The chart below shows information about average house prices in five different cities between 1990 and 2002 compared with average house prices in 1989.
Sample Response
The graph illustrates the figures of average house prices in the five different cities during the period from 1990 to 2002, in comparison with the data in 1989. Overall, there was an upward trend in the percentage of change of house prices during the period shown in almost all of the cities except for Frankfurt.
As can be clearly seen, there was a considerable fall by approximately 5% in the proportion change of estate prices in New York between 1990 and 1995. Likewise, Tokyo and London, which had the same figures, witnessed a dramatic decrease by about 7% over the same period. However, the figures for Madrid and Frankfurt were around 2% and 3%, respectively.
During the latter period from 1996 to 2002, the figure for London was the highest with more than 10% in the percentage of change of house prices. During the same period, the rates at which the house prices increased were about 5% in New York and 4% in Madrid. This rate in Frankfurt was 2%, lower than than in the first 5-year period. Finally, the percentage change in Tokyo fell by around 5% between 1996 and 2002.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Name the measured data Original: figures of average house prices Suggested revision: percentage changes in average house prices Why it matters: The chart presents percentage changes from 1989 prices rather than the actual price figures.
- 2. Improve trend phrasing Original: an upward trend in the percentage of change of house prices Suggested revision: an upward shift in the percentage change in house prices Why it matters: The replacement uses the standard term "percentage change" and describes the comparison between the two periods more precisely.
- 3. Correct the comparison Original: Tokyo and London, which had the same figures Suggested revision: Tokyo and London, whose figures were similar Why it matters: Their first-period changes were approximately -7% and -8%, so they were close rather than identical.
- 4. Correct Frankfurt value Original: around 2% and 3%, respectively Suggested revision: around 2% each Why it matters: Both Madrid and Frankfurt were approximately 2% above the 1989 level in the first period.
- 5. Streamline the figure Original: with more than 10% in the percentage of change of house prices Suggested revision: at just over 10% Why it matters: The shorter phrase states London's value clearly without repeating the measurement description.
- 6. Correct comparison and typo Original: 2%, lower than than in the first 5-year period Suggested revision: 2%, approximately the same as in the first period Why it matters: Frankfurt was about 2% in both periods, and the replacement also removes the duplicated word.
- 7. Sentence rewrite Original: As can be clearly seen, there was a considerable fall by approximately 5% in the proportion change of estate prices in New York between 1990 and 1995. Suggested revision: From 1990 to 1995, average house prices in New York were approximately 5% below their 1989 level. Why it matters: The bar is an average change relative to 1989, not a fall that occurred between the two endpoint years.
- 8. Sentence rewrite Original: During the same period, the rates at which the house prices increased were about 5% in New York and 4% in Madrid. Suggested revision: During the same period, average house prices were about 5% above the 1989 level in New York and 4% above it in Madrid. Why it matters: The chart compares period averages with the 1989 baseline rather than showing rates of increase within the period.
- 9. Sentence rewrite Original: Finally, the percentage change in Tokyo fell by around 5% between 1996 and 2002. Suggested revision: Finally, average house prices in Tokyo were around 5% below the 1989 level during 1996-2002. Why it matters: The value represents an average difference from 1989 rather than a decline across the period.
Suggested Rewrites
- figures of average house prices percentage changes in average house prices
- an upward trend in the percentage of change of house prices an upward shift in the percentage change in house prices
- Tokyo and London, which had the same figures Tokyo and London, whose figures were similar
- around 2% and 3%, respectively around 2% each
- with more than 10% in the percentage of change of house prices at just over 10%
- 2%, lower than than in the first 5-year period 2%, approximately the same as in the first period
Why this response received Band 8.0
This is a well-selected and logically structured account that identifies the central contrast between the two periods and reports nearly all major figures accurately. The main weakness is occasional imprecise or awkward phrasing, including descriptions of percentage change as a fall occurring within a period. Prioritise expressing every bar explicitly as a change from the 1989 baseline and polish collocations to make the otherwise strong comparisons fully precise.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
The overview captures the broad shift across the two periods, and the response selects and compares all five cities with largely accurate figures.
State consistently that each value is a percentage change from 1989, particularly when describing Tokyo's negative figure in 1996-2002.
Coherence and Cohesion
Information is organised very clearly by period, and cohesive devices guide the reader smoothly through the city comparisons.
Make the transition from the overview to the two period-based detail paragraphs even tighter by foregrounding the negative-to-positive contrast.
Lexical Resource
The response uses a broad range of trend and comparison vocabulary, though phrases such as proportion change of estate prices are not fully natural or precise.
Prefer precise collocations such as percentage change in house prices and prices were five percent below the 1989 level.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Complex sentences are frequent and generally well controlled, with only isolated slips such as the repeated word in lower than than.
Proofread for small duplication and article or preposition choices while retaining the effective range of comparative structures.
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IELTS Academic Writing Task 1
The chart below shows information about average house prices in five different cities between 1990 and 2002 compared with average house prices in 1989.
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.