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2021

IELTS Report, topic: Two pie charts describing UK tax revenue and government spending (from IELTS High Scorer’s Choice series, Academic Set 2)

This is a model response to a Writing Task 1 topic from High Scorer’s Choice IELTS Practice Tests book series (reprinted with permission). This answer is close to IELTS Band 9.

Set 2 Academic book, Practice Test 6

Writing Task 1

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

The pie charts below show the sources for UK tax revenue for last year and the total UK government spending for last year.


Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

You should write at least 150 words.

Two pie charts describing UK tax revenue and government spending (from IELTS High Scorer's Choice series, Academic Set 2 book)

Sample Band 9 Report

This report is describing two pie charts, one that shows the sources for UK tax revenue and another that shows how the UK government spent their money. Both charts show statistics from last year.

It can be clearly seen that income tax was the biggest source of revenue for the UK, and pensions were the largest expenditure area.

The sources that the UK government was most dependent on last year were income tax, which made up 28% of tax revenue, national insurance taxes, which made up 21% and value added tax, which made up 17%. The sources that contributed the least to tax revenue were fuel duty, business rates and council tax, each making up 5% of total revenue. The remaining sources of money for the UK government were corporation tax (8%) and other, undefined sources (11%).

The pie chart describing the total UK government spending for last year shows that most of the money gained from taxation went on pensions (20%), health care (18%), welfare (17%) and education (14%). The least amount of money went to general government and to transport, both areas receiving 3% of the money each. 7% of the money went to other spending, and the remaining money went to defense (7%), interest payments on debt (6%) and protection in the form of law, police, fire department etc. (5%).

Go here for more IELTS Band 9 Reports

IELTS test in Qatar and UK – September 2021 (Academic Module)

Our lovely friend R.N took the IELTS test in Qatar and remembered the following details. Another test taker confirmed that the same questions were seen in the UK.

Listening test

Part 1. Booking of a holiday package for children.
Part 2. Two students were discussing their research.
Part 3. About a vegetable farm and its various products.
Part 4. About the evolution of human language.

Reading test

Passage 1. The development of tea trade.
Passage 2. Don’t remember.
Passage 3. Water conservation techniques.

Writing test

Writing task 1 (a report)

We were given two bar graphs. The first one was showing some data on import of goods from China to Australia. The second was describing the trade between China and Australia.

Writing task 2 (an essay)

Some people believe that happiness and emotional maturity are more important than physical health, while others disagree. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Speaking test

Part 1 (Interview)

– What is your full name?
– Can I see your ID?
– Do you work or study?
– What do you do?
– Do you like your job?
– What is the role of technology at your workplace?
– Where can we see advertisements these days?
– Have you ever bought anything after seeing an ad on TV?
– Would you watch the whole advertisement video on TV?

Part 2 (Cue Card)

Talk about a city you would like to live in, in the future. Please say

– what city it is
– where it is
– what you know about it
– and explain why you would like to live there in the future.

Part 3 (Discussion)

– What would you look for in a city?
– What is the difference between older and younger generations when it comes to choosing a place to live?
– What changes did technology bring to our parks?
– Would you like to live on the Moon in the future?
– What do you do when you are stuck in traffic?