The table below shows social and economic indicators for four countries in 1994, according to United Nations statistics. Describe the information shown below in your own words. What implications do the indicators have for the countries?

(Sample IELTS Essay)

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Task 1: Living Standards – Canada, Japan, Peru, Zaire

Discuss with a partner. What information could you write in an IELTS task 1 essay?

The table below shows social and economic indicators for four countries in 1994, according to United Nations statistics. Describe the information shown below in your own words. What implications do the indicators have for the countries?

Indicators	Canada	Japan	Peru	Zaire
Annual income per person (in $US)	11,100	15,760	160	130
Life expectancy at birth	76	78	51	47
Daily calorie supply per person	3,326	2,846	1,927	1,749
Adult literacy rate (%)	99	99	68	34

Write in the missing words

The chart compares living standards in Japan, Canada, Peru and Zaire in (1) ________________, according to four criteria. From this information, we can see the clear differences between (2) ________________ and (3) ________________ countries.

(4) ________________ was the richest of the four nations, with a GDP of $US (5) ________________ per person. This was slightly higher than Canada’s figure of just over $US (6) ________________. Both countries had long life expectancies, at (7) ________________ and (8) ________________ for Japan and Canada respectively. Canadians consumed an average of (9) ________________calories a day, which was about (10) ________________ percent higher than Japanese consumption. The literacy rates were almost (11) ________________ percent in both countries.

On the other hand, the figures show that Peru and Zaire were both very poor, with GDPs of $US (12) ________________ and $US (13) ________________ respectively. People from these countries had life expectancies of only (14) ________________ and (15) ________________ and they consumed much fewer calories than people from richer countries. Only (16) ________________ percent of Peruvians could read and write in (17) ________________, but this was (18) ________________ the figure for Zaire.

Overall, the table shows that people in rich countries have a much higher standard of living than those who live in poor nations.

Answers

The chart compares living standards in Japan, Canada, Peru and Zaire in (1) 1994, according to four criteria. From this information, we can see the clear differences between (2) rich and (3) poor countries.

(4) Japan was the richest of the four nations, with a GDP of $US (5) 15,760 per person. This was slightly higher than Canada’s figure of just over $US (6) 11,000. Both countries had long life expectancies, at (7) 78 and (8) 76 for Japan and Canada respectively. Canadians consumed an average of (9) 3,326 calories a day, which was about (10) 10 percent higher than Japanese consumption. The literacy rates were almost (11) 100 percent in both countries.

On the other hand, the figures show that Peru and Zaire were both very poor, with GDPs of $US (12) 160 and $US (13) 130 respectively. People from these countries had life expectancies of only (14) 51 and (15) 47 and they consumed much fewer calories than people from richer countries. Only (16) 68 percent of Peruvians could read and write in (17) 1994, but this was (18) double the figure for Zaire.

Overall, the table shows that people in rich countries have a much higher standard of living than those who live in poor nations

The table below shows social and economic indicators for four countries in 1994, according to United Nations statistics. Describe the information shown below in your own words. What implications do the indicators have for the countries?

Indicators	Canada	Japan	Peru	Zaire
Annual income per person (in $US)	11,100	15,760	160	130
Life expectancy at birth	76	78	51	47
Daily calorie supply per person	3,326	2,846	1,927	1,749
Adult literacy rate (%)	99	99	68	34

Paragraph 1: Introduction: rich // poor Paragraph 2: rich Paragraph 3: poor Overview: connection between wealth & standard of living

The chart compares living standards in Japan, Canada, Peru and Zaire in 1994, according to four criteria. From this information, we can see the clear differences between rich and poor countries. Japan was the richest of the four nations, with a GDP of $US 15,760 per person. This was slightly higher than Canada’s figure of just over $US 11,000. Both countries had long life expectancies, at 78 and 76 for Japan and Canada respectively. Canadians consumed an average of 3,326 calories a day, which was about 10 percent higher than Japanese consumption. The literacy rates were almost 100 percent in both countries. On the other hand, the figures show that Peru and Zaire were both very poor, with GDPs of $US 160 and $US 130 respectively. People from these countries had life expectancies of only 51 and 47 and they consumed much fewer calories than people from richer countries. Only 68 percent of Peruvians could read and write in 1994, but this was double the figure for Zaire. Overall, the table shows that people in rich countries have a much higher standard of living than those who live in poor nations.

