Built from scored responses published by IELTS.org, Official IELTS Practice Materials, and Cambridge IELTS 18–21, plus examiner-written Cambridge models, this library keeps each task, response, and examiner comment together. It is the most authoritative reference here for understanding how IELTS Writing is judged, comparing score levels, and calibrating your own work.
The charts below show the number of Japanese tourists travelling abroad between 1985 and 1995 and Australia's share of the Japanese tourist market.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.
Full candidate response
The Japanese Tourists started travelling to Australia in 1985 were around 4.5 millions and in the following year it had gone up 1/4 million more than 1985 The number of tourist increased steadily till 1990 from 1/2 million to 1 1/2 million and at the same time there was a fall in the figure in 1991 about 1/4 million tourists comparing the 1990 as one can say it surge. In 1992 it picked up again and gone upto 11 3/4 million tourists (ie) 3/4 million more than the year 1991. In 1993 it reached up 12 million tourists and in 1994 and gone steadily increased till 1995. In 1994 it reached 13 3/4 million and in 1995 it touched around 15 1/2 million tourists.
In the same time if you talk in percentage of the Japanese tourists between 1985 to 1995 (ie) Australia's share of Japan's tourist Market it stood from 2 percentage to 6 percentage in 1995 and at the same time it reached its peak in 1994 more than 6.25%. When you see the graph it gone upto 4.9% in 1989 and there was a surge again in 1990, and it was about 4.25%. The increasement started from 1991 till 1994 at the rate of 2% approximately every year and at last in 1995 the percentage dropped about .25%.
The highest Japanese tourists travelling abroad was in 1995 and at the same time highest percentage was in 1994 (ie) 6.25%
Full official examiner comment
This answer includes the main points of the information but these are inaccurately reported and hard to identify because so much detail is given. The figures are confused and sometimes inaccurate. The candidate has tried to organise the information logically, but linking is repetitive and not always clear. The range of vocabulary is enough to describe the information, and spelling is quite well controlled. The writer tries to use a wider range at times but makes errors in word choice and word formation. Similarly, the writer tries to use some complex sentences, but errors in grammar, especially in verb phrases, are common and make the writing difficult to understand in places. This is a good example of a Band 5 response.
From reference to real practice
Put the official standard to work in your own essay
In many countries children are engaged in some kind of paid work. Some people regard this as completely wrong, while others consider it as valuable work experience, important for learning and taking responsibility.
Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
Full candidate response
There are many kinds of work people interested in at companies.
Young people are not enough work experience in their lives so they consider to try to work in a shop.
Most people need to work experience in their lives before they apply to the many kinds of companies. They interested in work in their live and have experience because they want to know how to do work in a area of position in their lives.
People enjoy their work experience. When young people are learn to how to work they have good experience because they can understand and their parents of work for the stricts. However if they do not have work experience they don't understand what do they feel therefore It is important to them.
Many people have confidence and resposibility. When they have work experience. They need to have confidence about their work because. If they do not have their confidence their job is not succeed so they need to have confidence. Also they need to have responsibility because if they do not have responsibility they have trouble with customer therefore that company is not reliable from coustomer. Also consumer have give to claim to the company so the company have problem. However when young people learn to these things it is good for them.
Many countries children do not know how to strict area about work place. They usually go to school and studying so they do not know how to strict place therefore if they have work experience they can lean and think about work.
Full official examiner comment
This answer is obviously related to the topic, but there is no clear response to any part of the question and it is difficult to identify any relevant point of view. There is some attempt to use paragraphs and basic connectives, but there is little logical progression. Instead the ideas are very repetitive and circular both within and between paragraphs. The range of vocabulary is limited and so there is frequent repetition of basic vocabulary and words taken from the question. There are occasional examples of a wider range but there are also errors in word choice and spelling that confuse the reader. The candidate attempts to use a range of structures, but the lack of control of grammar and punctuation results in strain for the reader. Although the writing has some features of Band 4 performance, no part of the question is successfully addressed and this limits the rating to Band 3.5.
The diagram below shows the process of using water to produce electricity.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.
Full candidate response
The diagram illustrates how to use water in order to generate electricity.
The diagram shows that the process of producing electricity involves as natural resources, like water, as well as special human-built equipment.
First of all, the sun energy evaporates some of the water from a sea. Evaporation forces clouds to form. While the rain goes the water is collected in a purpose built reservoir. Afterwards, from a dam the water goes through a valve. This movement force a turbine to rotate and this process generates electricity.
Finally, the electricity is transferred by high voltage Cables to a transformer station. The stransformer station supplies city buildings such as schools and hospitals with electricity.
Moreover, the diagram indicates that the water which is involved in the process is used repeatedly. From the tourbin it goes to a pump and than returnes to the reservoir.
