The life cycle of the salmon

IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 - Diagram

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IELTS Writing Task 1 Question

The picture below shows the life cycle of the salmon. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant.

Common questions for the salmon life cycle diagram

1. Graph Type: Life cycle diagram (process flow).

2. Title: The Life Cycle of the Salmon.

3. What are the units of measurement?: The stages of the salmon’s life cycle, duration in each stage (in months and years), and size (in cm).

4. Who: The life cycle of the salmon is illustrated.

5. When: The life cycle stages span several years, from the egg stage to the adult salmon.

6. Where: The salmon lives in both freshwater (rivers, estuaries) and seawater (ocean).

7. Topic: The diagram describes the process of the salmon’s life cycle.

Comparison Showing and Trends

Comparison 1 : Freshwater and Saltwater

The salmon’s life cycle includes time spent in both freshwater and saltwater. It begins its life in freshwater and migrates to seawater as it matures, living in each environment for several years.

Comparison 2 : Stages of Growth

The salmon goes through three main life stages: fry, smolt, and adult. The fry and smolt stages occur in freshwater, where the fish grows from 3-8 cm to 12-15 cm, while the adult salmon stage takes place in the sea, where the salmon grows to a size of 70-76 cm

Comparison 3 : Duration of Each Stage

The fry stage lasts for 5-6 months, the smolt stage lasts about 4 years, and the adult salmon lives in the sea for approximately 5 years before returning to its birthplace to spawn.

Sample Answer

The given diagram illustrates the life cycle of the salmon, which involves both freshwater and seawater environments.

Salmon begin their life as eggs laid in slow-moving rivers, typically sheltered by reeds and small stones. After 5-6 months, the eggs hatch into fry, measuring 3-8 cm. These fry then live in the lower, fast-moving rivers or estuaries for the next 4 years, growing into smolts, which are 12-15 cm long. The smolts migrate to the sea, where they spend around 5 years, reaching their full adult size of 70-76 cm.

After approximately five years in the ocean, adult salmon return to the river to spawn, completing their life cycle. They die after spawning.

Overall, the salmon goes through three stages: fry, smolt, and adult. The fry and smolt stages are spent in freshwater, while the adult salmon live in saltwater, illustrating the salmon’s ability to thrive in both environments. This unique life cycle, alternating between freshwater and saltwater, is what makes the salmon a remarkable species.

Top 26 Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meaning	Synonyms	Examples	Type
Fry	A young fish, typically newly hatched	Juvenile, young fish	“The fry live in the lower river for approximately 4 years.”	Noun
Smolt	A young salmon that has migrated from freshwater to saltwater	Young salmon, juvenile salmon	“The smolt grows to 12-15 cm in length before migrating to the ocean.”	Noun
Migrate	To move from one place to another, especially for breeding	Move, travel, relocate	“The smolt migrates to the open sea, where it spends several years.”	Verb
Estuary	A coastal area where freshwater from rivers meets and mixes with seawater	River mouth, bay	“The fry live in the estuary, where freshwater meets the sea.”	Noun
Spawn	To produce or lay eggs, especially in fish	Lay eggs, breed, reproduce	“After 5 years, the salmon returns to its birthplace to spawn.”	Verb
Hatch	To emerge from an egg, usually referring to fish	Emerge, break open	“The salmon eggs hatch into fry after 5-6 months.”	Verb
Sheltered	Protected or shielded from harm	Protected, safe	“The eggs are sheltered by reeds and stones in the river.”	Adjective
Fast-moving	Moving quickly, usually describing water or a current	Rapid, swift	“The fry live in fast-moving rivers for their early stages.”	Adjective
Size	The dimensions or magnitude of something	Dimensions, magnitude	“Adult salmon can grow to 70-76 cm in size.”	Noun
Adult	Fully grown, mature individual	Mature, fully grown	“Adult salmon spend most of their lives in the sea.”	Adjective/Noun
Thrive	To grow, develop, or be successful in an environment	Flourish, prosper	“The salmon thrive in both freshwater and seawater.”	Verb
Cycle	A series of events that repeat in a specific order	Process, sequence	“The life cycle of the salmon involves several stages.”	Noun
Unique	Being the only one of its kind	Uncommon, rare	“The salmon’s ability to thrive in both environments is unique.”	Adjective
Environment	The surrounding conditions where an organism lives	Habitat, surroundings	“Salmon adapt to both freshwater and saltwater environments.”	Noun
Salmon	A type of fish known for its migration patterns	–	“Salmon are known for their remarkable life cycle.”	Noun
Rivers	Large, natural streams of water flowing toward seas	Streams, waterways	“Salmon begin their life in slow-moving rivers.”	Noun
Oceans	Vast bodies of saltwater that cover much of Earth’s surface	Seas, saltwater	“Adult salmon spend 5 years in the ocean before returning.”	Noun
Reeds	Tall, slender-leaved plants growing in water	Grass, rushes	“The eggs are laid near reeds in the river.”	Noun
Migratory	Describing animals or organisms that move seasonally	Nomadic, traveling	“Salmon are migratory and travel between freshwater and seawater.”	Adjective
Flow	The movement or direction of a liquid, such as water	Stream, current	“The flow of water helps the salmon grow and migrate.”	Noun/Verb
Threshold	The point or level at which something begins or changes	Limit, boundary	“The salmon reach a threshold size before migrating to the sea.”	Noun
Reproduce	To produce offspring or new individuals	Breed, generate	“Salmon reproduce by spawning after returning to their birthplace.”	Verb
Species	A group of organisms that can interbreed and produce offspring	Type, breed	“Salmon are a species known for their unique life cycle.”	Noun
Habitat	The natural environment where an organism lives	Environment, dwelling	“The salmon’s habitat changes as they move between environments.”	Noun
Predator	An animal that hunts and eats other animals	Hunter, killer	“Salmon are preyed upon by larger fish in the ocean.”	Noun
Biodiversity	The variety of plant and animal life in a particular area	Variety, richness	“The river and ocean environments support diverse biodiversity.”	Noun

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