IELTS Writing Task 1 #154

TIP

  • Make sure you understand exactly what the visual shows. You get this key information from two sources: the first sentence of the task itself and the title of the visual(s).
  • Start with an introductory sentence which summarises what the visual shows. Don't simply copy down what's in the question, this is a waste of your time.
  • Take some time before you start writing to look for any improvements, reductions, fluctuations and similarities. Report the most striking point first.
  • Give data to support the claims you make by citing specific percentages. But you don't need to quote exact figures for every point. You will gain marks for showing that you can be selective.
  • Don't write too much: 150-200 words will be enough. You won't be given any extra marks for writing a longer piece, and you need to leave enough time for Task 2.

Related topic: Academic Task 1 Language Bank

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

The table below shows the results of surveys in 2005, 2010 and 2015 about McGill University.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Write at least 150 words.

Percentage of students giving good ratings for
different aspects of McGill University
IELTS Writing

Model answer

The table shows the change in attitude, over ten years, of students at McGill University to different aspects of its academic provision.

Overall, the most striking set of statistics relate to approval for student services. There was a sharp increase in the number of students giving these services a good rating, particularly in the first five years: from 54 percent in 2005, to 81 percent in 2010, and 95 percent in 2015. There was also an overall improvement in ratings for teaching quality, though the increase was relatively small (74 percent in 2005 rising to 78 percent in 2015) and there was a decline in the interim (72 percent in 2010). There was also a fluctuation in attitudes to library resources, rising from 86 percent to 88 percent in the first five years and then falling by one percent in 2015. Good ratings for the university’s sports and social facilities were identical throughout, at 65 percent. Finally, there were poor ratings at the beginning of the period for the range of modules offered (39 percent in 2005) and they got worse, falling steadily to 31 percent in 2010 and 25 percent in 2015.

(193 words)


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