IELTS Writing Task 1 Sample Answer

The charts below give information about USA marriage and divorce rates between 1970 and 2000, and the marital status of adult Americans in two of the years.

Sample Answer 1

          The graphs illustrate the marriage and divorce rates in the United States of America from 1970 to 2000, as well as the marital status of Americans over the age of 16 in 1970 and 2000.

          In 1970 and 1980, the overall number of marriages in the United States remained constant at 2.5 million, while the number of divorces increased from 1 million in 1970 to 1.45 million in 1980. After a decade, in 1990, the number of marriages slightly decreased to 2.45 million, while the number of divorces exceeded 1.10 million. Interestingly, throughout the entire period, the number of marriages was consistently higher than the number of divorces by a factor of two.

                      In terms of the marital status of adult Americans, the percentage of married couples reached a high in both years, while the percentage of divorced individuals reached a record low. Notably, the percentage of singles increased from 15% in 1970 to 20% in 2000. The proportion of widowed individuals remained relatively constant at around 5% throughout the two years.

           In summary, the trend for marriages has been decreasing, while the numbers for divorced individuals have varied over time.

Key phrases and vocabulary:

• The graphs illustrate/present/show...

• Marriage and divorce rates

• United States of America

• Marital status of Americans

• Overall number of marriages

• Overall number of divorces

• Increased/decreased by...

• Exceeded/reached a record low

• Consistently higher/lower than...

• Percentage of...

• Increased/decreased from...

• Relatively constant

• In summary

• Key trends and proportions of marriages and divorces

The charts below give information about USA marriage and divorce rates between 1970 and 2000, and the marital status of adult Americans in two of the years.

Sample Answer 2

Band 7.5

               The graphs illustrate the marriage and divorce rates in the United States of America from 1970 to 2000, as well as the marital status of Americans over the age of 16 in 1970 and 2000.

                In 1970 and 1980, the overall number of marriages in the United States remained constant (2.5 million), whereas divorces totalled 1 million and 1.45 million in 1970 and 1980, respectively. After a decade, married and divorced Americans totalled 2.45 million and more than 1.10 million, respectively. Interestingly, the number of weddings exceeded the number of divorces by a factor of two.

                      In terms of adult Americans' marital status, married couples reached a high in both years, while divorced couples reached a record low. Notably, the percentage of singles was 15% in 1970 and increased to 20% in 2000. The proportion of widowed individuals remained almost constant (about 5% ) throughout the two years.

                 To summarise, we find that the trend for weddings has been decreasing, whereas the numbers for divorced individuals have varied over time.

172 Words 

The charts below give information about USA marriage and divorce rates between 1970 and 2000, and the marital status of adult Americans in two of the years.

Sample Answer 3

Band 7

                 The graphs depict the marriage and divorce rates in the United States of America between 1970 and 2000, as well as the marital status of Americans over the age of 16 between 1970 and 2000.

               Between 1970 and 1980, the total number of marriages in the United States stayed steady (2.5 million), while divorces totalled 1 million and 1.45 million, respectively. After a decade, the total number of married and divorced Americans was 2.45 million and over 1.10 million, respectively. Interestingly, marriages outnumbered divorces by a ratio of two.

                 In both years, married couples achieved a record high, while divorced couples hit a record low. Notably, the proportion of singles rose from 15% in 1970 to 20% in 2000. Throughout the two years, the percentage of widowed people remained nearly steady (about 5%).

                       To summarise, the tendency for marriages has been downward, whereas the number of divorced people has fluctuated throughout time.

152 Words 

The charts below give information about USA marriage and divorce rates between 1970 and 2000, and the marital status of adult Americans in two of the years.

Sample Answer 4

Band 6.5

                    The bar graphs illustrate the proportion of married and divorced Americans and the percentage of martial status of adults in the USA from 1970 to 2000.

                Regarding the number of marriages and divorces in the USA, in 1970 and 2000 divorce rates were the same at 1 million, while in 1970 and 1980 marriage rates were similar at 2.5 million. Between 1970 and 1980, the divorce rate increased by 0.27 million.

                 Turning to the martial states of adult Americans in 1970, 70% of adults were married, while in 2000, 60% of adults showed interest in marriage. The figure for Americans who got divorced in 1970 stood at just above 0. In 2000, 20% of adults in the USA were unmarried. The proportion of widowed in 1970 and 2000 was 9% and 5% respectively.

                   In conclusion, as it can be seen clearly that in the given period, the number of marriages is always more than the number of divorces.

158 Words

The charts below give information about USA marriage and divorce rates between 1970 and 2000, and the marital status of adult Americans in two of the years.

Sample Answer 5

Band 7

                    The presented bar graphs provide data about the rate of marriages and divorces in the USA from 1970 to 2000, and the marital status of Americans in the two years.

                     In terms of marriages and divorces in the USA, 2.5 million Americans were married in both 1970 and 1980, which was the highest number, while only 1 million were divorced in 1970, and 2000, which was the lowest. Notably, the trend for marriages went downward gradually, whereas, for divorces, it fluctuated in the given period. The figures for married and divorced Americans stood at 2.25 million and above 1 million, respectively, in 1990. In 2000, the number of married Americans (2 million) was two times more than that of divorced ones (1 million).

                       Turning to the marital status of adult Americans, 70% were married, which was the highest, while only around 2% were divorced, which was the lowest in 1970. The figures for singles stood at 20% in 2000, exceeding the 1970 figures by 5%. The proportion of widowed Americans accounted for approximately 7% in 1970 and 5% in 2000.

To sum up, we can see that the figures for married Americans were the greatest, while divorced ones remained the lowest throughout the given period.

206 Words