Table of Contents
BEST IELTS Academic Writing Task 1, 24th October
ACADEMIC WRITING TASK 1
ACADEMIC WRITING TASK 1
The table shows data about the average length of time (in minutes) that people of different ages spend in a consultation with family doctors in a number of countries.
Write a report summarising the information. Select and describe the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
| MINUTES SPENT WITH A DOCTOR ON AVERAGE |
| AGE (YEARS) | FRANCE | BRAZIL | JAPAN | USA | INDIA | KENYA | UK. | ITALY | CHILE |
| 0-10 | 16 | 12 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 15 | 9 | 17 | 32 |
| 10-20 | 18 | 21 | 12 | 17 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 18 | 32 |
| 20-40 | 25 | 23 | 16 | 19 | 20 | 12 | 13 | 23 | 24 |
| 40-60 | 29 | 26 | 15 | 21 | 21 | 12 | 15 | 24 | 36 |
| 60-70 | 34 | 23 | 13 | 27 | 19 | 11 | 15 | 27 | 38 |
| 70+ | 38 | 20 | 14 | 31 | 11 | 10 | 21 | 29 | 39 |
SAMPLE ANSWER
The chart gives information about the typical time that patients spend with doctors in various countries, split by age group.
We can see that the most common trend is for the time to increase consistently with age. For example, the figure in France more than doubles from 16 to 38 minutes between the youngest and oldest people. Likewise, the USA figure rises from 13 to 31, the UK from 9 to 21, and Italy from 17 to 29. These are all substantial increases. Chile has a consistent but much slighter climb, from 32 to 39 minutes.
Brazil also shows a rise, although after age 60 there is a decline from 26 minutes to an eventual 20. India has a more marked rise and fall, peaking at 21 minutes for people aged 40 to 60, declining to 11 minutes for 70 plus.
Two countries are exceptions. Japan fluctuates across the age groups, between 12 and 16 minutes. Kenya declines steadily as age increases, from 15 minutes for the youngest to 10 minutes for the oldest people.
Overall, time spent with doctors generally increases with age, except in Japan and Kenya.
