“IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 Band 8 Samples: Real Exam-Level Answers”

Seal, Whale & Dolphin Populations – Gormez Straits

The bar chart illustrates the populations of seals, whales, and dolphins recorded in the Gormez Straits in 2006, 2010, 2014, and 2018.

Overall, seals remained relatively stable over the period, while whales showed only a slight increase. In contrast, the number of dolphins grew steadily, eventually overtaking both seals and whales by 2018.

In 2006, seals had the highest population at around 42, whereas whales and dolphins stood at approximately 24 and 18 respectively. By 2010, the seal population dropped noticeably to just above 30, while whales and dolphins became nearly equal at about 25 each. In 2014, seals recovered slightly to the mid-30s, and dolphins also rose to a similar level, while whales remained unchanged.

The most significant growth occurred between 2014 and 2018. Seals climbed sharply to roughly 45, almost matching their 2006 level, while dolphins rose dramatically to just above 50, becoming the largest group. Whales, on the other hand, increased only modestly, reaching about 28.

In summary, while seals fluctuated and whales changed little, dolphins experienced consistent and substantial growth, eventually becoming the dominant species.

World Population & Regional Distribution 1950–2050

The tables provide data on the size of the world population in 1950, 2000, and the projected figure for 2050, along with the distribution of people by region.

Overall, the global population is expected to more than triple between 1950 and 2050, with Asia remaining the most populous region despite a gradual decline in its share. Meanwhile, Africa is projected to experience the most significant growth.

In 1950, the world population stood at 2.5 billion, rising to 6.0 billion by 2000. It is estimated to reach 9.0 billion by 2050. Asia accounted for the majority of the population throughout, increasing from 56% in 1950 to 60% in 2000, before falling slightly to 59% in 2050. Europe, however, shows the opposite trend, dropping from 22% in 1950 to just 7% by 2050.

Africa’s share more than doubles over the period, from 9% in 1950 to a projected 20% in 2050, making it the fastest-growing continent. Latin America also grows steadily, rising from 6% to 9%. By contrast, North America remains stable at around 5–7%, while Oceania contributes only about 1% across all years.

To sum up, while the world population will continue to expand, the balance of global population distribution will shift, with Africa gaining increasing importance and Europe’s share shrinking dramatically.