Task 1 Sample Answers – General
IELTS Task 1 Writing Sample for a Concern
Topic
You’re experiencing problems with your heating and hot water. Write an email to your landlord, Draw his attention to the failure his attempts to resolve the problem, express your concerns about the low temperatures, and suggest a solution.
IELTS Writing Sample Answer
Dear Sir,
I am writing to draw your attention to a heating issue in my apartment. After mentioning the problem, in apartment 237, to your maintenance crew several times, and receiving nothing but empty promises, my feelings of frustration are rapidly rising.
Our heating issues began in the late fall when chilly evenings set in, and our attempts to turn up the heat proved futile. Feeling sure that this was a temporary problem, we simply pulled on sweaters, added extra blankets to our beds, and cozied-up in warmer pajamas. However, as the temperatures continued to drop, our concerns grew, and we asked a member of your maintenance crew to come and take a look at it.
The temperature outside is now -30˚C and inside +5˚C thanks to an abundance of space heaters that our neighbours have been generous enough to lend to us. Obviously, this situation is unacceptable, and so we ask that you give the matter your prompt attention. Temporarily moving to a vacant apartment in the building while the heating is being fixed would be a welcome alternative.
Regards,
Mike Smith
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IELTS Task 1 Writing Sample for a Request
Topic
Your employer has asked you to organize a trip for a group of foreign students who are visiting from other countries. Write an email to a local museum asking about their exhibits, opening times and prices.
IELTS Writing Sample Answer
Dear Sir,
I am writing to ask for some help organizing a trip to your museum. Any information, tips and suggestions that might help make the day a success would be really great. I particularly need to know about times, rates and discounts.
Although I have been to your museum, I am a little concerned that it will not fill the whole day. With this in mind, it would be useful to know about any upcoming exhibits, their size, and when they will start and finish. Can you recommend any other attractions that might help to make the day a success? The nearer the better.
My group is made up of foreign students, all under 18. I am wondering if you offer any additional discounts for students. If so, how much is the discount and how many students would need to be in the group to quality for it?
I look forward to your reply.
Yours Sincerely,
Joe Piegan
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IELTS Task 1 Writing Sample for a Complaint
Topic
The new cheque book you ordered from your bank hasn’t arrived. It’s three weeks late! Write an email to your bank manager. In your email, complain about the bad service, explain how you paid, and ask what he can do.
IELTS Writing Sample Answer
Dear Mr. Smith,
I am writing to complain about your bank’s service and to track down my new cheque book.
Three weeks ago I filled out the appropriate order form for a cheque book and paid with cash. I was assured that it would be delivered to my home within six business days.
It has now been three weeks since my order, and I have some urgent bills to pay. I have tried calling the bank several times, but no-one seems to be able to tell me anything about my cheques.
Please let me know how much longer I will have to wait and what can be done in the meantime to cover my bills. As a new customer, I am stunned at your bank’s inefficiency and am beginning to wonder whether another bank would make me feel more valued.
I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Yours Sincerely,
Joe Beckman
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IELTS Task 1 Writing Sample for a Report
Topic
After witnessing an accident, the police have asked you to write a report describing what you saw, who was involved, the road conditions, and who you feel was responsible.
IELTS Writing Sample Answer
To Whom It May Concern,
I am writing to inform you of a ghastly motor accident that occurred just a moment ago as your prompt attention will be needed to salvage the lives of those involved.
I was heading to Lagos this morning through the Lagos-Ibadan expressway when I witnessed an accident. This unfortunate incident could have been averted if the vehicles involved had exercised both a little patience and a little restraint.
The collision happened due to a bad section of the road which is just after a sharp bend. Three vehicles were involved in the mishap, leaving five people badly injured. Thankfully, no life was lost but the vehicles are damaged.
Being an eyewitness to the accident, I think the black SUV should be held responsible because he appeared from nowhere, overtook the white car in front of him, and crashed into the oncoming yellow bus.
I hope this will guide your decision as you hasten to the scene.
Regards,
Akinwumi Dare
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IELTS Task 1 Writing Sample for a Apology
Topic
While working as a part-time Uber driver, you forgot to pick up a confirmed customer who had booked a ride to the airport. Write an email to the client. In your email, apologize for not picking him up, explain why you didn’t pick him up, and offer him a free ride.
