peak was reached in 2001 and 2004 of almost 50 million admissions whilst figures between 2005 and 2009 were below 40 million. An upward trend is noted for cinema attendance for those aged between 35 to 44. Figures start at 20 million in 1997 and reach 35 million five years later. For the remaining years admissions fluctuate below 30 million. 

Finally, there is an increase in interest over the years to watch movies at the cinema for those aged 45+. Initial figures are at 20 million in the first year and they more than double in 2009, reaching 42 million.

We can see that going to the cinema is popular with the 15-24 year olds and that there is a growing interest in this activity amongst the older age group.

Question taken from Direct to IELTS Student's Book p.109

Academic Writing - Model Answer (Task 1)

The kinds of TV programs watched by gender in England are shown in the bar chart. The period covered is 2007/2008.

Men watch the news and live sport coverage almost equally, 73% and 72% respectively. Films are also popular with men (68%) while 4% less men watch comedies. A little over a half of the men watch wildlife programs and 44% enjoy history programs. Current affairs or politics feature at 36% whereas viewership for all other types of programs are less than this.

Women enjoy watching the news, films and soaps the most as their viewership percentages are 71%, 64% and 58% respectively. Half the women are into wildlife programs while 4% more enjoy comedies. Less than 30% of the women are interested in current affairs or politics.

An equal percentage watch quiz shows and live sport coverage, and an almost equal proportion (45%) follow food and cookery and contemporary or period dramas.

Both men and women view news the most. Men also enjoy sports whereas women like soaps. Drama has the lowest viewership among the men and the same holds true for current affairs for women.

Question taken from Direct to IELTS Student's Book p.95