(IELTS WRITING TASK 1) ENERGY CONSUMPTION IN USA

The graph below gives information from a 2008 report about consumption of energy in the USA since 1980 with projections until 2030. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.

The line graph details the energy utilization in the country of the US from projections to 2030 of the six fuel types: petrol and oils, coal, natural gas, nuclear, solar/wind and hydropower. Overall, all sorts of fuel consumption fluctuated with an upward trend with the exception of Hydropower. Fossil fuels were generally consumed more than the other types of fuel.
To be more specific, Petrol and oil were the most popular energy consumption in the USA for their consumption in the year of 1980 was 35 quadrillions while those of coal and natural gas were nearly half (around 15 quadrillions and 20 quadrillions respectively ). After 25 years fluctuating, the number of coal and number converged at approximately 22 quadrillions. From that time on, the figures for coal and petrol and oil both will keep growing steadily, ending at 30 for the former and 50 for the latter. By contrast, after dipping slightly, the static for the natural gas made a recovery and will finish the period at roughly 25.
In 1980, the utilization of nuclear, solar/wind and hydropower started the period with the same point of less than 5 quadrillions. Throughout the period of 50 years, the consumption of nuclear energy witnessed gradual increase while those of two other renewable fuels experienced dramatic changes. After peaking at about 5 in the year of 2005, the amount of hydropower energy consumed experienced a slight dip and stayed stable from then to the end of the timeline.

You have over written this analytical essay. It should not be more than 200 words in total since you only have a 20 minute writing allowance. Do your best to indicate and explain the information, without using a personal opinion in a concise manner. You will appreciate the brevity of your writing during the actual test. You will be able to focus on the quality of the writing, which will get you higher scores, rather than the length, which could result in failing scores.


Make sure you always provide the starting time point of the information. In this case, you should have indicated that the projections started in 1980 and reflects projections until 2030.

I would like you to play with the words, albeit sentences. Your writing would give you a solid 6.5.

The line graph details the energy utilization in the country of the US from projections to 2030 of the six fuel types: petrol and oils, coal, natural gas, nuclear, solar/wind and hydropower. Overall, all sorts of fuel consumption fluctuated with an upward trend with the exception of Hydropower. Fossil fuels were generally consumed more than the other types of fuel.

The line graph details the energy consumption of the US from 1980 to 2008 while projecting the utilisation of energy till 2030. Overall, fossil fuels have dominated the energy consumption, while renewable energy has shown a slight increase in proportion to energy use; however, it stays stable and is projected to do so.

Note: I am not perfect; this is just a suggestion. I suggest to get you vocabulary for upward trends, downward trends, comparisons, descriptions for IELTS Task 1 and Task 2; it helped me to prepare for my IELTS exam.