IELTS Essay Question
The graph below gives information from a 2008 report about consumption of energy in the USA since 1980 with projections until 2030.
Plan your answer
Sample Answer
The line graph compares the consumption of six types of fuel in the US from 1980 to 2030. Overall, total energy use is expected to rise, with petrol and oil continuing to dominate U.S. energy consumption and renewable and nuclear power remaining the least significant sources of energy.
In 1980, the country consumed 35 quadrillion units of petrol and oil, while the figures for natural gas and coal were lower, at 20 and 15 quadrillion units, respectively. After some ups and downs, petrol and oil consumption is predicted to rise continually to around 47 quadrillion units in 2030. The trend for coal and natural gas was quite similar, with both experiencing some fluctuation and reaching 25 quadrillion units in 2015. By 2030, coal is anticipated to overtake natural gas to become the second most used fuel source.
Turning to the remaining energy sources, they all started at roughly 4 quadrillion units. While it is expected that by 2030, nuclear and solar and wind power will rise by around 4 and 2 quadrillion units respectively, hydropower will drop slightly.
Useful vocabulary
- dominate = be the largest part of something (be the most important source of energy)
- renewable power = renewable energy is energy derived from natural sources that are replenished at a higher rate than they are consumed.
- nuclear power = the power produced when the nucleus (= central part) of an atom is divided or joined to another nucleus
- respectively = in a way that relates or belongs to each of the separate people or things you have just mentioned
- overtake = to go past something by being a greater amount or degree
