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IELTS Writing Samples

IELTS essay samples (writing task 2), report and letter samples (writing task 1) with Band Scores, marked by IELTS teachers, including comments and suggestions on how to increase your score

IELTS Report, topic: Pie charts of greenhouse gas emissions (from IELTS High Scorer’s Choice series, Academic Set 4)

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 4 Academic book, Practice Test 16

Writing Task 1

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

The pie charts below show the greenhouse gas emissions for last year by sector for Australia and New Zealand.

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

You should write at least 150 words.

Multiple bar chart of US processed food export markets (from IELTS High Scorer's Choice series, Academic Set 3 book)

Sample Band 9 Report

The two pie charts give statistical information on the sources of greenhouse gas emissions in Australia and New Zealand for last year.

Overall, it is interesting to note that in both Australia and New Zealand, various areas of agriculture were responsible for the most significant production of greenhouse gases last year.

The top three sources of greenhouse gas emissions in Australia were agricultural methane (29%), transport (25%) and electricity generation (19%). The first two were also the principal sources in New Zealand, although agricultural methane was slightly higher at 32% and transport was slightly lower at 19%.

The other four sources of greenhouse gas emissions in Australia were agricultural nitrous oxide, other energy, industrial processes and solvents and waste at 11%, 7%, 5% and 4% respectively. New Zealand was similar, though agricultural nitrous oxide (15%) was higher than electricity generation (10%). Other energy, industrial processes and solvents and waste followed in the same order as Australia, at 16%, 6% and 2% respectively.

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IELTS Letter, topic: Complaining about problems on your train journey

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 4 General Training book, Practice Test 16

Writing Task 1

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

You recently travelled by train on a long journey and you experienced various problems. Write a letter to the train company’s head office.

In your letter,

– give the details of your journey, including the date, time and where you sat
– explain the problems that happened and express your dissatisfaction
– ask about what action will be taken to improve the service

You should write at least 150 words.

You do NOT need to write any addresses. Begin your letter as follows:

Dear Sir / Madam,

Sample Band 9 Letter

Dear Sir / Madam,

Last week on the twenty-first of May, I travelled from Rome to Berlin as a passenger on the train Express 302, presumably under your management. I experienced several inconveniences and problems throughout the long and strenuous journey, and I would like to make an official complaint.

Firstly, the train was delayed one hour due to a malfunction with the doors. In addition to this, the train had to stop several times throughout the trip for a lengthy amount of time due to other technological problems. As a result, I arrived in Berlin three hours later than initially planned, which drastically changed my personal schedule. Secondly, the train was severely overbooked, and I was switched from first class to second class, where I was made to sit among a loud and obnoxious family. Contrary to what was advertised, there was no Internet available, and I was unable to complete some important business. Finally, when I went to complain calmly about the situation, the on-train personnel were unnecessarily rude.

I hope that you can appreciate that I have had a terrible experience with your company, and I look forward to reading in your reply about what action you intend to take.

Yours faithfully,

John Davies

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