The chart below shows the GDP growth per year for three countries between 2007 and 2010. GDP growth (annual %)
Sample Response
The column graph compares the annual GDP growth of Tunisia, Japan and Ecuador from 2007 to 2010. Overall, yearly GDP (Gross domestic product) growth for Tunisia and Ecuador was higher than that of Japan in 2007 but Japan managed to accelerate it while it reduced in two other countries over the period. To start with, GDP growth in Tunisia in 2007 was over 6% which was thrice and double than that of Japan and Ecuador respectively. Next year, all these three country’s GDP growth were similar, ranging from 4 to 5 percent. However, in 2009 Japan witnessed a steady increase in its GDP while both Ecuador and Tunisia’s GDP plummeted remarkably. The same scenario continued in the next year and Japan had a far better GDP in this year. Japan's GDP growth was almost 6.5% while it was approximately 3% and 2% in Tunisia and Ecuador. To summarise, Japan achieved a fast-growing GDP during the given period while this rate actually declined noticeably both in Tunisia and Ecuador.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Anchor the year Original: To start with Suggested revision: In 2007 Why it matters: The year is a clearer organising marker for this data description.
- 2. Fix multiplicative comparison Original: thrice and double than that of Japan and Ecuador respectively Suggested revision: about three times and twice the rates for Japan and Ecuador, respectively Why it matters: Multiplicative comparisons use times or twice without than.
- 3. Fix plural possessive Original: all these three country’s GDP growth Suggested revision: the GDP growth rates of all three countries Why it matters: The comparison covers three countries and therefore requires plural forms.
- 4. Use a plural reference Original: while it was approximately 3% and 2% Suggested revision: while the corresponding rates were approximately 3% and 2% Why it matters: Two values for two countries cannot be represented by singular it.
- 5. Describe growth precisely Original: Japan achieved a fast-growing GDP Suggested revision: Japan's GDP growth rate rose rapidly Why it matters: The chart shows a changing growth rate rather than the size of GDP.
- 6. Place both correctly Original: declined noticeably both in Tunisia and Ecuador Suggested revision: declined noticeably in both Tunisia and Ecuador Why it matters: Both should directly precede the coordinated country names.
- 7. Use the chart term Original: column graph Suggested revision: bar chart Why it matters: Bar chart is the conventional term for this display.
- 8. Use lowercase expansion Original: Gross Suggested revision: gross Why it matters: A common-noun expansion inside parentheses does not require capitals.
- 9. Add the clause comma Original: over 6% which Suggested revision: over 6%, which Why it matters: A comma should introduce this non-defining relative clause.
- 10. Use neutral approximation Original: almost Suggested revision: approximately Why it matters: Approximately is a neutral way to report the chart's rounded value.
- 11. Qualify approximate values Original: ranging from 4 to 5 percent Suggested revision: ranging from about 4% to 5% Why it matters: The bars fall near rather than exactly on these endpoints.
- 12. Describe one interval Original: a steady increase Suggested revision: an increase Why it matters: Steady describes a sustained pattern more naturally than a single yearly change.
Suggested Rewrites
- To start with In 2007
- thrice and double than that of Japan and Ecuador respectively about three times and twice the rates for Japan and Ecuador, respectively
- all these three country’s GDP growth the GDP growth rates of all three countries
- while it was approximately 3% and 2% while the corresponding rates were approximately 3% and 2%
- Japan achieved a fast-growing GDP Japan's GDP growth rate rose rapidly
- declined noticeably both in Tunisia and Ecuador declined noticeably in both Tunisia and Ecuador
Why this response received Band 6.5
The response gives a clear overview of the diverging trends and supports it with well-selected comparisons from across the period. Its main limitation is imprecise language around the data, such as describing Tunisia’s 2008–2009 fall as a remarkable plummet and referring to a better GDP rather than a higher growth rate. The highest-priority improvement is to use exact comparative phrasing and distinguish GDP from GDP growth consistently.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
The overview is accurate and the response covers all four years with relevant comparisons, though a few descriptions overstate or blur the changes shown.
Describe Tunisia’s moderate fall separately from Ecuador’s sharp drop and consistently compare growth rates rather than GDP levels.
Coherence and Cohesion
Information progresses clearly from the overview through the years, but the single-block presentation and repeated concluding overview limit structural control.
Use a distinct overview and two grouped detail paragraphs instead of repeating the main trend at the end.
Lexical Resource
The response shows a useful range of trend and comparison vocabulary, although several collocations are inaccurate or imprecise.
Replace forms such as thrice and double than and better GDP with three times as high, twice as high, and higher GDP growth.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Varied complex structures are attempted and meaning remains clear, but agreement, possessive, comparative, and clause-construction errors occur regularly.
Check plural agreement and comparative constructions, especially in sentences that compare all three countries.
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IELTS Academic Writing Task 1
The chart below shows the GDP growth per year for three countries between 2007 and 2010. GDP growth (annual %)
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.