The table below shows the percentage use of four different fuel types to generate electricity in five Asian countries in 2005.
Sample Response
The table shows different sources of fuel for producing electricity and their percentage use in five Asian countries in 2005. Generally, the five countries showed a significant difference in their patterns of consumption. Taking nuclear fuel first, Japan had the highest percentage at 49%, with South Korea second at 33%. In marked contrast, Thailand used no nuclear power at all. Turning to Coal and Lignite, Malaysia and Singapore used this to generate a large proportion of their electricity (61% and 42% respectively), a much higher percentage than the remaining countries.
Regarding Petroleum products, Thailand produced 36% of its electricity from this source. In comparison, the other countries only generated 3% or less of their electricity from this fuel. However, Hydro and Wind reveal another pattern with South Korea producing almost half of its electricity (48%) this way (over twice as high as Thailand which had the second highest percentage at 19%). Finally, a significant amount was produced from other sources with three countries (Singapore, Thailand and Japan) generating around 40% of their electricity from other fuels. Overall, it can be seen that there was a significant variation in which fuels countries used to generate their electricity.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Use concise wording Original: sources of fuel Suggested revision: fuel sources Why it matters: This is the more concise and natural collocation for the table categories.
- 2. Use plural difference Original: five countries showed a significant difference Suggested revision: five countries showed significant differences Why it matters: Several countries and fuel patterns require the plural noun here.
- 3. Improve transition Original: Taking nuclear fuel first Suggested revision: Turning first to nuclear power Why it matters: This transition more naturally introduces the first fuel category.
- 4. Use lowercase terms Original: Coal and Lignite Suggested revision: coal and lignite Why it matters: These common fuel names do not need initial capitals within the sentence.
- 5. Clarify fuel reference Original: used this to generate Suggested revision: used these fuels to generate Why it matters: The plural reference clearly points to the combined coal-and-lignite category.
- 6. Match plural comparison Original: a much higher percentage Suggested revision: much higher percentages Why it matters: The sentence compares separate figures for Malaysia and Singapore with those of several countries.
- 7. Use lowercase term Original: Petroleum Suggested revision: petroleum Why it matters: The fuel category is a common noun within the sentence.
- 8. Name sources precisely Original: Hydro and Wind reveal Suggested revision: Hydropower and wind power reveal Why it matters: These terms identify the energy sources more precisely and naturally.
- 9. Use precise reference Original: this way Suggested revision: from these sources Why it matters: A direct reference to hydropower and wind is clearer than the vague phrase.
- 10. Strengthen the overview Suggested revision: State the main cross-country contrasts by identifying the fuel source that stands out in each country group. Why it matters: The current overview says only that patterns differed, while the table supports several clear dominant-source contrasts.
Suggested Rewrites
- sources of fuel fuel sources
- five countries showed a significant difference five countries showed significant differences
- Taking nuclear fuel first Turning first to nuclear power
- Coal and Lignite coal and lignite
- used this to generate used these fuels to generate
- a much higher percentage much higher percentages
Why this response received Band 7.5
The response gives an accurate, well-selected account of the table, with effective comparisons across all five fuel categories and generally clear organisation. Its main weakness is that the overview remains broad and is partly repeated at the end rather than identifying the dominant national patterns more sharply. Prioritise a more specific overview that groups countries by their principal electricity source while keeping the detailed comparisons concise.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
The response accurately selects and compares the main figures across all five fuel categories, although its overview is more general than analytical.
State the dominant fuel pattern for each country or useful country groups explicitly in the overview.
Coherence and Cohesion
Information progresses logically by fuel type, and cohesive devices make the comparisons easy to follow.
Place one specific overview after the introduction and avoid restating the same general conclusion at the end.
Lexical Resource
The vocabulary is varied and appropriate for comparison, with only occasional imprecision in phrases such as significant amount.
Use more exact analytical terms such as proportion, dominant source, and negligible share when describing the table.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A good range of complex comparative structures is used with strong control and only minor awkwardness.
Refine clause structure in longer comparisons so each reference and relationship is immediately clear.
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IELTS Academic Writing Task 1
The table below shows the percentage use of four different fuel types to generate electricity in five Asian countries in 2005.
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.