The chart below gives information about how families in one country spent their weekly income in 1968 and in 2018.
Sample Response
The bar chart compares weekly family expenditure across eight different categories in a single nationThe chart gives information about how families in one country spent their weekly income in 1968 and in 2018. Overall, the percentagesOverall, percentages of food, fuel and power, clothing and footwear and personal goods decreasedwere decreased from 1968 to 2018. By contrast, the proportions of housingBy contrast, percentages of housing, transport and leisure increased over the 50-year periodduring the 50 years. In 1968, families allocated the highest proportion of their weekly budget to foodspent more on their daily life. For example, food accounted for 35% of weekly income, compared with 10% for clothing and footwear. The percentagespercentage of fuel and power and personal goods were both higher than in 2018than the 50 years later. In terms of growing expenditure areas, spending on housing, transport, and leisure all saw increasesFurthermore, housing, transport and leisure increased between 1968 and 2018. In particular, the percentage of leisure increased significantlyunderwent significantly increased. ItIts rose from around 9%near 10% to more than 20%. In addition, the figure for household goods remained unchanged at approximately 8%stayed at the same level in both years, whereas housing and transport spending rose to about 19% and 14% respectively.in 1968 and 2018.
Why this response received Band 6.0
The response provides a clear general overview and identifies overall spending trends across the two years effectively. However, it lacks specific numerical data for several key categories and falls slightly below the expected minimum length. To improve performance, report key figures more comprehensively across the body paragraphs and eliminate recurring grammatical errors in verb forms and pronoun usage.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
The summary contains a clear overview of main trends, but lacks specific numerical data for several categories and falls slightly below the 150-word minimum.
Ensure key numerical values for all major categories are reported and compared to make the response fully developed.
Coherence and Cohesion
Information is arranged logically into clear paragraphs with a visible overall progression.
Use a wider variety of linking phrases and referencing words to connect comparisons more smoothly between paragraphs.
Lexical Resource
Vocabulary is generally adequate to convey the key points, though some word choices and phrasing choices are repetitive or imprecise.
Improve collocations and correct word formation errors such as using noun forms after verbs like 'underwent'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A range of basic structures is attempted, but frequent grammatical errors occur in verb forms, subject-verb agreement, and pronoun selection.
Focus on proofreading for correct passive forms, subject-verb agreement, and pronoun usage such as using 'It' instead of 'Its'.
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IELTS Academic Writing Task 1
The chart below gives information about how families in one country spent their weekly income in 1968 and in 2018.
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.