Number of tourism in season

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Barron’s Writing for IELTS

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June 25, 2025

The bar graph below show the number of tourists visiting two different cities by season. Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparison where relevant.

The bar chart compares the number of tourists (in thousands) who visited two cities, Dover and Troy, across the four seasons: Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter.

Overall, Dover saw a steady increase in tourist numbers throughout the year, peaking in winter, while Troy experienced the opposite trend, with numbers peaking in summer and then sharply declining by winter. The two cities demonstrated contrasting seasonal patterns in tourism.

In spring, both cities received a similar number of tourists, with Dover attracting 5,000 and Troy slightly fewer at 4,800. However, during the summer months, Troy saw a dramatic surge to 23,000 visitors, more than double Dover’s figures of 10,000. In autumn, while Troy has a slight decrease to 20,000 visitors, Dover hosts increasingly to 15,000 visitors.

In contrast, winter brought a complete reversal in patterns. Dover’s tourist numbers peaked at 25,000, while Troy experienced a steep decline, drawing only 5,000 visitors - the lowest for the year. This stark contrast highlights Dover’s strong winter appeal and Troy’s reliance on summer tourism.

1 Vocabulary list for Task 1

1.2 2. Comparative Language

Phrase Example
more than double Troy attracted more than double Dover’s tourists in summer.
slightly higher/lower Dover’s figure was slightly higher than Troy’s in spring.
significantly greater Troy had significantly more tourists in summer.
nearly equal / similar Both cities had similar numbers in spring.
in contrast / whereas Dover increased, whereas Troy declined.

1.3 3. Time & Sequence

  • In spring/summer/autumn/winter
  • Over the course of the year.
  • During the first/second half of the year.
  • From … to … / Between … and …

1.4 4. Key nouns & Phrases

  • number of tourists
  • amount / proportion / percentage / figure / total
  • seasonal variation / opposite pattern / steady increase
  • city / destination / location
  • peak / low point / turning point

2 Grammar Tips for Task 1

2.1 1. Use the Correct Tense

  • Use past simple if dates are in the past: “The number increased in 2020.”
  • Use present simple if there’s no time reference (e.g. in a bar chart without years): “Dover receives more tourists in winter than Troy”

2.2 Passive Voice

Use passive voice describing what the graph shows: - “The chart illustrates the number of tourists visiting two cities.” - “A steady increase is observed in Dover”.

2.3 Comparative and Superlative Forms

  • Troy had more tourists than Dover.
  • Winter was the the most popular season in Dover.

2.4 Vary Sentence Structures

  • Complex sentences:
    • “Although Troy peaked in summer, Dover reached its highest point in winter”
  • Compound sentences:
    • “Troy saw a surge in summer, and this was followed by a sharp decline”.