The table shows the number of employees and factories producing silk in England and Wales between 1851 and 1901.
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Sample Response
The table provides information about the workforce in silk production, in two countries, England and Wales, over a period of 50 years, starting from 1851.
It is clear that the total number of silk workers in the two countries declined over the period, and that significantly more women were employed than men in this industry. Also, the number of silk factoriessilk manufacturing factories ended the 50-year period at a higher levelincreased over the 50 year period, despite some fluctuations.
In 1851, the silk workforce was at its peak, with 130,750 employees, including 76,786 females and 53,964 male workersapproximately 54,000 males. In contrast, the number of silk factories was at its lowest point in 1851, with only 272at its lowest in 1851, at only 272. However, ten years later, the number of silk factories had almost tripled, reaching 761, while the total number of employees fell by 20,881 workersexperienced a significant fall of over 20,000 people.
Over the following 40 years, the total number of female and male workers gradually decreased throughout the period, to 25,567 and 13,375 respectively, which resulted in a drop in the total number of employees, at 38,942 in 1901. Meanwhile, the number of silk factories experienced a gradual decline over these 40 years, from 761 in 1861 to 623 in 1901.
Why this response received Band 8.0
The response presents a clear overview and selects useful start, peak and end-point figures, supported by fluent comparisons and controlled organisation. Its main weakness is that it describes both worker totals and factory numbers as declining gradually after 1861, overlooking the male-worker rise in 1891 and the factory increase in 1881. Prioritise checking every claimed continuous trend against each intermediate row before summarising it.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
The main overall trends and key figures are well selected, but two statements of gradual decline overlook intermediate reversals in male employment and factory numbers.
Qualify the later trends and mention the 1881 factory rise and the 1891 increase in male workers before giving the final figures.
Coherence and Cohesion
Information is arranged effectively from overview to early-period and later-period details, with clear progression and well-managed linking.
Use the final paragraph to contrast the small intermediate fluctuations with the dominant downward trends rather than presenting them as uninterrupted.
Lexical Resource
The vocabulary is varied and precise, with natural language for peaks, falls, fluctuations and proportional change.
Increase precision by reserving ‘gradually decreased throughout’ for a series in which every recorded interval actually falls.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A broad range of complex sentences is used with consistently strong control, and minor awkward phrasing does not impede clarity.
Tighten phrases such as ‘the total number of employees, at 38,942’ by using a more direct result construction.