IELTS Academic Writing Task 1
The graph below shows the annual visitor spend for visitors to New Zealand from 5 countries for the years 1996 to 2014.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant.
Things you should know about Academic Writing Task 1:
- You are asked to describe information presented in graph/ table/ chart/ diagram.
- You have 20 minutes to finish the task and you have to write at least 150 words.
- If you are asked to use the information presented in the graph you must be careful not to copy it.
In Academic Writing task 1, candidates are assessed on their ability to:
- Organise, present and possibly compare data.
- Describe the stages of a process or procedure.
- Describe an object or event or sequence of events.
- Explain how something works.
Model Answer
This graph shows the amount spent by travellers visiting New Zealand between 1996 and 2014. The country names are Australia, USA, UK, Japan and China.
Overall, the amount of money spent by tourists has increased over time, although there have obviously been some fluctuations along the way. At any point in time, Australian tourists spent the most. The lowest cost was for Chinese visitors.
During the timeline, the annual spending of people in the five countries varied. In 1996, Australian tourists spent about NZ$ 1000 to visit New Zealand, followed by tourists from the US, Japan and the UK. Visitors from China were the least spenders, that spent just NZ$ 50. Tourists from the UK, Japan and the US spent around NZ$ 400, NZ$ 450 and NZ$ 775 respectively. The highest amount spent on a trip to New Zealand was her NZ$ 2400 for an Australian in 2006, while the US peaked at her NZ$ 1700 in 2010. China’s peak in 2004 was the lowest of any country (NZ$ 500).
Additionally, in 2014, Australia’s visitors spent NZ$ 2000, most of this time, followed by the US and UK spending about NZ$ 1100 and NZ$ 700 respectively. Japan was the only country whose citizens spent the same amount in 1996 and 2014, around NZ$ 500 per person.
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The graph below shows the annual visitor spend for visitors to New Zealand from 5 countries for the years 1996 to 2014

This graph shows the amount spent by travellers visiting New Zealand between 1996 and 2014. The country names are Australia, USA, UK, Japan and China.
Overall, the amount of money spent by tourists has increased over time, although there have obviously been some fluctuations along the way. At any point in time, Australian tourists spent the most. The lowest cost was for Chinese visitors.
During the timeline, the annual spending of people in the five countries varied. In 1996, Australian tourists spent about NZ$ 1000 to visit New Zealand, followed by tourists from the US, Japan and the UK. Visitors from China were the least spenders, that spent just NZ$ 50. Tourists from the UK, Japan and the US spent around NZ$ 400, NZ$ 450 and NZ$ 775 respectively. The highest amount spent on a trip to New Zealand was her NZ$ 2400 for an Australian in 2006, while the US peaked at her NZ$ 1700 in 2010. China’s peak in 2004 was the lowest of any country (NZ$ 500).
Additionally, in 2014, Australia’s visitors spent NZ$ 2000, most of this time, followed by the US and UK spending about NZ$ 1100 and NZ$ 700 respectively. Japan was the only country whose citizens spent the same amount in 1996 and 2014, around NZ$ 500 per person.