FASTRACK IELTS | IELTS ACADEMIC WRITING TASK 1 SAMPLE ANSWER

IELTS ACADEMIC
WRITING TASK 1

The graph below gives information about the percentage of

the population in four countries living in cities from 1970 to 2020,
with predictions for 2030 and 2040.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main

features and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least
150 words.

Percentage of the population living in cities

100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2030 2040

Argentina Brazil Uruguay Ecuador

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FASTRACK IELTS | IELTS ACADEMIC WRITING TASK 1 SAMPLE ANSWER

SAMPLE ANSWER
The line graph illustrates the changes in the proportion of city inhabitants in
four countries (Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Ecuador) over a 50-year period
ending in 2020, along with projections for the next two decades. Overall, it is
clear that urban populations have grown significantly, albeit at different rates
in each country, resulting in remarkably similar percentages. The forecast
predicts a slower rise in the coming years.

At the beginning of the period, the two countries with the smallest urban
populations were Uruguay and Ecuador, where around one-fifth lived in cities.
Half a century of steady growth meant that by 2020 the proportions had risen
to around 95% in Uruguay, making it the most urbanised country on the chart,
and to just under 70% in Ecuador.

In Brazil, while half lived in cities in 1970, in 2020 the number stood at a little
under 90%, despite falling by around 8% during the 1990s. Of the four nations,
Argentina maintained the highest percentage of urban population until it was
surpassed by Uruguay shortly before 2020. At the outset of the period, around
70% of Argentinians lived in cities, more than three times the proportion seen
in both Uruguay and Ecuador. Since then, growth has been more gradual,
eventually topping 90% in 2020.

Over the next twenty years, growth is expected to slow in the countries where
cities are currently home to nine out of every ten individuals, rising by no more
than 3%. Ecuador, however, should expect its percentage to reach 80% by
2040.

Word count: 253 words

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FASTRACK IELTS | IELTS ACADEMIC WRITING TASK 1 SAMPLE ANSWER

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