IELTS Task 1: Australian Exports

The line chart shows exports in billions of dollars.

The line chart details exports from Australia to Japan, the United States, China, and India from
1990 to 2012. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that total exports to
India and particularly China rose, while US and Japanese exports declined. By the end of the
period, Chinese exports had become most common, followed by Japanese, American, and finally
Indian ones.

The figure for Japan began the period significantly higher than other nations at over $26 billion
before a sharp decline over the next 5 years to around $20 billion and a more minimal downward
trend until 2012 to finish at near $17 billion. In marked contrast, China in 1990 only received $3
billion in exports and this figure grew exponentially, especially after the year 2000 and reached a
peak of $28 billion in 2012.

The data for the United States fluctuated around $10 billion until 2000, then declined and
recovered slightly to finish the time surveyed at $6 billion. Similarly, Indian exports stood at
around $1 billion for the first ten years detailed, actually overtook the United States with $7
billion in 2010 and then ended the period slightly lower than the USA.
Analysis
1. The line chart details exports from Australia to Japan, the United States, China, and India from
1990 to 2012. 2. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that total exports to
India and particularly China rose, while US and Japanese exports declined. 3. By the end of the
period, Chinese exports had become most common, followed by Japanese, American, and finally
Indian ones.

1. Paraphrase what the table shows.

2. Write a clear overview summarising the differences.
3. You might need another sentence for your overview.

1. The figure for Japan began the period significantly higher than other nations at over $26
billion before a sharp decline over the next 5 years to around $20 billion and a more minimal
downward trend until 2012 to finish at near $17 billion. 2. In marked contrast, China in 1990
only received $3 billion in exports and this figure grew exponentially, especially after the year
2000 and reached a peak of $28 billion in 2012.

1. Begin writing about the data for the first categories.

2. Make sure you compare as much as possible.

1. The data for the United States fluctuated around $10 billion until 2000, then declined and
recovered slightly to finish the time surveyed at $6 billion. 2. Similarly, Indian exports stood at
around $1 billion for the first ten years detailed, actually overtook the United States with $7
billion in 2010 and then ended the period slightly lower than the USA.

1. Write about the final, other parts of the graph - include everything!
2. Compare the categories.
3. Don't leave anything out!

Vocabulary
What do the words in bold below mean? Take some notes on a piece of paper to aid your
memory:

The line chart details exports from Australia to Japan, the United States, China, and India from
1990 to 2012. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that total exports
to India and particularly China rose, while US and Japanese exports declined. By the end of
the period, Chinese exports had become most common, followed by Japanese, American, and
finally Indian ones.

The figure for Japan began the period significantly higher than other nations at over $26 billion
before a sharp decline over the next 5 years to around $20 billion and a more minimal
downward trend until 2012 to finish at near $17 billion. In marked contrast, China in 1990
only received $3 billion in exports and this figure grew exponentially, especially after the year
2000 and reached a peak of $28 billion in 2012.

The data for the United States fluctuated around $10 billion until 2000, then dropped and
recovered slightly to conclude the time surveyed at $6 billion. Similarly, Indian exports stood
at around $1 billion for the first ten years detailed, actually overtook the United States with
$7 billion in 2010, and then ended the period slightly lower than the USA.

Answers
Try to write down or think of an antonym/opposite word for further practice:

details shows

exports products sent out of a country to another country

Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that total exports overall

particularly especially

declined decreased

By the end of the period at the end of the time shown

most common happened more often

followed by after that

finally in the end

figure data

period significantly time greatly

before prior to

sharp decline big fall

over the next 5 years to around for the next 5 years hovering at about

more minimal downward trend going down slightly for a while

near close to
In marked contrast much different

received got

grew exponentially increased a lot

especially in particular

reached a peak of got to high point of

data figure

fluctuated around erratic near

until up to

dropped fell a lot

recovered slightly came back up a little

conclude the time surveyed finish the chart at

Similarly the same as

stood at was at

for the first ten years detailed the initial decade shown

actually overtook in fact surpassed

ended finished

slightly lower a little less than

Pronunciation
Practice saying the words below using this tip with Google voice dictation:

ˈdiːteɪlz
ˈɛkspɔːts
ˈlʊkɪŋ frɒm ən ˈəʊvərɔːl pəˈspɛktɪv, ɪt ɪz ˈrɛdɪli əˈpærənt ðæt ˈtəʊtl ˈɛkspɔːts
pəˈtɪkjʊləli
dɪˈklaɪnd
baɪ ði ɛnd ɒv ðə ˈpɪərɪəd
məʊst ˈkɒmən
ˈfɒləʊd baɪ
ˈfaɪnəli
ˈfɪgə
ˈpɪərɪəd sɪgˈnɪfɪkəntli
bɪˈfɔː
ʃɑːp dɪˈklaɪn
ˈəʊvə ðə nɛkst 5 jɪəz tuː əˈraʊnd
mɔː ˈmɪnɪml ˈdaʊnwəd trɛnd
nɪə
ɪn mɑːkt ˈkɒntrɑːst
rɪˈsiːvd
gruː ˌɛkspəˈnɛnʃ(ə)li
ɪsˈpɛʃəli
riːʧt ə piːk ɒv
ˈdeɪtə
ˈflʌktjʊeɪtɪd əˈraʊnd
ənˈtɪl
drɒpt
rɪˈkʌvəd ˈslaɪtli
kənˈkluːd ðə taɪm sɜːˈveɪd
ˈsɪmɪləli
stʊd æt
fɔː ðə fɜːst tɛn jɪəz ˈdiːteɪld
ˈækʧʊəli ˌəʊvəˈtʊk
ˈɛndɪd
ˈslaɪtli ˈləʊə

Vocabulary Practice
Remember and fill in the blanks. Note it on a piece of paper so you can remember better:

The line chart d_______s e_______s from Australia to Japan, the United States, China, and India
from 1990 to 2012. L___________________________________________________________s
to India and p__________y China rose, while US and Japanese exports d________d.
B_________________________d, Chinese exports had become m_____________n,
f_________________y Japanese, American, and finally Indian ones.

The f________e for Japan began the p___________d s________________y higher than other
nations at over $26 billion b_______e a s____________e
o________________________________d $20 billion and a m__________________________d
until 2012 to finish at n_____r $17 billion. I______________________t, China in 1990 only
r_________d $3 billion in exports and this figure g___________________y, e____________y
after the year 2000 and r_____________________f $28 billion in 2012.
The d____a for the United States f__________________d $10 billion u______l 2000, then
d________d and r____________________y to c___________________________d at $6
billion. S___________y, Indian exports s_____________t around $1 billion
f_______________________________d, a_________________k the United States with $7
billion in 2010, and then e________d the period s_____________r than the USA.

Listening Practice
Listen to the related topic below and practice with these activities:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTRQsa3jpXU

Reading Practice
Read more and use these ideas to practice:

https://www.china-briefing.com/news/opportunities-for-australian-businesses-in-china-in-2022/

Speaking Practice
Practice with the following related questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:

Where you Live

1. Where is your hometown?

2. Would you like to live there in the future?
3. What don’t you like about your home?