IELTS Question1 Preparation

1. IELTS Question1 Preparation By mark

2. Introduction • The title • Thinking time • Brain storming • The descriptive essay • The topic sentence • The topic paragraph • The supporting materials • One paragraph theme • Purely descriptive

3. Introduction 2 • Coherence • Linkage words • The conclusion • The word count • Editing and proof reading • Final reading.

4. The question • Summerville theme park has been open since 2004. During that year they had 21,000 visitors at a ticket price of $25 for a family ticket. In 2005 they reduced the price of tickets to $20, and had an increase to 26,000, this then increased to 34,000 in 2006, however, there was a drop to 15,000 in 2007. The numbers for 2008 and 2009 are projections. Summerville predicts 45,000 in 2008 and 53,000 in 2009. The ticket price has increased at 5% per year since 2005. 2007 was a very wet year with above average rainfall.

5. Remember this question is purely about description! • Read the question and look for your topic sentence. This will either be the graph heading or the main theme of the question. In this case ‘the number of visitors to a theme park’. • Next look for two to three key information points. You don’t need to describe the whole graph just the key features of interest. • Coherence is very important, your essay must be logical. After brain storming choose two main points.

6. Coherence • Your topic sentence and topic paragraph. Having decided on your topic in this case the’ ‘This essay describes the number of visitors to Summerville theme park. The theme park opened its doors in 2004 and attracted 21,000 visitors at a family ticket price of $25’. • I think this would be a good introduction, remember you only have 150 words and 20 minutes.

7. Key information • The key facts are: • The price reduced in 2005 by $5 • It rained heavily in 2007 and numbers reduced significantly • 2008 and 09 are predications • The price has increased steadily • You have to somehow squeeze this into your remaining 110 words!

8. The essay ‘This essay describes the number of visitors to Summerville theme park. The theme park opened its doors in 2004 and attracted 21,000 visitors at a family ticket price of $25. In 2005 the park reduced its price by $5 and saw an increase of 5,000 visitors. This ticket price was to remain stable at around the cost of inflation for the foreseeable future. There was a significant rise in visitor numbers in 2006 with 34,000 people going through the gates. On the other hand 2007 saw a very disappointing year with only 15,000 people making the journey. This was due to unseasonably bad weather that meant that it rained for most of the summer. The figures for 2008 and 2009 are guesstimates, or predications. Summerville predicts a dramatic increase in 2008 due to the better weather conditions and in line with the numbers achieved in 2006. The potential for 2009 is 53,000, showing a very good return over the five years the park has been open. 164 words 15 minutes

9. Conclusion • The descriptive essay • The topic sentence • The topic paragraph • Coherence • The supporting materials • One paragraph theme • Purely descriptive