Word Count: 191

Key Information for Writing Task 1:

Writing Task 1: ‘Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.’

• Making comparisons is one of the key requirements of Writing Task 1.
• If you can do this accurately you will probably be able to get the score you require.
• If not, you certainly will not get a satisfactory score.

Candidates should be able to:

1. compare figures
2. compare actions or states

	Canada	Japan
Annual income per person in 1994	$11,100	$15,760
Various patterns to compare figures: (is / are / was / were) The annual income per person in Japan was higher than it was in Canada. In Japan, the average annual income per person was $15,760, compared with $11,100 in Canada. Various patterns to compare actions/ states: (use the verb which describes the action / state) The average Japanese person earned more than the average Canadian. The average Japanese person earned more per year than the average Canadian. On average, Japanese people earned higher annual incomes than Canadians. Japanese people earned $15,760 per year, while Canadians earned $11,100. Japanese people had higher per capita incomes than Canadian people.

	Peru	Zaire
Adult literacy rate in 1994	68%	34%
Various patterns to compare figures: (is / are / was / were) The literacy rate in Peru was higher than it was in Zaire. Peru’s literacy rate was double Zaire’s. Peru’s literacy rate was twice as high as Zaire’s. The literacy rate in Peru was 68 percent, compared with 34 percent in Zaire. The literacy rate in Peru was 68 percent, which was exactly double the rate in Zaire. Various patterns to compare actions / states : (use the verb which describes the action / state) A higher percentage of Peruvians than people from Zaire could read and write. A higher percentage of Peruvians than people from Zaire were literate. 68 percent of Peruvians could read and write, compared with only 34 percent of people from Zaire. Peru had a higher literacy rate than Zaire.

Write one sentence to compare the figures in each of the following examples and another to compare the action / state:

	Toyota	Ford
Sales of cars in Cambodia every year	3,000	1,500
1.
2.

	Italy	France
Daily commuting times (in 2006)	60 mins	45 mins
1.
2.

	Spain	Japan
Average IELTS Reading Test Scores (in 2001)	6.5	5
1.
2.

	Australia	France
Average retirement age ( in 2005)	58	62
1.
2.

	Brazil	Argentina
Life expectancy (now)	73	65
1.
2.

	Brazil	Argentina
Life expectancy (in 2019)	73	65
1.
2.

Suggested Answers (other answers are also possible):

	Toyota	Ford
Sales of cars in Cambodia every year	3,000	1,500
The Cambodian sales figures for Toyota are higher than for Ford. Toyota’s sales figures in Cambodia are twice as high as Ford’s.
Toyota sells more cars in Cambodia than Ford. Toyota sells twice as many cars in Cambodia as Ford.

	Italy	France
Daily commuting times (in 2006)	60 mins	45 mins
The daily commuting time was longer in Italy than France. The daily commuting time was 15-minutes longer in Italy than France.
Italians spent more time commuting than French people. Italians spent more time going to and from work than French people.

	Spain	Japan
Average IELTS Reading Test Scores (in 2001)	6.5	5
Average IELTS Reading Test scores were higher in Spain than Japan. The average IELTS Reading Test score was higher in Spain than Japan.
Spanish people scored higher on their IELTS Reading Test than Japanese people. On average, Spanish people got higher scores on their IELTS Reading Test than Japanese people.

	Australia	France
Average retirement age ( in 2005)	58	62
The average retirement age was older in France than Australia.
Australians retired younger than French people. Australians retired four-years earlier than French people.

	Brazil	Argentina
Life expectancy (now)	73	65
Life expectancy is longer in Brazil than it is in Argentina.
Brazilians have a longer life expectancy than Argentineans. Brazilians live longer than Argentineans.

	Brazil	Argentina
Life expectancy (in 2019)	73	65
The life expectancy of Brazilians will be longer than that of Argentineans in 2019.
Brazilians will live longer than people from Argentina in 2019. Brazilian people are expected to live longer than Argentineans in 2019.