The bar chart shows the number of cars per 1000 people in 5 European countries in 3 years and compares with the European average.
Sample Response
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant.
The bar graph depicts the amount of motor vehicle per thousand individuals in different European nations in 3 years.
In 1960 the usage of the bus was 20 thousand which was surge by almost 13 thousand after two decades. Whereas, After twenty years it was declined by 18 thousand which was around 17 thousand. On the other hand, the utilization of Bike was decreased after every two decades. In 1960 it was almost 27 thousand which was declined by 5 thousand, later it falls at only 7 thousand in the year of 2000 which was very low.
Furthermore, Consumption of cars was almost 7 thousand in 1960, a sudden increase was observed, which was 25 percent after two decades, and again after twenty years, it was seen at peak, which was almost 37 thousand in 2000. In 1960 people prefer foot which was 35 thousand but after twenty years it was declined by around 18 thousand, after few years a slight fall has been noticed which was 10 thousand in 2000.
Overall, A fluctuation has been seen in the use of buses. Whereas, Preference for cars was increased by the time. On the other hand, Most people avoid using foot year by year.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Use concise category Original: the usage of the bus Suggested revision: bus use Why it matters: Bus use is the natural collocation for this chart category.
- 2. Use active past verb Original: was surge Suggested revision: surged Why it matters: The passive construction is ungrammatical because surge is used intransitively here.
- 3. Correct bus increase Original: by almost 13 thousand Suggested revision: by about 7 Why it matters: The bus figure rises from about 20 in 1960 to about 27 in 1980.
- 4. Use correct collocation Original: Consumption of cars Suggested revision: Car use Why it matters: Cars are used rather than consumed in this context.
- 5. Correct car value Original: a sudden increase was observed, which was 25 percent Suggested revision: the figure rose sharply to 25 Why it matters: The chart shows a value of about 25 in 1980, not a 25 percent increase.
- 6. Express peak clearly Original: it was seen at peak, which was almost 37 thousand Suggested revision: it reached a peak of about 37 Why it matters: The revision uses the correct verb pattern and removes an unsupported unit.
- 7. Use natural expression Original: people prefer foot Suggested revision: people travelled on foot Why it matters: Travelled on foot is the idiomatic expression for this transport mode.
- 8. State 1980 value Original: was declined by around 18 thousand Suggested revision: fell to around 17 Why it matters: The chart places the 1980 walking figure at approximately 17.
- 9. Correct time interval Original: after few years Suggested revision: after another twenty years Why it matters: The next observation is in 2000, twenty years after 1980.
- 10. Keep past tense Original: a slight fall has been noticed Suggested revision: it fell further Why it matters: Simple past is appropriate for reporting a completed historical change.
- 11. Complete downward trend Original: which was 10 thousand Suggested revision: to 10 Why it matters: The preposition to correctly introduces the final value after fell.
- 12. Use direct overview Original: A fluctuation has been seen Suggested revision: Bus use fluctuated Why it matters: The direct active construction is clearer and grammatically natural.
Suggested Rewrites
- the usage of the bus bus use
- was surge surged
- by almost 13 thousand by about 7
- Consumption of cars Car use
- a sudden increase was observed, which was 25 percent the figure rose sharply to 25
- it was seen at peak, which was almost 37 thousand it reached a peak of about 37
Why this response received Band 5.5
The response identifies the main trends for cars, bicycles, walking and buses and supports most of them with figures from the chart. Its main limitations are an inaccurate description of the visual as a comparison of countries, errors in the bus figures and units, and frequent language mistakes that reduce precision. Prioritise accurate chart framing and units, then present each transport mode in short, grammatically controlled comparisons.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
The main modal trends are identified and mostly supported, but the introduction misrepresents the categories and some bus data and units are inaccurate.
Describe the four transport modes accurately at the outset and check each number and unit directly against the visual.
Coherence and Cohesion
The response follows a broadly logical mode-by-mode sequence, though the late overview and fragmentary linking make progression somewhat mechanical.
Place the overview after the introduction and replace isolated connectors such as "Whereas" with complete linked sentences.
Lexical Resource
Trend vocabulary is sufficiently varied to convey the main movements, but inaccurate collocations and imprecise labels occur frequently.
Use precise combinations such as "car use rose", "walking fell", and "bus use fluctuated" consistently.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Meaning is generally recoverable, but frequent errors in verb forms, articles, agreement, and sentence boundaries limit grammatical control.
Practise complete past-tense comparison sentences with one subject and one clearly controlled verb phrase before adding subordinate clauses.
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IELTS Academic Writing Task 1
The bar chart shows the number of cars per 1000 people in 5 European countries in 3 years and compares with the European average.
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.