Course:
IELTS Express
The IELTS Academic Writing module assesses your ability to write coherently and appropriately for an academic context, testing your capacity to describe data and present a well-supported argument. It consists of two compulsory tasks.
Task 1 requires you to write a summary report of at least 150 words in approximately 20 minutes. You are given a visual representation of information, which could be a graph (line, bar, pie), a table, a process diagram, or a map.
The main objective is to summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features and making comparisons where relevant. You must not give your opinion.
The bar chart below shows the percentage of global energy consumption by four different fuel sources between 1995 and 2015.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
The provided bar chart illustrates the proportion of total world energy used across four fuel types—oil, natural gas, coal, and nuclear power—over a two-decade period, from 1995 to 2015.
Overall, oil remained the dominant fuel source throughout the period, despite a slight decline, while natural gas and coal saw moderate increases in their share of global consumption. In contrast, nuclear power consistently represented the smallest percentage.
In 1995, oil accounted for the highest consumption at 35%, which experienced a minor drop to 33% by 2015. Coal followed as the second-largest source, rising steadily from 25% to 30% over the period, significantly closing the gap with oil. Similarly, natural gas consumption grew from 20% in the initial year to 25% by the end of the period, demonstrating the greatest proportional rise.
Nuclear power maintained the lowest share of the four fuels, beginning and ending at approximately 10%. While it saw a brief dip to 8% in 2005, its contribution to global energy remained relatively stable, unlike the more significant shifts seen in the consumption of coal and natural gas. (160 words)
Task 2 requires you to write a formal academic essay of at least 250 words in approximately 40 minutes. This task contributes two-thirds of your total Writing score. You must respond to an opinion, argument, or problem.
The main objective is to present a clear and well-developed argument in response to the topic. This involves stating your opinion, supporting it with relevant ideas, justifying your position, and using examples from your own knowledge or experience.
International tourism has brought enormous benefit to many places. At the same time, there is concern about its impact on local inhabitants and the environment. <!–>Do the disadvantages of international tourism outweigh the advantage–>s?
International tourism has undeniably grown into a global behemoth, bringing substantial economic advantages to numerous regions. However, this growth is increasingly scrutinised due to its detrimental effects on local communities and the planet. While acknowledging the financial benefits, I believe that the disadvantages of mass international tourism currently outweigh the advantages.
The primary benefit of global travel is the financial injection into local economies. Tourism creates jobs, stimulates infrastructure development, and generates income that can be reinvested in public services. For example, countries like Thailand and New Zealand rely heavily on tourism revenue to support their national economies and preserve natural parks. Furthermore, tourism promotes cultural exchange, allowing people to broaden their perspectives and break down national barriers.
Nevertheless, the negative impacts are severe and often irreversible. Environmentally, mass tourism is a significant contributor to carbon emissions from air travel, habitat destruction to build resorts, and excessive waste generation. Socioculturally, it often leads to what is termed “cultural commodification,” where local traditions are stripped of their authenticity and performed solely for commercial gain. More critically, it drives up the cost of living and housing in popular destinations, forcing original inhabitants out of their communities—a phenomenon known as the “overtourism” crisis.
In conclusion, although tourism offers vital economic lifelines to many destinations, the unchecked damage to the environment and the displacement of local residents represent costs that are too high. Therefore, a shift towards highly regulated, sustainable travel models is necessary to mitigate the current overwhelming disadvantages. (272 words)
