Please help me with IELTS task 1

Question

The chart below gives the information from a 2008 report about consumption of energy in the USA since 1980 with projections until 2030. Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

The given line chart illustrates the number of units of different types of energy consumed in America from 1980 to 2030.

Overall, it can be clearly seen that the usage of oil and petrol remains highest over the period. In addition, the figures for nuclear, solar/wind and hydropower stay unchanged in the given period of time.

In 1980, the total units of petrol and oil used in the USA are 35 quadrillion in comparison with about 17 quadrillion and 20 quadrillion units for cola and natural gas respectively. In 2005, the figure for petrol and oil increased sharply to over 40 quadrillion units and are estimated to rise to nearly 50 quadrillion by 2030. Meanwhile, despite some fluctuations, the figures for coal and natural gas will significantly go up to nearly 30 quadrillion and 25 quadrillion units as predicted in the given order.

Starting at only 3 quadrillion units in 1980, it is predicted that the consumption of nuclear and solar/wind will rise to 8 and 6 quadrillion units in 2030. On the other hand, the figure for hydropower remains stable over the period.

AlpheccaStars · Accepted Answer

The ~~given~~ (Do not use "given", "provided" or other such words. They are very unnatural here.) line chart (There are bar charts, pie charts, eye charts, flow charts and organization charts. There is no such thing as a line chart) illustrates (wrong word. Read my advice for the verbs to use.) the number of units of different types of energy (poor English, also what types are shown, How many? ) consumed (It is very bad form to use past tense for something that has not happened yet.) in America from 1980 to 2030.

Please read my advice for Task 1 essays.

IELTS TASK 1: Hints, Tips And Advice

Vocabulary Words For Task 1: Reference Post

Overall, ~~it can be clearly seen that~~ (Avoid useless and meaningless "dummy-it" clauses. They are only distracting.) the usage of oil and petrol (Poor coherence and cohesion. You did not mention this category in the opening paragraph.) remains highest over the period. In addition, the figures (wrong word. Read my advice about vocabulary) for nuclear, solar/wind and hydropower stay unchanged (That is not true. Look at Nuclear. The graph shows that it will be twice as much at the end compared to the beginning.) in the ~~given~~ (unnatural) period of time.

In 1980, the total (Did you do an addition?) units of petrol and oil used in the USA are 35 quadrillion in comparison with about 17 quadrillion and 20 quadrillion units for cola (Cola is a fizzy soft drink.) and natural gas respectively. In 2005, the figure for petrol and oil increased sharply to over 40 quadrillion units and are (wrong verb form) estimated to rise to nearly 50 quadrillion by 2030. Meanwhile, despite some fluctuations, (wrong word. Read my advice vocabulary.) the figures (wrong word. Read my advice.) for coal and natural gas will significantly go up to nearly 30 quadrillion and 25 quadrillion units as predicted ~~in the given order.~~

Starting at only 3 (wrong reporting. The amount for nuclear and solar/wind is 6 - Each of them has 3. IT is a very good idea to do additions in Task 1, but the words have to match. ) quadrillion units in 1980, it is predicted that the consumption of nuclear and solar/wind will rise to 8 and 6 quadrillion units in 2030. ~~On the other hand,~~ (That is not a good transition phrase for Task 1.) the figure for hydropower remains stable over the period.

AlpheccaStars · Answer

The first thing to do on the graphs that cover past and future is to determine what years are "past" and what years are "future."

You need to use past tense verbs for the past years and present or future tense for the "future" years.

In this task, any data points after 2008 are "future" and all the others are past. Why is that? Because the research project that made this line graph published it in 2008! So all data from 2008-2030 were predictions.

The next thing you have to do is to understand the units of measure, which is "Quadrillion units." Probably it means BTU equivalents, but use what is specifically labelled on the Y axis. There is a trick for wordy units of measure, and that is to give it an abbreviation in the opening paragraph. In this case, use Qu.

Then, you have to decide how you are going to group the six categories (fuel types) for comparisons. It is quite natural to group them into two higher-level categories: fossil fuels and renewable energy sources. Grouping categories and doing some very very elementary math (sums and divisions) is required to get the higher band scores for task 1 This writing needs to be at the university level.

Here is an outline of the sample essay below.

Paragraph 1: Describe the line graph - the six curves, the time frame and the units.

Paragraph 2: Give 2-3 main features: the dominance of fossil fuels, and the growth in demand.

Paragraph 3: Make comparisons between the categories from the beginning to the end of the time period shown.

It is more important in the limited word count that you have in Task 1, to focus on the "big picture", not the minutia. The task instructions are "summarize" and "main features". The instructions are not "cover all details."

The line graph shows the amounts of six types of fuel that were consumed in the US to produce energy from 1980 to 2008, with a forecast to 2030. They are petrol and oil, coal, natural gas, nuclear, solar/wind, and hydropower. The units of measurement are Quadrillion units (Qu).

Overall, the fossil fuels (oil, coal and natural gas) were the dominant sources of energy and they are forecast to remain so. Energy derived from renewables was minimal, and projections show only a slight increase. Total usage is expected to grow.

In 1980, the US used 83 Qu of energy from all sources, and that is projected to grow to 120 Qu in 2030. The highest proportion was for oil, 35 of 83 Qu in 1980, and that will be only slightly less, 50 of 120 Qu in 2030. When the other two fossil fuels fuels, coal and natural gas, are added in, it comes to 85% of the total, with the three renewable sources supplying about 15%. Although the amounts of nuclear and solar/wind are expected go up by 2-3 Qu from 2008, they still will represent a very small proportion of the total.

Please help me with IELTS task 1

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions