IELTS WRITING TASK 1

Question

A glance at the graph provided reveals some striking similarities between changes in the price of three different commodities from 1978 to 2009. The graph also illustrates the general trend of consumer-price index.

Overall, it is apparent from the information supplied that there was an upward trend among the variation of three products’ prices and the figure for consumer-price index. Additionally, the increase in veggies’ price changing witnessed a fluctuation.

Clearly, the figures for consumer-price index and changes in sugar and sweets’ price tended to be fairly similar, both starting at 50% in 1979. The following years, these two figures witnessed a slow and steady rise, then reached somewhere in the vicinity of 200% in 2009.

In stark contrast, after seeing a moderate growth of 50% from 1979 to 1983, the figure for veggies’ price changing declined marginally in 1984. Meanwhile, changes in the price of sugary drinks remained unchanged at over 100% within 10 years from 1991 to 2001. However, it soon reached 150% in 2009. Regardless of the decrease in 1984, it is noteworthy that the variation of veggie’s price grew exponentially in 1985 and reached a peak at approximately 350% in 2009.

AlpheccaStars · Accepted Answer

Trang Nguyen 8417A glance at the graph

This is an essay for a university lecturer. Professors do not want you to glance at the material, but study it carefully so you can describe it precisely and accurately.

Do not use "glance" in Task 1, please.

Trang Nguyen 8417The graph also illustrates the general trend of consumer-price index.

That is not good.

The graph plots the values of the CPI. (Consumer price index).

Please read my advice for Task 1 essays. You make all the most common vocabulary mistakes.

IELTS TASK 1: Hints, Tips And Advice

Vocabulary Words For Task 1: Reference Post

AlpheccaStars · Answer

~~A glance at the graph provided reveals some striking similarities between changes in the price of three different commodities from 1978 to 2009.~~ The line graph compares the prices of three categories of food (fruits and vegetables; sugars and sweets; and carbonated beverages) with the consumer price index between 1978 and 2009. ~~also illustrates the general trend of~~ ~~consumer-price index.~~

Overall, ~~it is apparent from the information supplied that~~ (Delete. Read my advice. Focus on describing the graph itself.) there was an upward trend among the variation (That does not make sense) of three products’ (Products is incorrect. It is an entire category, or classification of many products.) prices and the figure (Wrong word. Read my advice.) for the consumer-price index. Additionally, the increase in veggies’ (unnatural) price changing witnessed (Wrong word. Read my advice.) a fluctuation. (Wrong word. Read my advice.)

Clearly, the figures (Wrong word. Read my advice.) for consumer-price index and changes in sugar and sweets’ price tended to be fairly similar, both starting at 50% (Wrong measure. The units are not percentages. Study the graph, no glancing!) in 1979. The following years, these two figures (Wrong word. Read my advice.) witnessed (Wrong word. Read my advice.) a slow and steady rise, then reached somewhere in the vicinity of (Very vague. Be precise in reporting the values) 200% in 2009.

In stark contrast, after seeing (Wrong word. Numbers cannot see things. They do not have experiences or witness events. Read my advice.) a moderate growth of 50% from 1979 to 1983, the figure (Wrong word. Read my advice.) for veggies’ price ~~changing~~ declined marginally in 1984. Meanwhile, changes in the price of sugary drinks remained unchanged at over 100% within 10 years from 1991 to 2001. However, it soon reached 150% in 2009. Regardless of the decrease in 1984, it is noteworthy that the variation (The variation is not what increased.) of veggie’s price grew exponentially in 1985 (incorrect) and reached a peak (Wrong word. Read my advice.) at approximately 350% in 2009.

AlpheccaStars · Answer

Here is a detailed explanation of this graph. It has been posted before by other students.

Note that all the lines cross in January 1983 at a value of 100. This is where the data for each commodity as well as the CPI is normalized. A "basket of goods" in each particular category is give a set index value of 100. For example, the "fruits and vegetables" category might include 1 kilo each of apples, carrots, potatoes, lettuce, onions, and pineapple.

If the price index goes to 200, that means that it costs twice as much to buy the same goods. For example, the prices of fresh fruits and vegetables were twice as high in 1994-1995 than they were in 1984. It also means that if you spent $5 to buy 2 kilos of fresh produce in 1984, you could buy only 1 kilo for $5 in 1994-1995; 2 kilos cost $10.

The increase in the CPI is called "inflation." The CPI includes many categories of living expenses - housing, food, transportation, and utilities. It measures how the cost of living is increasing or decreasing. Since food prices are an important component of the CPI, their curves are usually highly correlated. If the cost of living in general is increasing, one expects that food prices are increasing.

The rate of inflation is the percentage increase in one year. In this graph the CPI went from 100 in 1983 to 210 in 2009. That is an increase of 110 over a period of 26 years, or an average rate of 4.25%. The inflation rate for produce was more than double the general inflation rate, at 8.8%

Example essay.

This is much too long for a Task 1 essay, but it will give you some ideas on vocabulary, phrases, and simple calculations.

Paragraph 1: Describe the figure but not the data.

The line graph compares the relative price changes for three different categories of foods with consumer price index (CPI) from 1979 to 2009. The categories are fresh produce, sweets, and fizzy soft drinks.

Paragraph 2: Write two or three significant observations

Overall, all of the indices as well as the consumer price index had an upwards trend, but the increase for fresh fruits and vegetables was higher than the CPI and lower for the other two categories.

Paragraph 2: Write about some interesting details

In the initial period 1979 to 1983, inflation was quite high; prices went up by nearly two-thirds (from 60 to 100) over those four years. Between 1983 and 1987, inflation was relatively subdued; the CPI and indexes for two of the categories (sweets and drinks) was flat. The prices of fresh produce did increase slightly. Between 1983 and 2009, fresh produce prices increased at the highest rate, more than tripling (100 to 340). During that same period, the CPI went up by approximately a factor of two. The prices for fresh produce also showed more variation than the CPI. The category of carbonated drinks showed little change between 1991 and 1999 before resuming an upward trend, and growing from 120 to 150 in 2009.

IELTS WRITING TASK 1

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions