IELTS Academic Writing Practice Test 1

Model Answer (Band 8+)

The bar chart compares the proportion of city commuters who travelled to work by private car, metro or bicycle in 2015, 2018, 2021 and 2024. Overall, reliance on private cars declined steadily across the period, while the metro and bicycle both became far more popular, reflecting a clear shift towards public and active transport. In 2015, the private car was by far the dominant choice, used by 52 percent of commuters. This figure then dropped consistently to 47 percent, 40 percent and finally 34 percent in 2024, a fall of 18 percentage points. In contrast, metro use rose sharply and continuously, more than doubling from 18 percent to 38 percent over the same nine years. By 2024 the metro had almost matched the car as the leading option. The bicycle remained the least common mode throughout, yet it also grew strongly, climbing from just 8 percent to 21 percent. Taken together, cycling and the metro accounted for the majority of journeys by the end of the period.

Model Answer (Band 8+)

There is ongoing debate about whether universities should enforce an equal balance of male and female students in each subject, or whether places should be awarded purely on merit and personal interest. While the goal of fairness is understandable, I believe admission should ultimately be based on ability rather than fixed gender quotas. Those who support equal numbers argue that balanced classrooms correct long standing imbalances. In fields such as engineering and nursing, one gender has historically dominated, which can discourage others from applying. Guaranteed places may therefore act as a signal that everyone is welcome, and a more diverse group of graduates could bring wider perspectives to future workplaces. Supporters also claim that such policies help break stereotypes about which careers suit which people. However, opponents point out that strict quotas can be unfair to individuals. If a highly qualified applicant is rejected simply because their gender is already well represented, talented students may be denied opportunities they have earned. This approach can also lower motivation, since success appears to depend on identity rather than effort. A more effective solution is to encourage interest early, through school programmes and scholarships, so that applicants of all backgrounds compete on genuinely equal terms. In my opinion, universities should select students according to their skills, achievements and passion for a subject. Fairness matters, but it is best achieved by removing barriers before application rather than by imposing numerical targets afterwards. Governments and schools should widen access and challenge stereotypes, allowing every student to pursue their chosen path. In this way, institutions can become more diverse without sacrificing the principle that ability should decide who gains a place.