Tourist arrivals to major cities have been a trending topic for many IELTS Writing Task 1 candidates. Understanding how to describe, analyze, and report these data sets is crucial for achieving a high score in this section of the exam. In this post, we will explore a comprehensive guide to tackle such questions. We will provide sample questions, analyze related data, and offer useful vocabulary and grammar tips to help you succeed.
Sample Questions for Tourist Arrivals in Major Cities
Sample Question 1:
The bar chart below shows the number of tourist arrivals in five major cities (New York, London, Paris, Tokyo, and Dubai) between 2010 and 2023. Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Sample Question 2:
The line graph illustrates the tourist arrival trends in three major cities (Rome, Sydney, and Hong Kong) from 2010 to 2023. Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features and making comparisons where relevant.
Data Presentation
Let’s consider a sample bar chart which we will use for our analysis:
Bar Chart: Tourist Arrivals in Major Cities (2010-2023)
| Year | New York | London | Paris | Tokyo | Dubai |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 8 million | 9 million | 10 million | 6 million | 7 million |
| 2011 | 9 million | 10 million | 10 million | 7 million | 8 million |
| 2012 | 10 million | 11 million | 11 million | 8 million | 9 million |
| 2013 | 11 million | 12 million | 12 million | 8 million | 10 million |
| 2014 | 12 million | 14 million | 13 million | 9 million | 10 million |
| 2015 | 13 million | 15 million | 13.5 million | 10 million | 11 million |
| 2016 | 14 million | 16 million | 14 million | 11 million | 12 million |
| 2017 | 15 million | 17 million | 14.5 million | 12 million | 13 million |
| 2018 | 15.5 million | 18 million | 15 million | 13 million | 14 million |
| 2019 | 16 million | 19 million | 16 million | 14 million | 14.5 million |
| 2020 | 5 million | 6 million | 7 million | 4 million | 5 million |
| 2021 | 6 million | 7 million | 8 million | 5 million | 6 million |
| 2022 | 7 million | 8 million | 9 million | 6 million | 7 million |
| 2023 | 8 million | 9 million | 10 million | 7 million | 8 million |
Analyzing the Sample Question
Question Unpacking
The given bar chart presents the number of tourist arrivals in five major cities (New York, London, Paris, Tokyo, and Dubai) from 2010 to 2023. To efficiently answer this type of question:
- Provide an overview identifying overall trends.
- Highlight significant features.
- Make comparisons where applicable.
Example of a Band 7+ Response
Sample Answer:
The bar chart illustrates the number of tourist arrivals in five major cities, namely New York, London, Paris, Tokyo, and Dubai, over a 14-year period from 2010 to 2023.
Overall, London consistently had the highest number of tourist arrivals, while Tokyo typically had the lowest figures. Notably, there was a significant decline in tourist numbers in 2020 due to global events, followed by a gradual recovery.
To begin with, London saw a substantial increase in tourist arrivals, starting at 9 million in 2010 and peaking at 19 million in 2019. However, the number sharply fell to 6 million in 2020 before recovering to 9 million by 2023. New York and Paris displayed similar trends, with tourist arrivals reaching their respective peaks in 2019 at 16 million and 16 million before declining drastically in 2020 and moderately recovering by 2023.
Conversely, Tokyo had a lower but steadily increasing trend from 6 million in 2010 to 14 million in 2019. The city experienced the smallest drop in 2020 and a gradual upturn to 7 million by 2023. Meanwhile, Dubai’s tourist arrivals also increased year-on-year, reaching 14.5 million in 2019, though it similarly experienced a significant drop in 2020, eventually rising back to 8 million by the end of the period.
In summary, despite experiencing a notable downturn in 2020, all cities showed a rebound in tourist arrivals toward the end of the period, with London maintaining its position as the most popular destination overall.
Word Count: 250
Writing Tips and Techniques
Important Vocabulary and Phrases:
- Illustrate (v) /ˈɪl.ə.streɪt/ – to show or explain something by providing information.
- Consistently (adv) /kənˈsɪs.tənt.li/ – in every case or on every occasion.
- Significant (adj) /sɪɡˈnɪf.ɪ.kənt/ – sufficiently great or important to be worthy of attention.
- Substantial (adj) /səbˈstæn.ʃəl/ – of considerable importance or worth.
- Notably (adv) /ˈnəʊ.tə.bli/ – especially; very remarkably.
- Peak (n) /piːk/ – the highest point or level.
- Conversely (adv) /kənˈvɜːs.li/ – introducing a statement or idea which reverses one that has just been made.
- Steadily (adv) /ˈstɛdɪli/ – in a regular and even manner.
- Upturn (n) /ˈʌpˌtɝːn/ – an improvement or upward trend.
- Drastically (adv) /ˈdræs.tɪ.kəl.i/ – extremely; in a way that has a strong or far-reaching effect.
Grammar Tips:
- Use comparative structures to compare different cities: “New York had more tourist arrivals than Tokyo throughout the period.”
- Use adverbial phrases of time to show changes: “By 2020, the number of tourist arrivals in Paris had decreased significantly.”
- Use passive voice to focus on the action: “A significant decline was observed in 2020.”
Conclusion
Describing data related to tourist arrivals in major cities requires clear identification of trends, comparisons, and significant features. Incorporating a mix of vocabulary, comparative and passive structures, and clear organization can ensure a high scoring IELTS Writing Task 1 response. Practice regularly, review model answers, and enrich your vocabulary to excel in this section.