Writing Academic Task 1 Band 7.0 Example

The supplied graph illustrates the production levels of the main types of fuel in the United Kingdom from 1981 to 2000. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that there are a total of 3 main lines representing three types of fuel with comparison to energy units: coal, natural gas, and petroleum. The three fuels are measured in energy units, with each unit representing the energy from one million tonnes of oil. Overall, petroleum remained the largest source for most of the period and ended at roughly 140 units, while coal declined substantially and finished lowest. Natural gas was stable initially before rising sharply from the early 1990s, eventually reaching about 100 units.

In 1981, petroleum output was about 90 units, compared with 80 for coal and 40 for natural gas. Petroleum rose to around 140 by 1984 and stayed near that level until 1986. It then fell to approximately 100 in 1990–91, before recovering to about 140 by 1996 and fluctuating slightly through 2000.

Coal dropped steeply to around 40 in 1984, recovered to just over 60 in 1986, and then generally decreased, ending at approximately 35. By contrast, gas stayed close to 40 until the late 1980s, then increased gradually to around 50 in 1991. Its growth accelerated thereafter, reaching roughly 75 in 1994 and 100 by 2000. Thus, gas overtook coal in the early 1990s.