APIEIELTS Writing Task 1: Economy and Automation
Economy, jobs and automation
Answers and an explanation for each question appear once you add this activity to your own library.
Module 1: Build-up • Data Language & Airport Flow
For Teachers
Run this 40-minute session by checking Module 1 together before individual writing.
Use the writing checklist to review drafts in Module 2 during independent practice.
For Learners
Complete the 4 warm-up exercises on airport data first, then write your 150-word report using the table.
Finish by reading the model text and teacher notes to identify high-scoring patterns.
Word Forms in Data Reporting
Select the correct grammatical form to complete each statement about airport passenger numbers.
1. Passenger traffic saw a ________ increase in July, leaping by over 40%.
2. The total volume of international travelers has ________ since the opening of the second terminal.
3. With passenger counts steadily ________, ground services faced severe boarding delays.
4. Terminal 1 handled a significant ________ of domestic flight departures.
5. There was noticeable ________ in daily passenger numbers between weekdays and weekends.
Collocations for Reporting Data
Choose the single natural verb that collocates correctly in each sentence describing airport statistics.
6. Passenger volume ________ a peak of 3.2 million travelers in the month of August.
7. Transit passengers ________ for approximately 25% of all traffic passing through the airport.
8. The regional concourse ________ a dramatic fall in traveler numbers during the autumn term.
9. In October, international departures ________ at exactly 1.8 million passengers.
10. After three months of steep growth, the overall traveler count ________ off in November.
Common Phrases for Figures
Use the phrases in the bank below to complete each sentence accurately. Type the matching phrase into the box.
11. ________ passenger traffic, Terminal 1 remained the busier facility throughout the year.
12. There was ________ in passenger volume between the morning rush hours and late-night arrivals.
13. ________ passengers passing through customs were tourists taking short-haul holiday flights.
14. Arrivals expanded by 18%, ________ a modest 2% rise in departure numbers.
15. While domestic travel decreased, international passenger volume grew steadily ________.
Paraphrasing Data Sentences
Select the sentence that expresses the exact same meaning without altering any factual data.
"The number of airport passengers rose sharply from 1.0 million to 2.5 million between June and August."
Which sentence matches this meaning?
"Terminal 3 handled 60% of all international travelers departing from the city in 2022."
Which sentence matches this meaning?
"Domestic passenger throughput fell steadily over the five-year period."
Which sentence matches this meaning?
Module 2: The Writing Task
Examine the data table, review the essential criteria checklist, and produce your report in the response area.
The table shows the percentage of the workforce in four sectors in two countries in 2000 and in 2020. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.
Workforce Distribution (%)
(Figures are fictional.)| Sector | Country A (2000) | Country A (2020) | Country B (2000) | Country B (2020) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture | 20% | 8% | 35% | 22% |
| Manufacturing | 30% | 18% | 25% | 20% |
| Services | 45% | 56% | 35% | 48% |
| Technology | 5% | 18% | 5% | 10% |
Task 1 Essentials Checklist
Review your draft against all 5 core requirements before submitting:
Student Response Area
Write your complete Task 1 report below. When submitted, the text will be graded automatically by AI.
Module 3: Model Answer & Analysis
Study the fully annotated model report and explore how the key reporting phrases function in practice.
The table compares the proportion of workers employed across four economic sectors in Country A and Country B between 2000 and 2020. Overall, both nations experienced a noticeable shift towards service-oriented and high-tech industries, while traditional sectors such as agriculture and manufacturing saw a consistent decline over the twenty-year period.
In terms of services, this sector accounted for the largest employment share in most cases. In Country A, service jobs expanded from 45% to 56%, and Country B recorded a parallel rise from 35% to 48%. Growth in technology was even more striking; the figure for Country A more than tripled from 5% to 18%, while Country B's share doubled from 5% to 10%.
Conversely, primary and secondary industries shrank in both countries. Country A's agricultural workforce dropped from 20% to 8%, compared to a fall from 35% to 22% in Country B. Similarly, manufacturing employees fell from 30% to 18% in Country A and from 25% to 20% in Country B, illustrating a marked difference in how far each country's share fell.
Phrase Breakdown: Why This Works
Practical insights explaining how each highlighted phrase strengthens the clarity and flow of the report.
Why this works:
Captures the overall directional movement across multiple categories at once. This avoids cluttering the summary paragraph with specific numbers before the detailed body paragraphs begin.
Why this works:
Combines two downward sectors (agriculture and manufacturing) under a single shared trait. Grouping similar data points keeps the overview cohesive and well-structured.
Why this works:
Instantly identifies the lead sector in most columns of the table. Using "accounted for... share" introduces natural variety instead of repeatedly saying "was the highest percentage."
Why this works:
Translates raw table values (5% to 18%) into an exact mathematical relationship (18% is 3.6 times 5%). This demonstrates active data analysis rather than mechanical copying.
Why this works:
Succinctly describes the exact two-fold increase for Country B's technology sector (from 5% to 10%). It balances the sentence rhythm directly after "tripled."
Why this works:
Pairs Country A's agricultural fall (20% to 8%) directly alongside Country B's drop (35% to 22%) in one smooth sentence, fulfilling the prompt's instruction to compare.
Why this works:
Concludes the manufacturing comparison by emphasizing how much further Country A's share fell than Country B's, delivering a confident, professional finishing touch to the report.
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