IELTS Writing Task 1
The table shows the number of international tourist arrivals (in thousands) in various countries in 2009 and 2010, together with the percentage change in these numbers.
| in 2009 | in 2010 | % Change | |
| France | 76 | 76 | 0 |
| USA | 66 | 67 | 1.5 |
| Spain | 55 | 56 | 1.8 |
| UK | 55 | 57 | 3.6 |
| Italy | 44 | 45 | 2.3 |
| Turkey | 32 | 46 | 33 |
| China | 22 | 34 | 55 |
| Germany | 10 | 24 | 109 |
| Hong Kong | 10 | 9 | -11 |
Report Plan:
- Paraphrase paragraph: shows>compares; tourist arrivals>tourists who arrived; various countries>9 countries; in 2009 and 2010>over a 2-year period
- Overview/summary paragraph: (1) numbers of tourist arrivals increased in most countries (2) the highest % increase was in Germany
- Paragraph 3: select, report and compare numbers for France, the USA, Spain and the UK
- Paragraph 4: select, report and compare numbers for the other countries
- Paragraph 5: compare the % change of international tourist arrivals in all the countries, in terms of increase/decrease.
Sample Band 9:
The table compares the numbers and the percentage change of international tourists who arrived in 9 countries over a 2-year period.
Overall, there was a rise in the number of international tourist arrivals in most countries, with the highest percentage increase in Germany.
In 2009 and 2010, 76,000 international tourists visited France, compared with figures of 66,000 who visited the USA in 2009, rising to 67,000 in 2010. These numbers were significantly higher than tourist arrivals in Spain and the UK. Both of these countries received 55,000 international visitors in 2009, increasing to 56,000 and 57,000 respectively in the following year.
There was also a slight rise in the figures for Italy, from 44,000 in 2009 to 45,000 in 2010. However, although the numbers were lower, international tourist arrivals in Turkey, China and Germany all rose markedly over this period. In contrast, the figures for Hong Kong fell by 1,000 to 9,000 between these years.
All the countries experienced a rise in the percentage of international tourist arrivals, except for France, where there was no change, and Hong Kong where the figures show a decline of 11% between the two years.
191 words
IELTS Writing Task 2: Some people think that men are naturally more competitive than women. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Essay Plan:
- Introduction: refer to the task question. My opinion: totally disagree
- Paragraph 2: competitiveness in sport: (1) Olympic games – judo, taekwondo (2) professional sports – football, tennis, athletics
- Paragraph 3: competitiveness at work: women achieve top jobs, no longer accept traditional roles
- Conclusion: completely disagree, men are not naturally more competitive
Band 9 Model Essay:
It is true that in some male-dominated societies, it is still widely believed that men are superior to women because they are more competitive and therefore achieve more. While it is unwise to dismiss all traditional ideas, I completely disagree with the argument that men are naturally more competitive than women.
In terms of sport, women have demonstrated a keen competitive spirit, equal to that of men. Firstly, this has long been obvious in Olympic sports, including very physical sports such as judo and taekwondo. In events such as show jumping, women compete against their male counterparts on equal terms. Secondly, professionalism in sport has fostered a competitive spirit among men and women equally. Women footballers, tennis players and athletes, for example, dedicate years of training to reach the top of their sport.
From the perspective of work, sexist attitudes towards women are disappearing. They are no longer considered to be the weaker sex, prepared to see men fill the top jobs and to accept a subordinate role. The glass ceiling which used to exist, ensuring that men had all the positions of authority in the workplace, has been broken. Women now compete with men for executive or managerial positions, rather than being satisfied with traditionally feminine roles, like cleaning or serving coffee. This distorted view of women is rapidly vanishing, as women compete to prove themselves good team players, with talent and determination to show their intelligence and skills.
In conclusion, I firmly believe that men are not naturally more competitive than women. The long, successful struggle of women to overcome gender bias has enabled them to prove their qualities.
271 words
IELTS Vocabulary from gender:
- a male-dominated society
Meaning: a society that benefits men in laws, education and day-to-day life, in which men have most of the power and influence
Example: A woman’s life in a male-dominated society is the worst experience for any woman.
- male counterparts
Meaning: a male that has the same role as another person in a different place or organization
Example: Wome have a more difficult time getting the same wages, benefits, and job opportunities as their male counterparts.
- sexist attitudes
Meaning: beliefs that women should be treated unfairly because of their gender
Example: In developed countries, sexist attitudes in the workplace are no longer tolerated by employers or employees.
- the weaker sex
Meaning: an offensive way to refer to women in general
Example: In the past, women were regarded as the weaker sex, and denied access to many manual jobs or careers in the armed forces or the police.
- to fill the top jobs
Meaning: to occupy the upper positions in a business or organization Example: More and more women are now filling the top jobs in the public and private sectors.
- to have a subordinate role
Meaning: to have a lower or less important position
Example: In the past, women expected to have a subordinate role in education, in the home and at work.
- a glass ceiling
Meaning: an invisible barrier within an organization that prevents women from obtaining top positions
Example: Many people believe that there should be more women in top management positions, but that a glass ceiling in many organizations is preventing this.
- traditionally feminine roles
Meaning: the traditional image of being a female that a woman presents to others.
Example: At one time, it was almost unheard of for men to undertake traditionally feminine roles, for example as nurses or cooks.
- a distorted view of women
Meaning: a view changed from the usual, original, natural, or intended form about women
Example: It is apparent that historical texts show a distorted view of women by portraying them unfairly and inaccurately and neglecting to mention important female figures.
- gender bias
Meaning: the action of supporting or opposing a particular person due to their gender in an unfair way, as a result of allowing personal opinions to influence your judgment
Example: Gender bias typically stems not from bad intentions, but from the perceived mismatch between the “typical woman” and the requirements of jobs that historically were held by men.
IELTS Vocabulary from traditional vs modern:
- to dismiss traditional ideas
Meaning: to decide that traditional ideas are not worth considering anymore
Example: Although the views of older people may sometimes seem unhelpful in today’s world, we should not dismiss all traditional ideas as irrelevant.
IELTS Vocabulary from sport:
- to foster a competitive spirit
Meaning: encourage the desire to beat others in a sports event
Example: Encouraging sport at school fosters a competitive spirit among students, instead of teaching children simply to do the best that they can in all aspects of life.
IELTS Vocabulary from communication and personality:
- to be a team player
Meaning: a person who willingly cooperates with others Example: Employees who are good team players are more likely to be selected for promotion.
Other vocabulary for IELTS Writing
- show jumping [noun]:
Meaning: the competitive riding of horses individually over a set course of obstacles in which the winner is the horse and rider with fewest mistakes in the time allowed.
Example: Women riders often win the gold medal in the show jumping event in the Olympics.
- to dedicate [verb]:
Meaning: to give a lot of time and effort to an activity, because you think that it is important
Example: She dedicated herself to studying for her exams.
- to vanish [verb]:
Meaning: to disappear completely
Example: The police are searching for a man who vanished from his home last month.
