Using Prepositions in Writing Task 1

Choose the right preposition to complete the sentences below:

• for
• of
• to
• as
• by
• down
• in
• over
• no word

Sentence Completion

1. The number of sales rose …….. 5,000 from 20,000 to 25,000.
2. The percentage of boys playing sport was 45% as opposed ……… girls at 30%.
3. While, the sales fell ……… to 150 in 1990, they rose again to 300 by 2010.
4. The sales in December accounted …… about 50% of the total annual sales.
5. There was a downward trend in the number of people visiting online stores ….. a period of three months.

Answers

The answers are now available for this lesson.

For answers, click here: Answers to this lesson

All the best

Liz

A model answer for an IELTS complex table for writing task 1.  The table below was reported in 2017 and again in 2023. IELTS do like to recycle writing task 1 charts, tables etc which is why you need to review tasks from previous years. It is not common to be given a table with so many categories and numbers, but when you get it, you must be prepared to group information together in a logical way rather than ignore categories completely. This model answer will help you understand how to organise the information. 

IELTS Complex Table

Download a word doc of this table by clicking: IELTS Complex Table

Source: IELTS Liz

Band 9 Table Model Answer

This model answer was provided by Tony Grace, experienced IELTS tutor. 

The tables illustrate the proportion of people assessing six aspects of one city’s life as good, average, or bad, in 1980 and 2010.

Overall, healthcare, education, and the environment were given the highest scores in both years, and transport facilities received the lowest.  Meanwhile, education’s rating rose over the period, while that of transportation fell.

In 1980, people rated healthcare, education, and the environment the highest, with over 80% approving of healthcare, while the other two had figures of 72%.  Under 10% of respondents thought these three services were bad.  As for shopping and unemployment, both had similar figures, as 62-64% expressed approval, and 22-24% said they were average.   Only a half of those surveyed gave a high score to transportation, with roughly a third stating it was bad.

Turning to 2010, the most significant changes were seen in education, as over 80% were happy with it, and in healthcare whose good rating fell to 74%.  The employment situation improved, as in 2010, almost three-quarters of those asked expressed satisfaction.  In contrast, approval of the transport facilities fell to 39%, and a similar proportion stated it was bad.  Finally, with regard to the environment and shopping, their approval levels both remained relatively unchanged.

IELTS Writing Task 1 Links

You can find more FREE model answers, tips and videos for writing task 1 by clicking here: IELTS Writing Task 1 

See writing task 1 band score tips: Band Scores 5 to 8 Tips

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Useful tips and link for vocabulary, content & paragraphs for IELTS writing task 1 line graphs.

Below I have listed some useful links to learn about IELTS line graphs. Line graphs are quite common in IELTS writing task 1.

There are six types of IELTS writing task 1 for the academic paper:

1. line graph
2. bar chart
3. table
4. map
5. diagram
6. pie charts

Sample IELTS Line Graph

Source: IELTS Cambridge English Test Books

You must prepare for all types of charts in academic writing task 1. You might also be given a combination of a line graph with a table for example. Writing task 1 is worth about 33% of your total writing marks so it’s worth learning well.

Tips for IELTS Line Graphs

Here are some useful tips for Line Graphs:

1. Introduce the time frame and individual categories
2. the overview will contain the main trends over the whole period  – a bird’s eye view
3. use language of change for line graphs: increase, drop, fluctuate etc (see below)
4. vary your sentence structures: “the number of sales decreased over the period / there was a decrease in the number of sales …”
5. support sentences in the body paragraphs with data – time frame and numbers
6. don’t spend more than 20 mins on task 1
7. make sure you have four paragraphs (occasionally five are possible)
8. don’t overload your writing with small details – be selective
9. aim for between 160 and 180 words
10. task 1 is a report, not an essay

IELTS Line Graph Lessons

Click on the links below to access the pages to learn about line graphs:

• Nouns and Verbs for IELTS Line Graph
• Adjectives and Adverbs with Tips
  • both the above links provide useful language to describe the changes in a line graph.
• Gap Fill Practice for Line Graph
• Two Lines Model Answer Exercise
  • both the above links are exercises to practice using language for line graphs.
• Three Lines Model Answer
• Line Graph & Bar Chart Model
  • both model answers above will help you understand more about describing line graphs
• Practice Charts for Academic IELTS Writing Task 1
• All my IELTS Writing Task 1 Tips & Model Answers

You can find a student’s copy of the writing task 1 table from 30th September (2 days ago)  in the link below:

However, the table is not accurate and it has not been completed.

