IELTS Writing Tests From Cambridge IELTS Books 1-17
IELTS Writing Test 1, Task 1
WRITING TASK 1
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
The charts below show the average percentages in typical meals of three types of nutrients, all of which may be unhealthy if eaten too much.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.
Average percentages of sodium, saturated fats and added sugars in typical meals consumed in the USA
SAMPLE ANSWER
This is an answer written by a candidate who achieved a Band 6.5 score.
The diagrams illustrate the average proportions of three types of nutrients in typical meals, which can be unhealthy if consumed too much. The three types include sodium, saturated fats and added sugar. The data is taken from the United States of America.
The first chart shows the average percentages of sodium. Dinner contains the most sodium (43%). Breakfast and snacks include an equal proportion of sodium consumed, with each of them adding up 14% of sodium. Through eating lunch, 29% sodium is consumed. The second chart shows the percentages of saturated fat in meals. By eating dinner, 31% saturated fat is consumed. Lunch contributes to a consumption of 26% saturated fat, followed by snackswith 21% and breakfast with 16%. The last chart illustrates the proportions of added sugar. Snacks contain the highest amount of added sugar (42%). Dinner includes 23%A typical dinner includes 23% added sugar, while lunch contains 19% and breakfast includes 16%.
All in all, the diagrams show that every typical meal consumed in the USA contains a percentage of at least 14% of nutrients that can be unhealthy if eaten too much.
Here is the examiner’s comment:
The candidate has accurately reported the data for each chart and has presented a summary of the information, but could achieve a higher score by making comparisons across the charts, e.g. breakfast contains the lowest amounts of sodium, saturated fats and added sugar. The information is logically organized and there is a clear progression throughout the script. The main points are clearly signalled [The first chart | The second chart | All in all and there are examples of other cohesive devices [each of them]. The range of vocabulary is varied [data] contains an equal proportion of consumed | consumption | illustrates]. Minor errors do not cause misunderstanding [adding up 14% of sodium]. There is a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, using active, passive and modal verb forms and there is also subordination through the use of participles [Through eating lunch | By eating dinner | followed by]. More variety in grammatical structures would perhaps achieve a higher score.
IELTS Writing Test 1, Task 2
WRITING TASK 2
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. Write about the following topic:
Some people believe that it is best to accept a bad situation, such as an unsatisfactory job or shortage of money. Others argue that it is better to try and improve such situations.
Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
SAMPLE ANSWER
This is an answer written by a candidate who achieved a Band 7.0 score:
Some people believe that it is best to accept a bad situation, such as an unsatisfactory job or shortage of money. Others argue that it is better to try and improve such situations.
Based on my knowledge, some people choose to accept the fate that they have to undergo the bad situation as they believe that good things might come out of it. Their solution is simply to just go with the flow because they think that they will learn something new along the journey, For example, a student received a grade B for his Physics examination. However, he only needs one more mark to get an A. If a student requires to receive a mark percentage of 70% to get an A, this student got a 69% on his paper. As the teacher looked through the questions with the whole class, he notices that the teacher accidentally marked his correct answer to wrong. So, realistically, he should get an A. However, he chooses to leave his grade as a B because he believes that his current grade will be a motivation for him to improve and work harder to get a better grade in the next examination. Hence, this explains why some people choose to accept the bad situation.
Besides that, it is also mentioned that others argue that is better to try and improve such situations. I believe the reason they act that way is because they feel a little paranoid that the situation will become worse if they do not do so. For instance, a person had to undergo a shortage of money. Logically, they will feel a little paranoid that at one. point, they might have to experience an empty pocket and had to live in the streets. Regarding that matter, they figured out a solution to improvise such situations by getting an extra or part-time job. This solution will help them to gain extra money to pay their daily expenses such as water and electricity bills, This means that their problems are solved and they are now worry-free.
In my honest opinion, i strongly suggest that one can choose to act in both situations according to situations, When facing a problem, think of the best solution to solve it. If the situation requires you to simply ignore it, then Just do so. There is a no need in figuring out a way to improve those situations as it will take up your time and cause stress. However, if the situation requires you to take action quickly, by all means do so as you might not know what are the consequences if You ignore the problem.
In a conclusion, the main important thing when facing bad situations is to analyze the problem, then only You can react to them. Not all bad situations needs to be ignored and not all needs to be improved. Think wisely to get the best solution for all of your problems.
Here is the examiner’s comment:
The candidate has addressed all parts of the task and shows a clear position throughout the response. Ideas are presented, extended and supported. The response is logically organised and there is a clear progression throughout, with a range of cohesive devices [Based on | For example | However | Hence |Besides that | Regarding that matter | This solution | This means that | In my honest opinion], with only occasional awkwardness or error [act in both situations according to situations | In a conclusion]. Each paragraph contains a clear, central topic.
