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 pie chart shows the percentages of complaints made by different entities about the Bank of America while the bar graph depicts the average time required to resolve those objections. Overall, the highest objections came from the mass people while the resolution time for those complaints varies from 4 to 6 months. According to the pie chart, the highest percentage of complaints, more than 60%, about the Bank was reported by the public while the second largest of those complaints came from the government agencies, just over 11%. Insurance companies recorded 8% objections and the lowest ratio of those complaints was originated from the bank employees and out of state entities, 3 and 2 percent respectively. Interestingly only 3% complaints were logged by the media and the rest came from other sources. Average resolve time, depicted in the bar graph, reveals that the Bank of America took roughly four to six months to fix those complaints. In 2001 they needed half a year to take actions on those complaints, a month higher than that of previous years. The bank took approximately 4 months in 2002 and 5 months in next two years to provide solutions to the complaints made.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Name the sources Original: made by different entities Suggested revision: coming from different sources Why it matters: Sources is the chart's clearer term for the complainant groups.
- 2. Use consistent term Original: objections Suggested revision: complaints Why it matters: Complaint is the precise term used throughout the task.
- 3. Describe a proportion Original: the highest objections Suggested revision: the largest share of complaints Why it matters: The chart compares proportions rather than the height of objections.
- 4. Use natural noun phrase Original: the mass people Suggested revision: the general public Why it matters: The original phrase is not idiomatic English.
- 5. Keep past tense Original: varies Suggested revision: varied Why it matters: The graph describes a completed period from 2000 to 2004.
- 6. Report exact figure Original: more than 60% Suggested revision: 63% Why it matters: The pie chart provides the precise percentage for public complaints.
- 7. Describe the source Original: was reported by the public Suggested revision: came from the public Why it matters: This phrasing directly expresses the source of the complaints.
- 8. Fix comparative phrase Original: the second largest of those complaints Suggested revision: the second-largest share Why it matters: The original construction does not grammatically identify a ranked proportion.
- 9. Remove unnecessary article Original: the government agencies Suggested revision: government agencies Why it matters: The category is referenced generically, so the definite article is unnecessary.
- 10. Remove subjective marker Original: Interestingly Suggested revision: Delete Why it matters: The report should present this figure objectively without evaluating its interest.
- 11. Add proportion marker Original: 3% complaints Suggested revision: 3% of complaints Why it matters: A percentage before a plural count noun requires of.
- 12. State the exact remainder Original: the rest came from other sources Suggested revision: a further 2% came from other sources Why it matters: The chart assigns exactly 2% to the Other category.
Suggested Rewrites
- made by different entities coming from different sources
- objections complaints
- the highest objections the largest share of complaints
- the mass people the general public
- varies varied
- more than 60% 63%
Why this response received Band 6.5
The response provides a clear overview and reports the dominant public share and the four-to-six-month processing range effectively. However, two source figures are materially misread: the 10% out-of-state segment is reported as 2%, and the 2003-2004 processing times are overstated at about five months. Check every label and bar height against the visuals, then group accurate comparisons into separate paragraphs.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
Both visuals are addressed with a valid overview and several correct figures, but the out-of-state share and the final two processing times are inaccurate.
Verify each legend label and bar height, reporting out-of-state complaints at 10% and the 2003-2004 figures at about four months.
Coherence and Cohesion
The response moves clearly from complaint sources to processing times, although repeated references and the single-paragraph format weaken cohesion.
Use separate detail paragraphs for the pie chart and bar chart, with less repetition of phrases such as those complaints.
Lexical Resource
Vocabulary is adequate and occasionally varied, but recurrent imprecise choices such as objections, mass people, and fix complaints reduce naturalness.
Use accurate combinations such as complaints from the public, resolution time, and resolve or process complaints.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
The response attempts varied sentence structures, but errors with articles, agreement, passives, and noun phrases occur regularly while meaning remains clear.
Review article and agreement patterns in phrases such as 3% of complaints, complaints originated from, and in the next two years.
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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.