IELTS Writing Sample Answer
Dear Mr. Smith,
I am writing apologize for letting you down earlier today. I hope the alternative arrangements I made for you worked out and got you to the airport on time. Nevertheless, I feel that, as a long-term customer, you deserve a clear explanation from me outlining the events that conspired to create this unfortunate event.
Leaving plenty of time to get through the snowstorm, I set off to pick you up from the Greenland hotel. However, with all the heavy snow and blizzard conditions, my car got stuck in the snow. Despite rocking, digging, cursing, and pushing, my car refused to budge.
Realizing that I wouldn’t be able to make it in time, I called my friend who owns a four-wheel-drive truck. Although I knew it wouldn’t make for the fanciest ride to Pearson Airport, I also knew my friend would get you there on time. I would have felt absolutely terrible if you’d missed your flight.
I sincerely hope I didn’t add to your journey’s stress and that I will soon be able to offer you a complementary ride when you’re next in Toronto.
Best Regards,
Sam Jones
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Task 1 Sample Answers – Academic
IELTS Task 1 Writing Sample for a Graph
Topic
This chart shows the library book borrowing habits of a small village population. Describe and explain the information you see depicted in the graph. What conclusions can you draw?
IELTS Writing Sample Answer
The illustration reveals the public library loans made to Clavering’s men and women between 2010 and 2013. The years are shown on the horizontal axis while the number of borrowed books is shown on the vertical axis.
Although the number of books that were lent to Clavering’s men and women over the three year period increased, women ultimately overtook men as the most prolific borrowers.
Initially women borrowed only half as many books as their male counterparts. That number rose steadily during the two subsequent years to reach 7000 books in 2012. At that point, the number of books being lent to women slowed considerably with only 500 more books being borrowed in the final year.
Men’s book borrowing stabilized after a rapid rise from 3000 to 6500 books in the first year. After 2011 the library’s loans to men settled down, neither rising nor falling significantly for the last two years of the period.
In conclusion, we can see that the borrowing habits of men and women changed during the time frame with women replacing men as the primary borrowers of Clavering library’s books.
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IELTS Task 1 Writing Sample for Bar Charts
Topic
These charts show the percentages of men and women in employment in three countries. Describe and explain the information you see depicted in the graph. What conclusions can you draw?
IELTS Writing Sample Answer
The charts illustrate men’s and women’s employment rates for Canada, South Korea, and Sweden during 2005 and 2015. Employment percentages are shown on the vertical axis, and countries are shown on the horizontal axis.
Overall, the proportion of working people increased during the period, with employed women showing the most significant increase.
In all three countries, the number of employed men exceeded that of women with Sweden having the highest rate of male employment – approximately 80% in 2005, followed by South Korea with 70% and Canada with 60%. By 2015, Canada had seen the greatest rise to 70%, Sweden had revealed an equal and concurrent drop, and South Korea’s employed men had risen by a mere 5%.
The proportion of employed women was lower than men in all of the countries during both years. It was below 50% everywhere in 2005, but the figures had risen by 2015. By then, over half of Canadian and Swedish women were working. South Korea’s numbers were significantly lower, rising from 30% in 2005 to 35% in 2015.
In conclusion, we can see that while all three countries witnessed an increase in employed women, South Korea was the only country where over twice as many men as women were employed during both years.
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IELTS Task 1 Writing Sample for a Map
Topic
The maps show some of the changes that have taken place in Dubai in recent decades. Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features and making comparisons where relevant.
IELTS Writing Sample Answer
These two maps compare Dubai in the past and the present. Looking at the maps, it is clearly evident that this area has developed considerably and become more modern and populous.
The only feature which has remained the same during these decades is the clock tower roundabout. Only a few trees have been planted around the edge of the roundabout.
In the past, there were a few buildings around the roads and most of the land was empty, sand-covered wasteland. However, the look of the present-day Dubai is quite different from the past. Skyscrapers and high-rises have been constructed at the sides of the roads, and billboards have been installed. As a result of the increase in traffic, the roads are now much more heavily used.
Overall, therefore, Dubai has become more developed and populated. Countless high buildings have filled the area, and there is a lot of traffic.
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IELTS Task 1 Writing Sample for a Pie Chart
Topic
These charts show survey results of the priorities of people in two age groups. Describe and explain the information you see depicted in the pie chart. What conclusions can you draw?
