The pie charts below compare the proportion of energy capacity in gigawatts (GW) in 2012 with predictions for 2030.
Sample Response
Overall, fossil fuel was by far the biggest energy sector while it was “flexible capacity” that made up the smallest amount in 2012. These two energy sources will remain on two opposite ends of the spectrum though the share of the former will have fallen significantly by 2030. It is also worth noting that the total energy production is expected to double in the future. Focusing on non-renewable sources of energy first, the proportion of energy produced by fossil fuel constituted roughly two-thirds in 2012, yet it is predicted that it will fall by 20% 28 years later. Nuclear energy, which accounted for 6% of the total energy capacity, will also have shrunk slightly. In contrast, the figure for flexible capacity is set to double, making up 2% in 2030. Non-renewable energy sources, on the other hand, are generally expected to grow in use. The most noticeable change will be in solar power generation, with a nine-fold increase from a mere 2% in 2012. Similarly, nearly twice as much energy will be produced from wind in 2030 as it was in 2012, with respective figures being 5% and 12%. By contrast, the figure for other renewables will have experienced a negligible drop of 3% by 2030 from just over a fifth in the first year. Finally, total energy produced will increase twofold, hitting 10.569 GW. #task1 252 words,
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Use precise category Original: biggest energy sector Suggested revision: largest energy source Why it matters: A fuel category is more accurately described as an energy source than as a sector.
- 2. Describe a proportion Original: amount Suggested revision: share Why it matters: The charts show proportional shares rather than absolute amounts for each category.
- 3. Correct the idiom Original: on two opposite ends Suggested revision: at opposite ends Why it matters: The standard expression is “at opposite ends of the spectrum.”
- 4. Match the chart measure Original: production Suggested revision: capacity Why it matters: The chart measures energy capacity, so “production” changes the reported measure.
- 5. Use percentage points Original: fall by 20% Suggested revision: fall by 20 percentage points Why it matters: The fossil-fuel share falls from 64% to 44%, a decline of 20 percentage points.
- 6. Correct the interval Original: 28 Suggested revision: 18 Why it matters: The interval from 2012 to 2030 is 18 years.
- 7. Correct the comparison Original: nearly twice as much energy Suggested revision: more than twice as much energy Why it matters: Wind rises from 5% to 12%, so the later share is more than double the earlier one.
- 8. Use percentage points Original: drop of 3% Suggested revision: drop of 3 percentage points Why it matters: Other renewables fall from 22% to 19%, which is a three-percentage-point decrease.
- 9. Remove drafting metadata Original: #task1 252 words, Suggested revision: Delete Why it matters: This tag and word-count note are not part of the report and interrupt its ending.
- 10. Use plural agreement Original: fossil fuel was Suggested revision: fossil fuels were Why it matters: The category name is plural in the chart and therefore takes a plural verb.
- 11. Remove unnecessary emphasis Original: “flexible capacity” that made up Suggested revision: flexible capacity made up Why it matters: The quotation marks and cleft structure add unnecessary emphasis to a straightforward comparison.
- 12. Use the chart year Original: in the future Suggested revision: by 2030 Why it matters: The exact forecast year is clearer than the vague phrase “in the future.”
Suggested Rewrites
- biggest energy sector largest energy source
- amount share
- on two opposite ends at opposite ends
- production capacity
- fall by 20% fall by 20 percentage points
- 28 18
Why this response received Band 7.5
The response presents a clear overview and organizes the figures into sensible energy groups, with most proportions and the doubling of total capacity reported accurately. Its main weakness is a small cluster of factual or labeling errors, including describing renewables as non-renewables, giving the interval as 28 years, and calling the wind rise merely twofold. Check category labels and calculate changes precisely before finalizing comparisons.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
A clear overview and strong selection of figures are undermined by the incorrect 28-year interval, the renewable-category mislabeling, and an imprecise description of wind growth.
Verify every category name, time interval, and calculated change directly against the charts before submitting.
Coherence and Cohesion
The response progresses logically from the overview to grouped details, although presenting everything as one dense paragraph weakens the visible organization.
Separate the overview and the two main comparison groups into distinct paragraphs to make the progression immediately clear.
Lexical Resource
A broad and generally precise range describes proportions, forecasts, and changes effectively, with only occasional inaccurate terminology.
Use exact category terms consistently, especially when distinguishing renewable from non-renewable sources.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Varied complex structures are handled with strong control, and the few awkward constructions do not impede meaning.
Refine comparative phrasing such as the description of the wind increase to make relationships fully exact.
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IELTS Academic Writing Task 1
The pie charts below compare the proportion of energy capacity in gigawatts (GW) in 2012 with predictions for 2030.
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.