Overall, the illustration shows that there are 3 main steps in order to generate electricity: collecting the water, rotating the tourbin and accumulating electricity in the transformer station.
Full official examiner comment
This answer includes a clear overview of the process and the information is well-selected with good coverage of the key points. Some of the points could however be further extended. The candidate has organised the information logically with a clear progression of information through the answer. Some good linkers are used although there are occasional mistakes in their use. The writer has made efforts to adapt the vocabulary in the task but there are spelling mistakes with some words. There are a number of complex grammatical structures which are used accurately and although there are some errors in word order and the use of articles, these do not reduce the clarity of the writing.
Many old buildings are protected by law because they are part of a nation's history. However, some people think old buildings should be knocked down to make way for new ones because people need houses and offices.
How important is it to maintain old buildings?
Should history stand in the way of progress?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
Full candidate response
Old buildings not only are still useful, but also keep the history alive. Not all of them have enough history to say that it's better to maintain it. In my opinion only the buildings that really involve nation's history could be maintain, because its will remain to the people the traditions, culture, and stories that relavant people lived before, and this is part of the formal education of each person.
Most of the countries of the world at least have important people that help to constructed the nation, or fight for the independence, or are just important because They changed the social, political, economical or even musical environment of their countries. When people see the places where this people lived and where they develop their acts, these places or buildings help to reconstruct the stories and are useful for imagine how was the situation before. So every time that people will see This buildings or monuments they are able to remain the history and also learn about it. Finally nowadays human beings are capable to maintain this buildings in good conditions, even they can modernize them but without change their principal structure and fronts.
On the other hand it's true that the cities of the world have to continue with its development. Therefore they have to build new buildings that allow people work with better and modern environments that let them work efficiently and also that offer development resources. New buildings brings new technologye as well, that could improve the efficiency, productivity and production of different companies, organizations, shops, offices, etc.
In conclussion some buildings would be knocked down to make way progress and development. However that old buildings that have important history for human beings should be maintain. If we knocked down these buildings we would knocked down our traditions, culture, history and even some part of our lives.
Full official examiner comment
The answer addresses both questions in the task, but the second question is only treated in a general way and so this aspect is not sufficiently developed. Nevertheless there is a clear argument that progresses logically in spite of some repetition. Connectives are used but linking between sentences is sometimes omitted, while referencing is not always clear. The range of language is adequate for the task, and there are examples of some less common words, which are used appropriately. The candidate makes mistakes in word form and spelling, but the meaning is still clear. There is a range of structures, though complex structures are not always successful and errors in grammar and tense are noticeable. However, these do not usually cause problems for the reader. Overall this is a clear example of a Band 6 response.
The graph below shows the number of complaints made about noise to Environmental Health authorities in the city of Newtown between 1980 and 1996.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.
Full candidate response
When we see the graph, domestic household is different of others. According to the graph number of complaints remained stable about factories noise from 1984 to 1966. It means most of skills and something made from factories. However society is getting change, so in the future people don't have to go factories, they can do most of things, at home. Maybe factories will be decrease. Number of complaints dropped steadily about road works from 1980 to 1996. It shows us most of road works, were formed in the past. Now days people don't have to road works because there already were todays. Number of complaints increased sharply about traffic noise from 1990 to 1996. It remained the same from 1980 to 1984. then it dropped from 1985 to 1988. However it increased from 1988, it means, many people have their own car and society is getting change. Now-days cars are necessary in our life and it will be increase continues.
Number of complaints reached almost peak about domestic household in 1996. It increased suddenly from 1990, and it is highest to others. It means people want domestic and many people did that.
Full official examiner comment
There is no introduction to the topic in this answer, so the opening is rather confusing. The candidate has tried to describe the key information but gives no figures and the focus is lost in the irrelevant explanations and excessive detail. The information is not well selected or logically organised, so it is difficult to follow the message. New points are not linked into the summary and relationships between points are not clearly signalled, although some basic linking words are used. The range of vocabulary is limited and even though the writer tries to use a range of structures, there is a lack of grammatical control and frequent errors in quite basic structures. This is a good example of a Band 4 response.
Television is dangerous because it destroys family life and any sense of community; instead of visiting people or talking with our family we just watch television.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
Full candidate response
the evolution in technology nowadays is very rampant. People do not even recognize changes from one to another. There are a lot of modern equipment, appliances and even simple machines are available in the market. Competitors in business industries keep doing transformation, product development and more research works. Sometimes their own products compete each other. One of these modern equipments or appliances in the market that is very saleable is the telivision.
