Task 38.1

Essay Writing · Survey Comment

Comment on Data & Give Your Opinion

Cinematic editorial flat-lay of Valentine's Day gifts — red roses, wrapped chocolate box, perfume bottle and gift certificates arranged on a white marble surface, warm rose-gold bokeh lights in background, overhead shot, soft romantic shadows, luxury lifestyle mood

Valentine's Day Presents — What Do Zetlanders Receive Most Often?

Survey-Based Essay · 200–250 words · 5 Paragraphs

Task 38.1 · Variant 17

Imagine that you are doing a project on the most popular Valentine's Day presents in Zetland. You have found some data on the subject — the results of a survey conducted among Zetlanders (see the table below).

Comment on the survey data and give your opinion on the subject of the project.

The survey question: What Valentine's Day present do you receive most often?

Choose one option

Options	Number of respondents (%)
Flowers	37
Sweets	25
Perfume	20
Tickets to the cinema or theatre	10
Gift certificates	8

Write 200–250 words. Use the following plan:

make an opening statement on the subject of the project;
select and report 2–3 facts;
make 1–2 comparisons where relevant and give your comments;
outline a problem that can arise with choosing a present and suggest a way of solving it;
conclude by giving and explaining your opinion on the best present for Valentine's Day.

200–250 words

Total words

Target: 200–250 words across all parts

Part 1 of 5 — Opening Statement

Introduce the topic. State the subject of your project: the most popular Valentine's Day presents in Zetland. Mention the survey briefly.

Tap a phrase to insert it:

Valentine's Day is one of the most celebrated occasions in Zetland, Choosing the right present for Valentine's Day can be a real challenge. A recent survey among Zetlanders investigated This project focuses on As part of a project on Valentine's Day gifts,

0 words~2–3 sentences

Part 2 of 5 — Key Facts from the Survey

Report 2–3 specific facts from the data. Use percentages from the table. Mention the most and least popular answers.

Facts you can use — pick 2 or 3

37% said they receive flowers most often — the most popular Valentine's Day gift.

25% most frequently receive sweets — the second most common present.

Only 8% receive gift certificates — the least popular option in the survey.

20% receive perfume as their Valentine's Day present.

10% most often receive tickets to the cinema or theatre.

Useful phrases — tap to insert:

According to the survey, The results show that The majority of respondents (37%) Notably, It is worth mentioning that At the other end of the scale,

0 words~3–5 sentences

Part 3 of 5 — Comparisons & Comments

Compare 1–2 pairs of results and add your comment. Why might people prefer one gift over another? Are any results surprising?

Comparison ideas

Flowers (37%) vs. gift certificates (8%) — classic romantic gifts clearly dominate over practical ones.

Sweets (25%) vs. tickets (10%) — consumable, affordable presents are twice as popular as experience-based gifts.

Perfume (20%) vs. gift certificates (8%) — a thoughtfully chosen item beats a generic voucher.

Comparison starters — tap to insert:

Compared to flowers, While 37% receive flowers, This is perhaps because In contrast, Interestingly, It seems that traditional gifts are still highly valued,

0 words~3–4 sentences

Part 4 of 5 — Problem & Solution

Outline a problem that can arise with choosing a present and suggest a realistic way to solve it.

Problem & solution ideas

Problem: it can be difficult to know a person's preferences, leading to an unsuitable or unwanted gift.

Problem: popular gifts like flowers or perfume may be too expensive for people on a tight budget.

Problem: some people are allergic to flowers or certain ingredients in sweets, making standard gifts unsuitable.

Solution: ask a close friend or family member about the recipient's tastes before buying.

Solution: choose a personalised, handmade gift that shows thought and care without high cost.

Problem / solution phrases — tap to insert:

One major challenge is A significant problem with However, this could be solved by One possible solution would be To overcome this, People could avoid this by

0 words~3–4 sentences

Part 5 of 5 — Conclusion

Give and explain your opinion on the best present for Valentine's Day. What makes a gift truly special? Does it have to be expensive or traditional?

Closing phrases — tap to insert:

In conclusion, To sum up, I strongly believe that In my opinion, the best Valentine's Day present is one that What truly matters is Ultimately, any gift given with sincerity

0 words~2–4 sentences

Vocabulary — key words & phrases

All cards reviewed!