I've just written my full answer for the task below.
The diagram below shows the life cycle of a salmon, from egg to adult fish.
...
The diagram illustrates the stages in the life of the salmon, from birth to maturity.
It is clear that there are six* main stages as the salmon develops from egg to mature adult. We can also see that salmon spend time in three distinct locations during the cycle, moving from river to estuary to ocean and then back upstream.
Salmon begin their lives in rivers where the adult fish lay and incubate their eggs. After emerging from eggs, the young salmon spend the next stage of their lives being reared in freshwater areas. Then, at some point in their development, the fish swim downstream to river estuaries where rearing continues.
Following the estuary rearing period, the maturing salmon migrate to the ocean, where they eventually become fully grown adults. Finally, the adult fish travel back upstream to spawning areas of rivers; here they reproduce and lay their eggs, and the life cycle begins anew.
(154 words, band 9)
* I wrote "six" main stages because these are the stages that I describe in paragraphs 3 and 4.
Hi simon, i do not think that we need two commas here, can we write this sentence without the second comma ?
Following the estuary rearing period, the maturing salmon migrate to the ocean, where they eventually become fully grown adults
Posted by: greencarrot | March 16, 2017 at 15:19
Yes, you can miss that comma.
Posted by: Simon | March 16, 2017 at 16:44
Thank you so much, Teacher Simon! The essay is wonderful, I have learned to use another 2 new phrases from your essay: travel back upstream and swim downstream.
Hope you will have a nice weekend!
Posted by: Nam Anh | March 17, 2017 at 12:42
No problem Anh. You too!
Posted by: Simon | March 17, 2017 at 19:12
Hi Simon,
Thank you for your advice, which is very helpful.
I took IELTS two weeks ago, task 1 was map of a college now and 30 years ago. I tried to describe the changes using passive voice.
Task 2 question was: some developing countries need help from international organizations to develop. Some people believe that this aid should be financial, while others say that practical help and advice will be better. Discuss both views and give your opinion. I wrote a paragraph about financial aid and another one on practical help and I gave my opinion throughout the essay.
I thought I'll get a high score. Unfortunately, I got 6.5 but I need 7. How can I know my weakness, I think I wrote just under 250 words.
I don't know how to improve despite getting 7 when I took the test for the first time 2 years ago.
Posted by: Zezee | March 18, 2017 at 01:27
Zezee
1. Find out what your problems are. Submit practice writing to an expert teacher who can look at your grammar errors, whether your vocabulary is natural, and whether you are fully answering questions in both Task 1 and 2
2. Use that feedback to practice more, focusing on the areas that you identified in number 1
Posted by: sjm | March 18, 2017 at 07:55
Hi Simon, with reference to IELTS Cambridge Book 8, Test 1, Writing Task 1 (page 30), the question type is a 2-different charts consisting of a pie chart a table. Should we use present tense for the pie chart (since there is no year mentioned), and then past tense for the table (since it was mentioned 'during the 1990s' in the title)? Thank you.
Posted by: Cathy | March 19, 2017 at 04:27
Hi, Simon, this sentence "Finally, the adult fish travel back upstream to spawning areas of rivers;" should this be like that the adult fishes travel to...? because fish is a countable noun
Posted by: Tuo | March 19, 2017 at 12:40
Dear sjm,
Thank you for your suggestion, I'll try my best
Posted by: Zezee | March 20, 2017 at 01:49
Hi Simon
Thanks for the teaching...
At the last sentence of the second para; if we do not need to put articles before river, estuary and ocean (a,an and the respectively)?
Posted by: Sema | March 20, 2017 at 11:41
"the salmon develops"
"salmon spend time"
I am confused, is "salmon" singular or plural?
Posted by: Chil Bong | March 22, 2017 at 01:20
Look up 'salmon' and 'fish' in a dictionary, and you'll see that the plurals are the same.
Posted by: Simon | March 22, 2017 at 14:06
Hi Simon, I just want to see where I stand as of now. I am appearing for academic IELTS on 13th May. Could you please assess this answer for the illustration given:
The lifecycle of a salmon from the stage of an egg to adulthood has been vividly presented in the diagram given.