IELTS Writing Sample Answer
The diagrams reflect the findings of a survey in which people over and under thirty were asked about their priorities.
By describing what mattered to the participants in percentages, the pie charts show that there are both similarities and differences between the two groups.
The older group tended to focus more on achieving financial security and enjoying hobbies than the younger participants. At 25% and 21% respectively these were prioritized by almost half of the over thirties, whereas at 11% for both, less than a quarter of the under thirties thought these mattered much.
The under-thirties tended to prioritize opportunities for travelling, being gainfully employed, and looking good. At 22% , 21%, and 18% respectively, these were prioritized by almost two-thirds of this group’s members, whereas at 11% for travel and appearance, and 15% for work, less than half of the older group felt these categories were critical.
It is encouraging to see that both groups felt family was a priority. A full 17% of both groups prioritized family over the other options.
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Task 2 Sample Answers – Academic & General
Agree / Disagree Essay
Topic
In this agree-disagree essay for IELTS Writing Task 2, you’ll notice that the essay follows the standard essay format. It starts with an introduction where I identify both the topic and my two main ideas. I then expand on those two main ideas in my paragraphs before re-iterating them in my conclusion.
‘For all children, the ability to play a musical instrument is just as important as the ability to read and write.’ How far do you agree with this suggestion? How important is it for a child to learn to play a musical instrument, in your view?
IELTS Writing Sample Answer
Many people believe that learning how to play a musical instrument is just as crucial to a child as developing their literacy skills. While encouraging a child’s musical sense may be beneficial, my feeling is that it is far less critical than learning to read and write because few people become professional musicians, whereas literacy is a prerequisite to the education, training, and job opportunities that enable financial independence.
The importance of knowing how to play a musical instrument is often overblown with parents arranging music lessons for their children in the hope of boosting their chances of entering elite schools. Yet, the ability to play an instrument does little to give their children a competitive edge. Ultimately, knowing how to read and write well is what schools and employers require of their candidates.
That doesn’t mean that acquiring a musical skillset shouldn’t be encouraged. Several studies have shown that it can help with a child’s development of coordination, rhythm, relaxation, and expression; therefore, provided it doesn’t exert a financial burden on the family, music lessons can offer some advantages. However, on the whole, the gains that children make do not offset the sacrifices that accompany prioritizing learning to play an instrument over learning to read and write.
When all said and done, provided parents have the resources to give equal weight to literacy and music, there is no reason not to do so but, in situations where financial resources are limited, the gift of literacy should override music lessons because the long-term benefits are greater.
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Discussion Essay
Topic
Some people feel that the exploration of space justifies a large amount of government and private investment. Other people think that this field is of increasingly low relevance and should not be a priority.
Debate both sides of this discussion and explain your own view.
How important is it for us to explore space at the moment?
IELTS Writing Sample Answer
One of the highly contentious issues today relates to whether governments and corporations should prioritize investing in finding another planet to relieve earth’s overpopulation or focus on solving wealth disparities here on earth. My feeling is that our current earthly issues should be the primary focus of any resource allocation.
Pursuing space exploration is of paramount importance to some people because, sooner or later, humans will need a second planet. With its ongoing food crises, global warming and serious pollution, the Earth is showing signs of overpopulation and is gradually becoming uninhabitable. For this pro-exploration group, mankind’s survival depends on finding a new planet, making it habitable and moving to it.
The anti-exploration group argues that space exploration does not appear to benefit the majority of people and; therefore, more should be invested in finding solutions to the urgent problems mankind is facing. One such issue is the widening of the wealth disparity gap and the resulting mass migration and brain drain from poorer countries to richer countries. The slim likelihood that these ordinary citizens would ever set foot on a new planet leaves this group feeling that governments and corporations who invest in space exploration are, yet again, catering to the rich.
In conclusion, while the long-term goal of finding a new planet for earth’s overflow may be valid, my feeling is that, in the short term, our resources should target critical issues such as extreme poverty. Rather than funding the finding of another Earth, we should invest in the well-being of our own Earth and its people.
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Problem – Solution Essay
Topic
Many people today are worried about the large quantities of waste produced by ordinary households.
What problems are caused by household waste, and what solutions may be possible in both the short and the long term?
IELTS Writing Sample Answer
The alarming increase in household waste has become a serious issue creating problems for residential developments and demanding swift action by both homeowners and local governing bodies.