Telivision dominates the communication and entertainment industries long time ago. Starting from the Black and White TV, here comes the Colored TV. In addition, Cable TV is now available in the market. In Southeast Asia, particularly in the Philippines, the most saleable appliances in the market is the television. Even the ordinary vendors in the market or in the side walk avail one so that they can watch telivision while working. Businessmen and employees watch TV for news and general information. Housekeepers and housewives, together with the children entertain themselves with the variety shows and soap operas through television. Everyone, in all walk of life uses telivision as one of their 'mate' in life there are some issues that modernization, new technology including television is dangerous for children or for the whole family because it destroys a sense of community and belongingness and sometime it influence the young people in their principle in life.
In conclusion, telivision is a modern appliance that can help a lot in the life of each and everyone. It has it's own disadvantages too. It can do good or can influence bad paradigms to the people, but I believe that the result of the use or watching TV depends on the person or family themselves. Together w/ the development is the consequence of having great discipline in oneself.
Full official examiner comment
This answer does not focus sufficiently on the question and a lot of irrelevant material is included. It is difficult to identify the candidate's position on the topic or to extract the main ideas. There is some organisation, but the development of the answer is not wholly logical. A range of linking words is used, but these are sometimes inaccurate and in some sections the candidate does not clearly signal how ideas relate to each other. There is a clear attempt to use an ambitious range of vocabulary, but there are a lot of inappropriate choices that indicate limited control. Similarly, the writer uses a mix of complex and simple sentences but makes fairly basic errors. Although there are some features of higher level performance in this script, the lack of focus and clear development limit the overall rating to Band 5.
07
Volume 1 · General Training example 1 · response 7
There have been some problems with public transport in your area recently.
Write a letter to the manager of the public transport company. In your letter
- describe the problems
- explain how these problems are affecting the public
- suggest what changes could be made
Write at least 150 words.
You do NOT need to write any addresses.
Begin your letter as follows:
Dear Sir or Madam,
Full candidate response
Dear Sir or Madam,
Hi. I write you this letter to report some problems with public transport in my area recently.
I live in 'Blair Athol' and usually take Bus 224 from my home to Mawson Lakes Campus. But in the last 4 weeks, the bus has been frequently late. Sometimes the bus arrived late up to 20 minutes. The timetable seems useless. As a result, I have been caught late for the courses several times, which is embarrassing. I don't know what the reason is for the problem, but it's obviously affecting people's regular lives. For instance, if a staff comes to work late, he may lose his customers, and even worse, he may lose his job. People may endure a few times of the late transport, but they cannot hold on for many times. People need precise and accurate arrangement with their lives.
So, I suggest you could solve this problem as soon as possible. Please notify the drivers to be on time. If current timetable is outdated, please notify the public the change. I wish this can be solved after you receive my letter.
Thanks for your attention.
Regards
Yours
Full official examiner comment
This letter has a clear purpose and all the content is relevant. The bullet points are well-covered but could be more fully extended. Apart from the overly informal opening and closing, the tone of the letter is consistently appropriate. The organisation of the letter is logical and there is very good use throughout of linking devices. The vocabulary resource is large enough to allow for some flexible and precise use, although there are some inappropriacies and occasional spelling errors. Errors in word order are noticeable, as is omission of prepositions and articles, but complex sentences including relative clauses and conditionals are accurate.
08
Volume 1 · General Training example 1 · response 8
Many people say that cooking and eating at home is better for the individual and the family than eating out in restaurants or canteens.
Do you agree or disagree?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
Full candidate response
Everyone has to eat. The question is, where to eat ? You may cook and eat at home, or just eat out in restourants or canteens. My personal opinion is that eating at home is better for the individual and the family than eating out.
First, it has no doubt that cooking and eating at home can save a lot of money. Generally, the cost of eating in restourants is much higher than eating at home. By cooking at home, you don't have to pay the labor fee for the chef, and don't have to pay tips to the waiter. What you have to do is just a little hand operation and a little time. From supermarkets, you can buy cheap vegetables and meat, which may cost only 10 percent of the same food in a restourant. Sometimes, you can get cheaper food in discount time. Especially, a big family may enjoy the method, as the monthly cost would be less.
Second, you can freely select your favorite food to cook. A restaurant cannot always provide you with delicious food. The taste of food in restourants is usually designed for the public, which is not suitable for a particular guest. If you miss the taste of your mum's soup, it's not likely to find the same one in a restourant. In this case, the best choice is to cook by yourself, to reproduce your mum's food to the best you can.
Finaly, it's obvious that eating at home is more healthy and clean. You don't know whether it's dirty in the restourants, and also you don't know whether the food is fresh. But by cooking at home, you can know everything about the cooking materials. Moreover, it's easy to control the usage of fat and oil, unless you don't care to become too fat.
In brief, I believe that eating at home is healthy and clean. If people want to save money, eating at home is also a good choice. In addition, people can cook what they like as well. So I personally prefer eating at home.
