The table below shows the monthly expenditure of an average Australian family in 1991 and 2001.
Sample Response
The table shows changes in the spending patterns of an average Australian household between 1991 and 2001. In general, Australian household spending was high in 2001 than in 1991 but the difference was not significant (AUD $715 per month and AUD $675 per month respectively). The amount of monthly spending on electricity and water saw a dramatic increase over the 10-year period from $75 to $120. Yet in terms of the expenditure on non-essential goods and services, the rising trend was less obvious with a minor increase of $20. At the same time, the amount of money spent on food and housing rose only slightly from $155 to $160 and $95 to $100 respectively. However, there was a decrease in expenditure on the other two items. Australians spent one third less on clothing, which fell from $30 to $20. Similarly, expenditure on transport dropped from $70 in 1991 to $45 in 2001. It seems that food and “other goods and services” were the two biggest items of expenditure. Altogether, they accounted for more than half of the total household spending. By comparison, Australians spent little on dressing up.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Use comparative form Original: high Suggested revision: higher Why it matters: The comparison with 1991 requires the comparative adjective "higher."
- 2. Describe size precisely Original: not significant Suggested revision: relatively small Why it matters: The table shows a $40 difference, so this wording describes its scale without making a statistical claim.
- 3. Use table label Original: non-essential goods and services Suggested revision: other goods and services Why it matters: The table labels this category "Other goods and services" and does not classify it as non-essential.
- 4. Use two-point wording Original: the rising trend Suggested revision: the increase Why it matters: With only two years shown, "increase" is more precise than "trend."
- 5. Clarify reference Original: the other two items Suggested revision: the two remaining categories Why it matters: This makes clear that clothing and transport are the categories not covered by the preceding increases.
- 6. State visible fact Original: It seems that Suggested revision: Delete Why it matters: The table directly confirms the ranking, so a hedge is unnecessary.
- 7. Use category term Original: dressing up Suggested revision: clothing Why it matters: "Clothing" accurately matches the expenditure category, whereas "dressing up" changes its meaning.
- 8. Sentence rewrite Original: The amount of monthly spending on electricity and water saw a dramatic increase over the 10-year period from $75 to $120. Suggested revision: Monthly expenditure on electricity and water increased sharply from $75 to $120 over the 10-year period. Why it matters: This revision removes the awkward construction in which an amount "saw" an increase.
- 9. Strengthen the overview Suggested revision: Place the largest categories and the contrast between rising and falling categories in a distinct overview before presenting individual figures. Why it matters: The main patterns are reported later, but grouping them in the overview would make the table's key features immediately clear.
Suggested Rewrites
- high higher
- not significant relatively small
- non-essential goods and services other goods and services
- the rising trend the increase
- the other two items the two remaining categories
- It seems that Delete
Why this response received Band 7.5
The response gives a comprehensive and accurate account of the table, with well-chosen comparisons and a clear overview of overall spending and the largest categories. Its main limitation is presentation: all information is compressed into one paragraph, while a few phrases, such as the comparative description of spending, are grammatically awkward. Prioritise clearer paragraphing and more precise comparative forms to make this already strong report easier to follow.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
The report provides a clear overview and accurately covers all expenditure categories, totals, major changes, and useful comparisons.
Make the overview even more selective by foregrounding the sharp rise in utilities and the two declining categories without including totals in parentheses.
Coherence and Cohesion
Information progresses logically from the overall totals through increases, decreases, and the largest and smallest spending categories, with effective linking.
Separate the overview and detailed comparisons into distinct paragraphs so the report's hierarchy is immediately visible.
Lexical Resource
A varied and generally precise range of vocabulary describes expenditure and change, including effective phrases such as “accounted for” and “dramatic increase.”
Replace informal or slightly imprecise wording such as “dressing up” with the exact category term “clothing expenditure.”
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
The response uses varied sentence structures with strong control, and the few errors do not impede meaning.
Use accurate comparative forms, especially “higher in 2001 than in 1991,” and check article and preposition choices in expenditure phrases.
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IELTS Academic Writing Task 1
The table below shows the monthly expenditure of an average Australian family in 1991 and 2001.
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.