If you took the test on Sept 30th, please can you complete the table and email it to me? ieltsliz789@gmail.com. That way, I will be able to write a model answer for it.

Word Doc: WT1 Table 30 Sept Incomplete

Thanks

Liz

Hi guys,

A lot of students have asked me if they can get extra paper to write a plan for their IELTS writing task 1 and writing task 2. They want to know what paper they can use for planning.

Planning is an essential part of your writing. 50% of your marks is based on choosing information, deciding how to present it and planning organisation. This means all ideas need to be planned in full before you start writing. See this page about Tips for IELTS Essay Planning.  You can find the marking criteria for writing task 2 on this page: IELTS Writing Task 2 Band Score

Where can you plan your essay?

The answer is that you use your question paper to write your plan.

At the end of your test, you will hand in your question paper. BUT the examiner will not see it and it will not be marked. So, you need to use the question paper to plan your writing for task 1 and task 2.

Please share any of your tips or experience for essay planning in the comments box below:

Hi guys,

Here are the answers to yesterday’s exercise about using synonyms in IELTS writing task 1. I think it was a good exercise because I see many students have different answers and are unclear about collocations. Mistakes in vocabulary will lower your score.

Let me know if the lesson was useful 🙂

Questions

Are the verbs correct in the sentences below? Are they Right or Wrong?

1. More boys than girls enjoyed sport.
2. Fewer girls participated in tennis than boys.
3. Almost twice the number of boys played cycling.
4. More girls took part in swimming compared to boys.
5. The majority of boys engaged in football.
6. More girls competed in badminton than boys.

Answers

1. W = Wrong. The chart is about playing sport but about enjoying it. The chart does not give information about how boys or girls felt. This would be marked as a mistake.
2. R = Right. The verb “participate in” works well as a synonyms for “play” when referring to sport.
3. W = Wrong. The verb “play” is not possible with the noun “cycling”. This is a mistake with vocabulary – an incorrect collocation. When writing or talking about cycling, we can use the verb “do”.
4. R = Right. The verb “take part in” works well as a paraphrase for “play” in this context.
5. W = Wrong. The verb “engage” is incorrect when writing about sport.
6. W = Wrong. The verb “compete” is about competitions. This chart is about playing sports, not competing in sports. This would be marked as a vocabulary mistake.

Comment

You can see that paraphrasing is about deciding if nouns and verbs match. It is about understanding the context. It is about choosing correctly.  Some words will be repeated – this is normal in English.

Paraphrasing Video

Watch this video to learn more about being careful with paraphrases.

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It is important to use synonyms in IELTS writing task 1. Paraphrasing will help you get a higher band score for writing task 1. However, you need to be careful not to make mistakes.

Look at the chart below and then answer the questions.

IELTS Bar Chart Synonyms

Synonyms Practice Exercise

The bar chart above is about “playing sport”. The list of sports are: tennis, badminton, cycling, swimming, football and hockey.  The verbs below are in past tense as the date is 2012.

Decide if the following synonyms are Right (R) or Wrong (W).

1. More boys than girls enjoyed sport.   (enjoyed sport = Right or Wrong?)
2. Fewer girls participated in tennis than boys. (participated in tennis = R or W?)
3. Almost twice the number of boys played cycling. (played cycling = R or W?)
4. More girls took part in swimming compared to boys. (took part in swimming – R or W?)
5. The majority of boys engaged in football. (engaged in football- R or W?)
6. More girls competed in badminton than boys. (competed in badminton = R or W?)

Answers

See the answers: Click here: Answers to this Exercise

To see model answers and tips for IELTS writing task 1, click: IELTS Writing Task 1 Page