Full official examiner comment
This writer states a clear position at the outset and maintains it to the end, where all the arguments are summed up and the position re-stated. The answer progresses clearly to its conclusion, with some good use of cohesive devices. Paragraphing is also well-handled and helps the reader. The ideas are logically organised and each main idea is supported with additional information. There are some errors in referencing. The range of vocabulary includes some original and less frequent items specific to the task. There are some inappropriate word choices, but the meaning is still clear. Spelling errors are rare, and there is a good variety of sentence structures.
09
Volume 1 · General Training example 2 · response 9
You recently bought a large expensive item but when it was delivered to your home you found some problems with it.
Write a letter to the manager of the shop. In your letter
- give details of what you bought
- describe the problems with your item
- say what you want the shop to do
Write at least 150 words.
You do NOT need to write any addresses.
Begin your letter as follows:
Dear Sir or Madam,
Full candidate response
Dear Sir or Madam
I feel I must express my disappointment.
I have received a new air conditioning system which has heating system as well. It is a new design in this year, convenient button function, and can fix on the wall. When I received, I was absolutely delighted. However I was using for 3 nights. Unfortunately I found some problems with it. Firstly If I switch it on it was such a big noisy. Secondly, as we all know nowadays very cold. Thus I bought this incredibly heating system doesn't working. if I turn on the heating switch only blew the cold wind.
Consequently I couldn't sleep over very well.
In addition, I had ordered marvelous violet colour. However I received fair beige colour. it was quite unbalance with my furnitures. I am still very upsetting. I think that is not reasonable cost. I paid over £2000.
I think you would consider to give me discount it if I go to your shop again. And Changing the another air conditiong system and heating system which is violet colour as soon as possible.
I look forward to hearing from you shortly
Yours faithfully
Full official examiner comment
This answer generally provides all the information required by the task, but the purpose seems incomplete without reference to the shop at the start of the letter. There is no reference to this being an item bought at the shop, even though it is evident that the writer is complaining. The answer is organised and there is a clear progression in the letter. The writing contains a range of connectives and some of these are used effectively to relate ideas. In some sections, however, these cohesive devices are used mechanically at the start of almost every sentence. The range of vocabulary is sufficient for the task and is a strong feature of the answer, in spite of some inappropriate word choice and some errors in word form. There is also a range of structures, with a mix of simple and complex sentences. However, control of syntax, basic grammar and punctuation is weak at times and errors are quite frequent. The flaws in setting out the purpose of the letter and the frequent grammatical errors limit this script to Band 5.5.
10
Volume 1 · General Training example 2 · response 10
People should be allowed to continue to work for as long as they want to, and not be forced to retire at a particular age such as 60 or 65.
Do you agree or disagree?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
Full candidate response
In this task two, I want to like the people should be allowed to continue to work for as long as they want to.
If the people are working some concern, or the Government, they are always very free in mind, and they can "earn more money". If one can earn lot, he spend it some thing. Like most of the people want to build a house first, than they get many facilities. All are wanted now-a-days earn more money and they buy a car, all well furnished house, furniture, good articles, [espicially ladies spend lot of the money in her valuable articles, such as gold chain, hellace, bangles, and earings etc...].
In this context, I want to clarify one thing. That is if the Government or such concern are to restrict once "retirement", All of a sudden people will depressed.
In my opinion, one who is elegible for working in his line, the company or the Government will not "disturbed" or forced to retire the people.
The concern can give all the facilities to their employers, like, House Rent, conveyance allowance, educational allowance and the most important thing is the medical facilities are provide for their employers. one who satisfied in his or her job, they can wonderfully worked for (his or her) concern. So the Government or any other companies are always give much more important to the employers.
In my opinion again I will tell the companies & Governments "do not forced to retire at a particular age such as 60 or 65" In a person who is not able to work in his 50th year, then he applied voluntary retirement. In this aspect the concern must provide all the benefit to this person. Such as, provident fund, ESI, Medical allowance and retirement-benefits.
One who is satisfied his job, his life is automatically pleasent and his mind is peacefull. So the major companies are give more and more facilities.
Finally, I would like to request all the concerns, do not forced to retire at a particular age limit in his employers. Please allowed people should enjoy and continue to work for as long as they want. This is in my view point, to tell the good companies and all the Governments.
Thanking you.
Full official examiner comment
The answer focuses on the question, but is quite repetitive. Ideas are not well developed and lack clarity, and some supporting ideas seem to be irrelevant. It is difficult to follow the argument or to understand how ideas relate to each other. Linking expressions and paragraphing are used, but not appropriately, and this creates problems for the reader. The range of vocabulary is the best feature of this answer as it is sufficient for a discussion of the topic, in spite of repetition of some inappropriate word choices. The control of grammar and sentence structures is weak, however, and the number of errors makes it difficult for the reader to extract the meaning at times. The range of vocabulary raises this script to Band 4.5.