The chart below shows the amount of money per week spent on fast foods in Britain. The graph shows trends in consumption of fast foods.
Sample Response
The bar chart illustrates the expenditure on three different types of fast food such as hamburgers, fish and chips and pizza in people in different level of income.
From the chart, it is clear that in a high-income group, 40 pence is spent on hamburgers a week, which is the largest among the expenditures on all the three types of fast food. This expenditure is also the greatest one in the average income group, but the amount of money spent is only about 33 pence a week, much less than that in the high-income group. As for the low-income group, the largest expenditure is on fish and chips, about 18 pence a week.
The line graph compares the trends of the amount of three type of fast food consumed between 1970 and 1990. It is clear that the amount of hamburgers and fish and chips consumed showed an increasing trend, while pizza consumed gradually decreased from 300g in 1970 to 700g in 1985, before it grew to about 240g in 1990. The consumption of fish and chips overtook that of pizza and hamburgers in 1982 and 1988 respectively.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Correct the preposition Original: in Suggested revision: by Why it matters: Expenditure is made by people, so by is the correct preposition.
- 2. Use a plural noun phrase Original: different level of income Suggested revision: different income groups Why it matters: The chart compares multiple groups, so the noun phrase must express plurality.
- 3. Make the comparison concise Original: largest among the expenditures on all the three types of fast food Suggested revision: highest expenditure among the three fast-food types Why it matters: The revision expresses the ranking more naturally and concisely.
- 4. Name the measure directly Original: the greatest one Suggested revision: the highest Why it matters: Highest is the standard concise term for comparing expenditure values.
- 5. Fix number and preposition Original: trends of the amount of three type of fast food consumed Suggested revision: trends in the amounts of three types of fast food consumed Why it matters: The phrase requires in after trends and plural forms for the multiple amounts and types.
- 6. Use a plural subject Original: amount Suggested revision: amounts Why it matters: Two consumption series require the plural noun amounts.
- 7. Use the noun form Original: consumed Suggested revision: consumption Why it matters: The sentence needs a noun phrase as the subject rather than a reduced passive form.
- 8. Correct the pizza values Original: from 300g in 1970 to 700g in 1985 Suggested revision: from about 300 grams in 1970 to about 200 grams in 1985 Why it matters: The line falls to roughly 200 grams in 1985 rather than rising to 700 grams.
- 9. Correct the final value Original: before it grew to about 240g in 1990 Suggested revision: before rising to about 220 grams in 1990 Why it matters: The plotted 1990 pizza figure is approximately 220 grams.
- 10. Introduce a complete list Original: such as Suggested revision: namely Why it matters: Namely is more suitable because all three fast-food types are listed rather than examples only.
- 11. Use the group preposition Original: in a high-income group Suggested revision: for the high-income group Why it matters: For is the natural preposition when assigning an expenditure figure to a group.
- 12. Clarify the reference Original: This expenditure Suggested revision: Spending on hamburgers Why it matters: Naming the category removes a vague demonstrative reference.
Suggested Rewrites
- in by
- different level of income different income groups
- largest among the expenditures on all the three types of fast food highest expenditure among the three fast-food types
- the greatest one the highest
- trends of the amount of three type of fast food consumed trends in the amounts of three types of fast food consumed
- amount amounts
Why this response received Band 6.5
The response is clearly divided between the two visuals and identifies the broad consumption trends and important crossover points. However, its coverage of the spending chart is selective, and the pizza figures contain a serious contradiction: a fall is described as movement from 300g to 700g. Improve the report by presenting a concise overview of both visuals and checking every numerical claim against the axes.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
The main trends and crossover points are identified, but spending comparisons are limited and the stated 1985 pizza value conflicts sharply with the visual.
Correct pizza to about 200g in 1985 and summarise the dominant expenditure pattern across all three income groups.
Coherence and Cohesion
The response progresses clearly by treating expenditure first and consumption trends second, with comparisons integrated logically.
Add one explicit overview sentence linking the dominant patterns across both visuals before presenting detailed figures.
Lexical Resource
The vocabulary is adequate for describing comparisons and trends, though several collocations and noun forms are awkward or imprecise.
Replace phrases such as 'in people in different level of income' with precise forms like 'among people in different income groups'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A mix of simple and complex sentences conveys meaning clearly, but agreement, article, and plural errors recur throughout.
Check noun phrases and agreement systematically, especially 'three types', 'different income levels', and 'the amount consumed'.
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IELTS Academic Writing Task 1
The chart below shows the amount of money per week spent on fast foods in Britain. The graph shows trends in consumption of fast foods.
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.