The graphs indicate the source of complaints about the Bank of America and the amount of time it takes to have the complaints resolved.
Sample Response
The graphs provide data on the ratio of objections received by the Bank of America divided into 6 categories (Public, Insurance companies, Media, Government agencies, Out of State, and Bank employees) and the time spent to process those complaints from the beginning to the final act. Overall, the highest percentage of complaints came from the mass people while the longest time required to process the complaints was six months in 2001. Those complaints were promptly addressed in 2002. It can be clearly seen from the pie chart that more than 60% complaints to Bank of America were originated from ordinary people. 8% of these were reported by the insurance companies while media complaint ratio was very low, only 3%. Government agency’s complained one out of ten while bank-employers and out of state complaints comprised 5% of it. Complaints from other sources which are not included in the given six categories made up one-tenth of the total complaints. Now turning to a more detailed analysis in the bar graph, in 2001, 6 months was needed on average to process the complaints and act against those. In addition, all previous and proceeding years displayed an average waiting period of 4 to 5 months.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Use chart category Original: the mass people Suggested revision: the public Why it matters: “The public” is the natural term and matches the pie-chart label.
- 2. State measured duration Original: promptly addressed in 2002 Suggested revision: resolved in an average of four months in 2002 Why it matters: The bar chart gives a four-month average and does not establish that resolution was prompt.
- 3. Add partitive preposition Original: more than 60% complaints Suggested revision: more than 60% of complaints Why it matters: A percentage modifying a specific plural group requires “of.”
- 4. Use complaint preposition Original: to Bank of America Suggested revision: about the Bank of America Why it matters: Complaints concerning an institution are naturally described as complaints “about” it.
- 5. Remove passive auxiliary Original: were originated from Suggested revision: originated from Why it matters: “Originate” is intransitive here and should not be used in the passive.
- 6. Clarify percentage reference Original: these Suggested revision: complaints Why it matters: The demonstrative has an unclear antecedent and may appear to refer only to public complaints.
- 7. Describe complaint source Original: reported by the insurance companies Suggested revision: made by insurance companies Why it matters: The chart identifies who made the complaints rather than who reported them.
- 8. Use natural proportion phrase Original: media complaint ratio Suggested revision: the media's share of complaints Why it matters: This phrase clearly describes the media segment of the pie chart.
- 9. Report figure neutrally Original: very low, only 3% Suggested revision: only 3% Why it matters: The number itself conveys the small share without an extra subjective judgement.
- 10. Use concise transition Original: Now turning to a more detailed analysis in the bar graph Suggested revision: Turning to the bar chart Why it matters: The shorter transition identifies the second visual without unnecessary wording.
- 11. Use duration subject Original: 6 months was needed on average Suggested revision: the average processing time was six months Why it matters: The revised subject states directly what the six-month figure measures.
- 12. Use graph wording Original: act against those Suggested revision: reach final action Why it matters: Complaints are resolved or brought to final action; they are not acted against.
Suggested Rewrites
- the mass people the public
- promptly addressed in 2002 resolved in an average of four months in 2002
- more than 60% complaints more than 60% of complaints
- to Bank of America about the Bank of America
- were originated from originated from
- these complaints
Why this response received Band 6.0
The response gives a clear overview of both visuals and accurately identifies the dominant public source, the 2001 peak, and the shorter processing time in 2002. Its main limitation is accuracy among the smaller complaint sources: out-of-state and employee complaints total 13%, not 5%, while ‘other’ sources account for 2%, not 10%. Prioritise checking every pie-slice label before combining or comparing categories.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
The main features of both charts are identified, but several smaller complaint-source percentages are substantially misreported.
Copy each pie-chart value accurately and avoid combining categories unless their total has been calculated correctly.
Coherence and Cohesion
The report moves from an overview to pie-chart details and then processing times, though the single paragraph and compressed transitions limit clarity.
Use separate detail paragraphs for complaint sources and processing times, each beginning with its key comparison.
Lexical Resource
Some useful reporting vocabulary is present, but frequent inaccurate choices such as ‘objections’, ‘mass people’, and ‘final act’ reduce precision.
Use consistent terms from the task, including ‘complaints’, ‘members of the public’, ‘processing time’, and ‘final action’.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Meaning is generally recoverable, but errors with articles, possessives, passive forms, agreement, and noun phrases occur frequently.
Proofread each percentage sentence for a clear plural subject and accurate structure such as ‘X% of complaints came from’.
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IELTS Academic Writing Task 1
The graphs indicate the source of complaints about the Bank of America and the amount of time it takes to have the complaints resolved.
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.