APIEIELTS Academic Writing: Age Profile Analysis
Rural life and the decline of villages
Answers and an explanation for each question appear once you add this activity to your own library.
How to Use This Lesson
Assign this 40-minute self-paced module in class or for homework.
Check automatic scores for Module 1 and review AI feedback on Module 2.
Complete the 4 warm-up exercises in Module 1 to build your data vocabulary.
Write your Task 1 essay in Module 2 and study the high-scoring model answer in Module 3.
📊 Module 1: Data Vocabulary Build-up
Build the language of data description with practice figures from weekly public swimming pool opening hours. You will use the same language for the age-profile table in Module 2.
💡 Helpful Example Pattern
"Overall, the pool was open longest on Saturday and shortest on Friday."
Use a clear starting phrase to introduce main trends before giving precise numbers.
Part (a): Word Forms 5 Items
Complete each sentence by changing the word in brackets to the correct form.
1 The opening hours of the main pool show a noticeable ____ throughout the week. (fluctuate)
2 A large ____ of operating hours is reserved for public swimming on Saturdays. (proportionate)
3 Daily schedules ____ considerably between weekdays and weekends. (variation)
4 Opening hours increased ____ during the summer holiday period. (significant)
5 Pool availability ____ from 6 hours on Sunday to 10 hours on Monday. (rise)
Part (b): Data Description Collocations 5 Items
Choose the single word that best completes the sentence contextually.
6 The facility recorded a ________ drop in morning opening hours on Friday.
7 There was a ________ increase in evening pool access after the maintenance work.
8 Pool hours experienced a ________ reduction on public holidays due to staffing limits.
9 Weekly opening hours saw a ________ growth during the peak summer months.
10 The schedule showed a ________ decline in late-night swimming availability.
Part (c): Phrase Completion 5 Items
Fill in the blanks using the exact phrases from the Word Bank below.
📦 Word Bank
11 In July, daily public pool opening hours ____ of 14 hours per day.
12 Midweek pool availability ____ 10 hours daily, which was lower than the Saturday schedule.
13 Public swimming sessions ____ 60% of total weekly operational time.
14 The pool timetable ____ of three hours on Thursdays because of maintenance.
15 On Sunday, the facility was open for only 6 hours, ____ 14 hours on Saturday.
Part (d): Paraphrasing Sentences 3 Items
Select the sentence option that accurately expresses the original meaning using different words.
Original Sentence
"The pool was open for 14 hours on Saturday, which was higher than any other day."
16 Choose the best paraphrase:
Original Sentence
"Between Monday and Wednesday, daily opening hours remained constant at 10 hours."
17 Choose the best paraphrase:
Original Sentence
"Friday opening hours dropped significantly to just 4 hours before recovering on Saturday."
18 Choose the best paraphrase:
📊 Module 2: The Task
Analyze the rural population table and write your IELTS Task 1 report.
Writing Task 1 Prompt
The table compares the age profile of one country district in 2000 and in 2020, as shares of all its residents. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.
| Age group | 2000 (%) | 2020 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Under 18 | 28 | 17 |
| 18-39 | 31 | 22 |
| 40-64 | 27 | 35 |
| 65 and over | 14 | 26 |
(Figures are fictional.)
✅ Checklist: What Every Task 1 Report Needs
- An overview that summarizes main trends or key changes
- Highlighted key features and major data changes
- Relevant comparisons between categories or time points
- Accurate figures and numbers directly supporting your statements
- At least 150 words of clear academic prose
📊 Module 3: Model Answer & Analysis
Read a high-scoring model answer and learn key phrases for your own writing.
Model Answer (171 Words)
The table illustrates changes in the age distribution of residents living in a specific country district between 2000 and 2020, with all figures measured in percentages.
Overall, the district experienced a noticeable aging shift over the twenty-year period. While the proportions of younger residents declined significantly, the shares of older age groups grew substantially during the same timeframe.
In 2000, residents aged 18 to 39 formed the largest segment at 31%, followed closely by those under 18 at 28%. However, by 2020, the proportion of residents under 18 had fallen by 11 percentage points to 17%. Similarly, the share of people aged 18 to 39 dropped down to 22%.
Conversely, the older population expanded noticeably. The share of residents aged 40 to 64 increased from 27% to 35%, becoming the single largest age group in 2020. Most strikingly, the percentage of residents aged 65 and over almost doubled, rising from 14% to 26%. By 2020, local citizens aged 40 and above accounted for more than three-fifths of the overall population.
💡 Key Phrase Analysis: Why This Works
1. experienced a noticeable aging shift
Why this works: Summarizes the main overall trend clearly in the overview without repeating exact table headers.
2. proportions of younger residents declined significantly
Why this works: Combines two categories (Under 18 and 18-39) into one group to state a clear shared direction of change.
3. formed the largest segment at
Why this works: Provides a natural, high-level way to introduce the highest percentage starting figure in 2000.
4. fallen by 11 percentage points
Why this works: Shows exact mathematical comparison between percentages (28% to 17%), avoiding confusion between percent and percentage points.
5. Conversely, the older population expanded
Why this works: Uses a clear transition word to highlight contrast between the declining young population and the growing older groups.
6. almost doubled, rising from 14% to 26%
Why this works: Highly accurate numerical proportion—14% to 26% is just under double (28%), making 'almost doubled' mathematically precise.
7. accounted for more than three-fifths
Why this works: Combines data for 40-64 (35%) and 65+ (26%) to get 61%, converting the number into a clear fraction phrase for variety.
Related lessons
Class activity: Valley Survey Board
Rural life and the decline of villages
Speaking · 20 min
Generalising and Qualifying Claims
Rural life and the decline of villages
Grammar · 12 min
Speaking: Rural Life and Village Decline
Rural life and the decline of villages
Speaking · 30 min
Vocabulary: Rural Life and Village Decline
Rural life and the decline of villages
Vocabulary · 20 min
IELTS Writing: Household Energy Use
Environment
Writing · 20 min
C1 Writing: Office Waste Reduction Proposal
Environment
Writing · 25 min