The range of vocabulary includes some less common items [fate|paranoid] and shows examples of style and collocation [go with the flow | figured out a solution problems are solved | my honest opinion]. Occasional errors do not prevent the message from coming through. There is a range of grammatical structures and these are usually accurate, although there are a few errors [some people chooses | might not know what are the consequences | Not all bad situations needs to be ignored]. The meaning is still clear, however.
IELTS Writing Test 2, Task 1
WRITING TASK 1
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
below shows the value of one country’s exports in various categories during 2015 and 2016. The table shows the percentage change in each category of exports in 2016 compared with 2015.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.
SAMPLE ANSWER
This is an answer written by a candidate who achieved a Band 6.0 score:
The value of a counry’s exports may vary in various categories in diferent years, Usual, the percentage of changes of exports earning will differ by year and category. Here is some information about a country’s exports earning based on the year 2015 and 2016.
First, 1 will start with the country’s most-making-making export which is petroleum producs. By the year 2016, th counry gained 3% more in the category than the year 2015. However, for gems and Jewelery, the. percentage of the export earing decreased by 5.18% by the year 2016.
Next, engineered goods earnings also follow the foot steps of petroleum product earning by gaining more than 8% on 2016 than 2015. The value increases from more than 50 billions to more than 60 bilions in just a year. This statistic also conclude that the engineers in he country have gained more by the year 2016.
Besides that, agricultural products and textiles also earned more wih 0.81% and 15.24 respectively. Even though, agricultural products does not gain more than 1%, it stills conclude that the products are still wanted by many people as it earned about more than 30 bilions for both years.
While for textures, it is seen that gains popularity in the year 2016. This is proved, when the statistic states that the earing was increased by more than 15.24% in the year 2016 based on the year 2015. Textile products earned about more than 25 billions in 2015 and earned more han 30 billions in the next year.
In conclusion, we can see that this country has overall succeed in the year 2016 than the year 2015. The country managed to gain about more than 22% in the year 2016 Even though gems and jewelry had a decreasing of earning by 5.18%, it is still the third money-making export product from the country.
Here is the examiner’s comment:
The response covers all the key features and presents an overview in the final paragraph. However, the rating could be improved by providing data in $ billions for earnings for each product (not just engineered goods and textiles). One of the comments is debatable [This statistic also conclude that the engineers in the country have gained more by the year 2016], Organisation follows the order of the bar chart, providing an overall progression, and there is some use of cohesive devices to signal a change of topic. The vocabulary used provides some variety of expression differ| gained | decreased), even if it is not aways appropriate [money-making | profitable | textures| textiles]. Errors occur [earning(s) | foot step / footstep | stills), but the intended meaning s clear. The candidate uses both simple and ‘complex sentence forms, but better control of both grammar and punctuation might result in a higher rating here.
IELTS Writing Test 2, Task 2
WRITING TASK 2
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. Write about the following topic:
Some people say that the main environmental problem of our time is the loss of particular species of plants and animals. Others say that there are more important environmental problems.
Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
MODEL ANSWER:
This model has been prepared by an examiner as an example of a very good answer. However, please note that this is just one example out of many possible approaches.
Some people consider that the loss of individual species of plants and animals is the main environmental problem of our time. Attempts to preserve rare or dying species are carried out in zoos or other specialist plant and animal facilities, through breeding programmes, preservation orders and other forms of protection and there was genuine sadness among many when the last surviving white rhino died earlier this year.
Survival of the fittest is nature’s way of ruthlessly allowing weaker specimens to die out, although mankind has also contributed to falling animal numbers through hunting and poaching. However, whether saving individual species should be the main focus of environmental protection is debatable. Climate change and excessive use of plastic are just two other major problems that deserve our attention.
The evidence of climate change is there for us all to see: rising sea levels and associated flooding with the loss of homes at low land levels are becoming more frequent. Many countries and island communities are now calling for urgent action to delay, halt or even reverse the process, although if we believe the experts, reversal is impossible. Habitable areas are gradually shrinking, often for some of the poorest groups of people, but there seems to be little obvious action taking place. If the major contributors to climate change will not support the reduction of greenhouse gases, there is little hope for the future.
Naturalists have also begun to expose the serious problems arising from discarded plastic waste. Birds and animals can die gruesome deaths through being trapped or caught up in plastic bags or ropes, while the long process required for these plastics to decay means that they remain a threat for many years to come. Worse, there is now beginning to be evidence of sea creatures ingesting smaller globules of disintegrating plastic, which harms them and all the other creatures in their particular food chain.
The loss of particular species, both flora and fauna, is cause for regret, but I do not agree that they are the most important environmental problems these days. If climate change and damage from plastic continue, there will be less land and less food for everyone, including plants and animals.