Writing: Model

The IELTS Teacher

Mastering IELTS Writing: Model Answers

The graph below shows the quantities of goods transported in the UK between 1972 and 2000 by four different modes of transport.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main fea- tures, and make comparisons where relevant.



The graph demonstrates how many tonnes of goods were transported in the UK by four separate forms of transport from 1972 to 2000.

Overall, it is clear that the highest tonnage of goods was distributed by road during the period. Conversely, pipeline was the conveyance method which carried the lowest weight throughout.

Focusing on water and rail as means of transport, these distributed 39 million and 40 million tonnes of goods respectively in 1972. By 1976, their figures were identical at 40 million tonnes, after which water conveyance increased considerably as rail transportation fell. Rail distribution eventually recovered following some fluctuation to 41 million tonnes transported in 2000. Mean- while, transport via water levelled out around 59 million tonnes before dipping in 1996 and then rising to 62 million in 2000.

As for haulage via road and pipeline, the former rose from 72 million tonnes in 1972 to about 98 million in 2000, while the latter began at 2 million tonnes before growing by 20 million over the next twenty years, remaining at approx- imately 22 million until the century’s end.

The graph below shows the consumption of fish and some different kinds of meat in a European country between 1978 and 2003.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main fea- tures, and make comparisons where relevant.

300
Fish and meat consumption

Grams per person per week
225
150
75
0
1978 1983 1988 1993 1998 2003
Adapted from Cambridge IELTS 7

The graph illustrates the amounts of fish and different types of meat which were consumed in a country in Europe from 1978 to 2003.

Overall, what stands out from the graph is that while the consumption rates of beef, lamb and fish fell over the period, the figure for chicken rose significant- ly within that time.

Focusing on the red meats, beef began the period as the most heavily con- sumed product studied, with 220 grams eaten per person per week. There was some fluctuation thereafter until 1993, after which the number dropped steadily to around 120 grams in 2003. Lamb similarly underwent a decline over the period, falling from 150 to about 70 grams over the quarter century.

Chicken and fish, on the other hand, did not experience these significant downward trends. Although fish consumption did fall during the period, the drop was very slight from 60 to approximately 45 grams. The amount of chicken consumed, in contrast, soared from just under 150 grams in 1978 to just below 250 grams in 2003.