The chart below shows the amount spent on six consumer goods in four European countries.
Sample Response
The chart gives information regarding the money spent on consumer goods namely photographic film, toys, CDs, perfumes, tennis racquets and personal stereos by 4 countries in Europe (Britain, France, Italy and Germany). The units are in Pound Sterling. Overall, British, among the four countries, spent most of their money in all the six consumer goods in contrast with Germany spending the least amount for those products.
British also spent the highest amount to purchase photographic films while France spent the least amount on tennis racquets. In terms of photographic film, Britain spent well above 170 thousand pounds. This is the highest money spent on any consumer goods. France came in the second position in terms of their spending which was more or less 165 thousand. Italians and Germans compared to the two latter countries, spent around 150,000 and 145,000 respectively. Toys and CDs are the second and third most purchased by the 4 countries. Furthermore, Britain and France purchased tennis racquets the least with only around 155000 and 145000 respectively. Italy spent the least of their money in buying personal stereos with exactly 150000 same as well in Germany spending around 3000 pounds fewer than that of Italy.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Add list comma Original: consumer goods namely Suggested revision: consumer goods, namely Why it matters: A comma is needed before the phrase that introduces the list.
- 2. Spell out number Original: 4 Suggested revision: four Why it matters: Spell out a small number in formal report writing.
- 3. State units accurately Original: Pound Sterling Suggested revision: thousands of pounds sterling Why it matters: The chart reports expenditure in thousands of pounds sterling.
- 4. Use country name Original: British Suggested revision: Britain Why it matters: The adjective 'British' cannot stand alone as the country subject here.
- 5. Use uncountable noun Original: films Suggested revision: film Why it matters: The chart category uses 'photographic film' as an uncountable product label.
- 6. Correct film figure Original: well above 170 thousand pounds Suggested revision: about 170 thousand pounds Why it matters: Britain's photographic-film bar reaches about 170 thousand pounds, not well above it.
- 7. Use amount collocation Original: highest money spent Suggested revision: largest amount spent Why it matters: 'Largest amount spent' is the natural expression for expenditure.
- 8. Use singular after any Original: goods Suggested revision: good Why it matters: The singular count noun is required when referring to one item from the set.
- 9. Fix pronoun and comma Original: their spending which Suggested revision: its spending, which Why it matters: France takes the singular possessive 'its', and the added clause needs a comma.
- 10. Use formal approximation Original: more or less 165 thousand Suggested revision: approximately 165 thousand Why it matters: 'Approximately' is more precise and appropriately formal for chart reporting.
- 11. Describe spending Original: Britain and France purchased tennis racquets the least Suggested revision: Britain and France spent the least on tennis racquets Why it matters: The chart measures money spent rather than the number of racquets purchased.
- 12. Fix comparison phrase Original: Italy spent the least of their money in buying Suggested revision: Italy spent the least on Why it matters: Use 'spent the least on' to express the comparison concisely and grammatically.
Suggested Rewrites
- consumer goods namely consumer goods, namely
- 4 four
- Pound Sterling thousands of pounds sterling
- British Britain
- films film
- well above 170 thousand pounds about 170 thousand pounds
Why this response received Band 5.5
The response identifies Britain as the dominant spender and provides several accurate figures for photographic film, giving the report a clear central comparison. However, the overview wrongly presents Germany as the lowest spender for every product, and the detail coverage is selective and sometimes imprecise. The highest priority is to compare all six categories systematically and verify each stated minimum, maximum, and figure against the chart.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
The report identifies Britain's general dominance and some correct figures, but its overview overgeneralises Germany's position and coverage of the six goods is incomplete.
Select the main comparisons across every category and check claims about the lowest spender against the visual before reporting them.
Coherence and Cohesion
The introduction and overview establish a direction, but one long detail paragraph groups figures unevenly and some comparisons are difficult to follow.
Organise the details into two clear comparison groups and keep each sentence focused on one product or related trend.
Lexical Resource
There is enough vocabulary to describe spending and rankings, although several expressions are awkward or imprecise, such as references to countries purchasing goods.
Use precise chart language such as spent, expenditure, highest, lowest, and respectively, with countries consistently treated as the spenders.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A mix of simple and complex structures communicates the main meaning, but article, agreement, modifier, and sentence-construction errors recur.
Review each complex sentence for a clear subject and verb, accurate articles, and correctly placed comparison phrases.
Write this task while it is fresh
Try the same task now. It helps you remember the feedback and write better next time.
IELTS Academic Writing Task 1
The chart below shows the amount spent on six consumer goods in four European countries.
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.