The table below shows the sales at a small restaurant in a downtown business district. Sales: week of October 7-13 Mon. Tues. Wed. Thus. Fri. Sat. Sun. Lunch $2,400 $2,450 $2,595 $2,375 $2,500 $1,950 $1,550 Dinner $3,623 $3,850 $3,445 $3,800 $4,350 $2,900
Sample Response
The provided table represents information on sales of a small city centre restaurant in a typical October week starting from the 7th October and ending on 13th October. It is immediately apparent that sale during the dinner time is much higher than lunch, also, the sale during the weekend is much lower as compared to weekdays. In details, the sale amount for lunch during the weekdays (Monday to Friday) ranges between 2400 to 2500 dollars, however, the sale on Saturday and Sunday fall much beyond that range at 1950 and 1550 dollars respectively. On Monday, the restaurant sells lunch for 2400 dollars and the sale reaches the peak of 2595 on Wednesday. The sale then falls down a bit on Thursday and recover back to 2500 level on Friday. For dinner sales in this restaurant, the sale is much higher the whole week compared to the lunch sale. Nevertheless, comparing weekdays and weekend sales, the pattern is similar as it is for lunch sales. If we look at weekday sales trend, it is obvious that the sales are quite erratic. On Monday, the restaurant makes a sale of 3623 dollars from dinner and on Tuesday it goes up a bit but on Wednesday. It touches the lowest level of the weekday at 3445 dollars then it recovers and reaches a peak of 4350 dollars on Friday.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Use sales at Original: sales of a small city centre restaurant Suggested revision: sales at a small city-centre restaurant Why it matters: The table reports revenue recorded at the restaurant, so "sales at" is natural.
- 2. Fix plural sales Original: sale during the dinner time is Suggested revision: dinner sales are Why it matters: Use the plural noun "sales" with the plural verb "are."
- 3. Complete sales comparison Original: much higher than lunch Suggested revision: much higher than lunch sales Why it matters: The comparison should explicitly match dinner sales with lunch sales.
- 4. Fix comma splice Original: , also, Suggested revision: ; also, Why it matters: A semicolon is needed between these two independent clauses.
- 5. Use plural weekend sales Original: the sale during the weekend is Suggested revision: sales during the weekend are Why it matters: The Saturday and Sunday figures form plural weekend sales.
- 6. Use fixed phrase Original: details Suggested revision: detail Why it matters: The standard transition is the singular phrase "in detail."
- 7. Use lunch sales Original: the sale amount for lunch Suggested revision: lunch sales Why it matters: "Lunch sales" is the concise and natural term for the revenue figures.
- 8. Correct weekday range Original: ranges between 2400 to 2500 dollars Suggested revision: ranged from $2,375 to $2,595 Why it matters: The weekday lunch minimum and maximum in the table are $2,375 and $2,595.
- 9. Separate contrasting clauses Original: , however, Suggested revision: ; however, Why it matters: A semicolon should precede "however" when it links two independent clauses.
- 10. Fix number and tense Original: the sale on Saturday and Sunday fall Suggested revision: sales on Saturday and Sunday fell Why it matters: The two figures require a plural noun and a past-tense verb.
- 11. Show lower direction Original: much beyond that range Suggested revision: well below that range Why it matters: Both weekend lunch figures are lower than the weekday range, not beyond it ambiguously.
- 12. Describe revenue accurately Original: the restaurant sells lunch for 2400 dollars Suggested revision: the restaurant made $2,400 in lunch sales Why it matters: The table gives sales revenue rather than the price at which lunch was sold.
Suggested Rewrites
- sales of a small city centre restaurant sales at a small city-centre restaurant
- sale during the dinner time is dinner sales are
- much higher than lunch much higher than lunch sales
- , also, ; also,
- the sale during the weekend is sales during the weekend are
- details detail
Why this response received Band 6.0
The response gives an effective overview of the weekday/weekend and lunch/dinner contrasts, then supports it with several accurate daily figures. Its main limitations are an inaccurate weekday lunch range, incomplete coverage of weekend dinner sales, and recurring sentence-control errors; the highest priority is to compare the full set of peaks and lows accurately while revising fragments, agreement, and awkward sales expressions.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Detailed feedback by IELTS writing criterion after the annotated essay.
Task Achievement
The overview captures the principal contrasts and many weekday values are accurate, but the stated weekday lunch range is wrong and weekend dinner details are omitted.
Report the exact lunch range and compare Friday’s dinner peak with both weekend dinner figures, including Sunday’s $2,450 low.
Coherence and Cohesion
The report moves logically from the overview to lunch and dinner details, but paragraphing is absent and one broken sentence interrupts progression.
Separate the overview, lunch details, and dinner details into paragraphs and join the Tuesday-to-Wednesday comparison into one complete sentence.
Lexical Resource
There is adequate vocabulary for trends and comparisons, but “sale” is overused and several expressions, including “fall much beyond,” are imprecise.
Use accurate alternatives such as “revenue,” “takings,” “fell below the weekday range,” “peaked,” and “declined.”
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
The response uses varied sentence forms, but frequent agreement errors, comma splices, article problems, and a sentence fragment sometimes weaken control.
Correct plural agreement and sentence boundaries, especially “sales were,” “the figures fell,” and the fragment beginning “It touches the lowest level.”
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 table below shows the sales at a small restaurant in a downtown business district. Sales: week of October 7-13 Mon. Tues. Wed. Thus. Fri. Sat. Sun. Lunch $2,400 $2,450 $2,595 $2,375 $2,500 $1,950 $1,550 Dinner $3,623 $3,850 $3,445 $3,800 $4,350 $2,900
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.