As landfills reach saturation point, pungent odors fill the air creating unpleasant living conditions for local residents and devaluing their properties. Moreover, since no-one wants to live near a landfill, the NIMBY attitude of ‘Not In My Backyard’ exacerbates the problem of land shortages for new housing developments.
Looking to the future, a three-step approach might offer an eco-friendlier result. In the first step, local governments would impose deterrents discouraging the generation of residential waste. Such deterrents might include limiting the amount of garbage that trash collectors are willing to pick up. The second step would take the form of educating the public about the 4Rs – recycle, reuse, replace and reduce. Where funding allowed, such awareness programs could be started in elementary schools where impressionable young children could easily be trained in the 4 Rs. The third step would take the form of tackling industry where copious amounts of packaging make a significant contribution to the amount of waste the average household has to deal with. With a little help from federal governments, manufacturers could be encouraged to rethink their product packaging.
In conclusion, residential waste adds to the burden of landfills, lowers our living quality and pollutes the air. The problem can be solved by imposing levies, educating the population, and tackling manufacturers packaging.
Opinion Essay
Topic
“Governments should impose a higher tax on fast food because of the increasing health issues associated with it.” To what extent do you agree or disagree?
IELTS Writing Sample Answer
All over the world, there is a tendency to blame the fast-food industry for the health issues and eating habits of local populations. Diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity and respiratory issues can all be traced back to diet, ill-health, and lifestyle choices. I tend to agree with the concept of placing higher taxes on these foods as this would increase the money available to treat people who determinedly eat fast food while at the same time encouraging others to choose healthier alternatives.
Unfortunately, for many people, convenience often overrules cost when dinner time approaches. Faced with the prospect of dirtying the kitchen to prepare a meal, and then dealing with all those dishes, it is easy to understand why someone would stop at a fast-food joint to pick up a no-mess supper. Since that convenience puts a huge burden on already over-stretched health systems, diverting a special tax to the medical infrastructure would help to ensure health-care coverage when illness eventually takes hold.
For others, who may both be a little more health conscious and a little less affluent, strengthening the relationship between expense and fast food might encourage organizing meal preparations for the work week more carefully so that getting meals does not automatically mean facing a messy kitchen.
In conclusion, it would seem that while imposing a higher tax on fast food might increase the resources available to health systems, it might also lift some financial strain by increasing the number of people who choose health through healthier meal options.
Double Question Essay
Topic
Weddings are getting bigger and more expensive.
What is the reason for this?
Is it a positive or negative development?
IELTS Writing Sample Answer
The trend towards lavish weddings may create job opportunities and successful companies within the wedding industry, but the resulting financial pressure that it puts on the young couples who get caught up in it can doom their marriages before they even get started.
Much of the encouragement toward bigger and better weddings comes from wedding companies’ publicity efforts. In their attempts to grow their businesses, they target young people, often through social media channels, showing them their services, decorations, and menus. By using celebrities to peddle their wares, these companies define what a luxurious wedding looks like, plot the course towards achieving it, and encourage young couples to spend heavily on ‘the most important day of their lives’.
While selling all these services creates a certain amount of employment for anyone interested in working in the wedding industry, it often encourages young people to spend far more on their weddings than they can really afford. It is not unheard of for newlyweds to start their married lives heavily in debt. With all the pressures that already come with married life, having this additional financial burden can be the straw that breaks the camel’s back, causing unnecessary friction. These young couples who thought they would soon be starting a family, suddenly realize that because of the amount they spent on their wedding, they will have to wait until they are either debt-free, or in a more financially stable situation.
In conclusion, the wedding business exploits young couples for profit and leaves those same couples facing unnecessary strains as they navigate what should be the happiest days of their lives.
How to get from IELTS 6.5 to 7+
- Use lots of subordinating conjunctions and referents
- Express your ideas efficiently using possessives, participles and parallels
- Be accurate with your tenses
- Use a variety of synonyms and vocabulary
- Don’t overuse conjunctive adverbs
- Only give your opinion if the question explicitly asks for it
- For writing prompts with two questions, write one paragraph for each question, and summarize them in the conclusion.
- Use appropriate transitions. What’s appropriate in a discussion essay may not be appropriate in a two-question essay.
- Leave enough time for proofreading. Double-check your punctuation, agreements, tenses, and anything you know you have trouble with.
- Say more about less
