“The bar chart shows the percentage of population living in urban areas in six countries in 2010 and 2020.”
Compare urbanisation across Brazil, the UK, the US, China, Nigeria and India across a decade.
Task 1 · Academic·20 min·≥ 150 words
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Start or read a Band 8 model →The bar chart below shows the percentage of the population living in urban areas in six countries in 2010 and 2020. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.
🧠 5-step planHow to crack it
Open if you want a structure to follow
How to crack it
Open if you want a structure to follow
- 1
Read the question twice.
Underline every keyword. The instruction word ("agree", "discuss") decides your structure. Get this wrong and you cap at 5.
- 2
Plan for 5 minutes.
Two body paragraphs. One main idea each. Pick examples BEFORE you write the intro.
- 3
Write your intro last in your head.
Once you know the conclusion, the intro writes itself. Paraphrase the question, don’t copy it.
- 4
Aim for 270–290 words.
Less = task incomplete. More = grammar errors. Stay in the pocket.
- 5
Leave 3 minutes to proofread.
Hunt articles ("a/an/the"), subject-verb agreement, and "make/do" mix-ups. They’re your usual suspects.
⚠️ Examiner watch-outsWhat loses you the band
The four traps this question sets
What loses you the band
The four traps this question sets
- ⚠️
Off-topic intro
Paraphrase the question. Don’t broaden it.
- ⚠️
Conclusion that just repeats
Add one new reason. Or a recommendation.
- ⚠️
"Make a damage"
Collocation slip. Use "cause damage".
- ⚠️
"Furthermore. Moreover."
Pick one. Both = robotic.
Model answer
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