Academic Writing Task 1 · map

Global Willingness to Consume Insect Based Food Products Across Various Nations

The map and chart below show the information for the global willingness to eat insect products and the current price for certain foods available on the marketplace.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.

Global Willingness to Eat Insect based Products

Global Willingness

  • Mexico: 71%
  • Peru: 58%
  • Thailand: 56%
  • Brazil: 45%
  • China: 44%
  • South Africa: 39%
  • UK: 36%
  • USA: 35%
  • Australia: 34%
  • Spain: 33%
  • India: 33%
  • Russia: 32%
  • Japan: 21%

Chart redrawn by BandLadder from the data in the original IELTS practice task. Many IELTS practice tasks come from the Cambridge IELTS series (Cambridge University Press & Assessment); all rights in the original tasks remain with their owners.

Band 8 sample answer

The provided map displays the percentage of the population in thirteen different countries who are willing to consume insect-based food products. Overall, it is evident that there is a clear disparity in acceptance levels, with Mexico, Peru, and Thailand recording the highest willingness, while Japan exhibits the lowest.

Mexico leads the global rankings with a 71% willingness rate, followed by Peru at 58% and Thailand at 56%. These three nations are the only ones where the majority of the population is open to eating insects. In contrast, Brazil and China show moderate levels of acceptance at 45% and 44% respectively.

Regarding the remaining countries, South Africa stands at 39%, followed by the UK (36%), the USA (35%), and Australia (34%). Spain and India share an identical figure of 33%, while Russia follows closely at 32%. Japan represents the lowest level of willingness on the map, with only 21% of the population expressing an interest in insect-based products. Notably, several countries, including Mexico, Peru, Brazil, China, and Thailand, are highlighted as having a willingness percentage that exceeds their respective unwillingness levels.

180 words. Every figure in the answer comes from the chart above.

How to write about maps

disparity
a great difference between two or more things
rankings
a position in a scale of achievement or status
moderate
average in amount, intensity, quality, or degree
exceeds
to be greater in number or size than
identical
similar in every detail or exactly the same
proportion
a part, share, or number considered in comparative relation

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Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?

The map illustrates a significant variation in the willingness to consume insect-based products globally, with developing nations generally showing higher acceptance rates compared to more developed economies.

How long should an IELTS Task 1 answer be?

At least 150 words; 170 to 200 is the safe range. Spend about 20 minutes on it and leave 40 for Task 2, which carries twice the marks.

How do I describe maps?

Overview: how much the area changed and what stayed the same. Use location language: to the north of, adjacent to, replaced by. Group changes by area or by type, such as housing, roads and green space.

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