You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
The graph below shows the population figures of different types of turtles in India between 1980 and 2012. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.
Sample answer
The total number of all species of turtles in India has been relatively stable over the last two decades, although there were significant drops in numbers between 1987 and 1989 and again in 1992 and 1996. Since 2004 there has been an improvement in numbers of all species, although the graph shows a slight decrease in 2010.
In contrast, the population of Leatherback turtles has suffered a severe decline, particularly in 1988 when numbers fell dramatically. The rate of decline in the population appears to have slowed and it has remained relatively stable since 2009.
There was also a fall in the number of Green turtles of around 30% between 1984 and 2002. The population increased slightly in 2010 but it had dropped again by 2012.
It is only Olive Ridley turtles that have seen a steady increase in population over this period. Their numbers dropped slightly in 2007 and again in 2012 but the overall trend has been a positive one.
(162 words)