The initial stage of salmon’s growth cycle takes place in a river. The adult salmons mate and begin a process termed as spawning which can be also described as the laying of eggs by the female salmon. These eggs are then incubated for a certain period of time upon the completion of which the hatchlings emerge from them. These newly emerged hatchlings are reared in the freshwater nursery for some amount of time.
Growing up steadily, they migrate to the estuary where they are reared for sometime. Following this stage they then swim into the ocean where they migrate to the rearing area. Here they grow into fully mature adults who are then ready to procreate for the propagation of the species.
These fully mature adults then begin their journey back to river for spawning and one cycle comes to completion in a full circle.
Kindly given a honest criticism so that I would know how to emphasize my practice in the areas of weakness. Thank you. Looking forward to hear from you soon.
Posted by: Daisy | May 02, 2017 at 08:12
Hi Simon, can you please assess me with my writing. Thanks in advance! Here's my own answer:
The diagram illustrates the process of how a salmon develops from an egg to an adult fish.
Overall, it is immediately apparent that there are six main processes undergone by a salmon namely: incubation, emergence, migration, rearing, growth and maturation, and finally spawning. In addition, three kinds of waterform are involved in the process (river, estuary and ocean).
At first, eggs of the salmon undergoes incubation in the river before proceeding to the next stage which is emergence or coming out of the small fishes from their eggs. Then, these small salmons experience rearing in freshwater and in the estuary wherein they start to grow in size.
After undergoing rearing, these medium-sized salmons start to migrate from the estuary to the ocean where they fully grow and mature. When they are fully grown and are ready to lay eggs, they go back to the river to spawn their eggs there and the cycle repeats again.
Thanks :)
Posted by: Jessa | July 30, 2017 at 18:25
Hi Simon,
Could you give me some advice? I want to got 5. But my writing skill is so terrible....thank you so much
The diagram illustrates the life of salmon from birth to maturity in six stages.
It is noticeable that six main stages in the life of salmon is described from egg to adult fish. We can also see that, salmon live in three different places. Initially, salmon live in river then change to estuary, moreover, migrant to ocean, then, back to upstream.
First, salmon lay eggs I n the river after emerging from eggs which will grow to young salmon. At the same stage, young salmon is reared. Moreover, salmon swim to estuary and is reared.
After salmon swim to estuary, salmon migrate to ocean where salmon is reared. Next, becoming an adult and maturation. After that salmon swim back to upstream and wait to lay.
Posted by: Carol | September 05, 2017 at 10:22
Hi Simon
Thank you for your useful site.
Please give a sample for test 4 - task 1 in the Cambridge English Ielts 10. I know it is similar to this post, but..
Posted by: M.H | August 27, 2019 at 15:24
Hi Simon! I just wanted to let you know that you are helping people from all over the world to improve their exam marks and consequently, improve their lives by being able to purchase bachelor's or master's degrees overseas. A huge 'thank you' from Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Posted by: Magdalena | January 20, 2020 at 15:56
(Sorry, I mean pursue instead of purchase.)
Posted by: Magdalena | January 20, 2020 at 15:58
You're welcome Magdalena! I'm happy to help!
Posted by: Simon | January 21, 2020 at 11:45
The diagram illustrates the time period of salmon’s life in river, estuary and ocean.
Overall, it can be seen that salmon are done their lifetime in eight different steps and also travel through three different places during the cycle, beginning from river to estuary to ocean and ending with going back.
Firstly, salmon start their life cycle by adult salmon spawning and then eggs are incubated for a while. After incubation, from these eggs, baby salmon emerge, and this step is followed by freshwater rearing where salmon get bigger. The next one, estuary, is a transition part between river and ocean, and salmon continue their growing here as well.
The third place, ocean, hosts the next stages except the last one, starting with immigration of salmon to rearing areas. This is continued by the growth and the becoming mature period, and then salmon finish their time in ocean by going back to spawning areas, where all these stages are taken place first, to lay down their eggs. Thus, the life cycle of the next generation starts over.
-177 words -band 7 (according to essay check website)
Posted by: Yozkan | April 29, 2020 at 13:52