The graph below shows the Gross Domestic Products (GDP) in four selected countries between 2010 and 2015.
Sample Response
The line graph compares the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in four countries and delineates how GDP in these countries changed between 2010 and 2015. The GDP is measured in billions of US dollar. As can be seen, the USA had the largest GDP and in China, the GDP growth was remarkable. The diagram outlines that the USA had the highest GDP in 2010 which was exactly 15000 billion dollars. With roughly 6000 billion USD, China had the second largest GDP while Japan almost touched the GDP of China in this year. The UK had the least GDP in 2010 which was somewhat 2500 billion USD. It is worth noticing that, GDP in the USA steadily grew and reached to over 18000 billion dollars in 2015, 3000 billion higher than that of 2010. USA’s GDP was higher than any other country between 2010 and 2015. However, the GDP growth in China was most remarkable as it almost doubled in 5 years, reaching almost 12000 billion USD. As an exception, GDP in Japan actually declined while it remained almost the same in the UK in five years.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Use plural dollars Original: dollar Suggested revision: dollars Why it matters: The unit requires the plural noun "dollars."
- 2. Use possessive form Original: in China, the GDP growth Suggested revision: China's GDP growth Why it matters: The possessive form is more concise and natural.
- 3. Clarify close values Original: Japan almost touched the GDP of China Suggested revision: Japan's GDP was close to China's Why it matters: GDP values can be close, but one country's GDP does not "touch" another's.
- 4. Use smallest GDP Original: least Suggested revision: smallest Why it matters: "Smallest" or "lowest" is the natural adjective for a GDP value.
- 5. Use approximation Original: somewhat 2500 Suggested revision: approximately 2,500 Why it matters: "Approximately" correctly signals an estimated value from the graph.
- 6. Fix phrase punctuation Original: worth noticing that, Suggested revision: worth noting that Why it matters: The standard phrase is "worth noting that" without a comma before the clause.
- 7. Correct US endpoint Original: reached to over 18000 Suggested revision: reached about 18,000 Why it matters: The graph places US GDP at approximately 18,000 billion dollars in 2015.
- 8. Correct China endpoint Original: reaching almost 12000 Suggested revision: reaching about 11,000 Why it matters: China's 2015 value is approximately 11,000 billion dollars.
- 9. Use concise reporting Original: delineates how GDP in these countries changed Suggested revision: shows how GDP changed Why it matters: The shorter phrase reports the graph's purpose without unnecessary repetition.
- 10. Remove unnecessary article Original: The GDP is measured Suggested revision: GDP is measured Why it matters: The abbreviation is used generically here and does not require "the."
- 11. Name graph consistently Original: The diagram outlines Suggested revision: The graph shows Why it matters: The visual is a line graph, and consistent naming improves precision.
- 12. Punctuate value clause Original: 2010 which was exactly Suggested revision: 2010, at exactly Why it matters: A comma and "at" attach the numerical value clearly to the year.
Suggested Rewrites
- dollar dollars
- in China, the GDP growth China's GDP growth
- Japan almost touched the GDP of China Japan's GDP was close to China's
- least smallest
- somewhat 2500 approximately 2,500
- worth noticing that, worth noting that
Why this response received Band 7.0
The report identifies all major trends accurately and supports them with appropriate opening and closing figures, especially the sustained US lead and China's rapid growth. Its main weakness is presentation: the whole response is one paragraph and several expressions are awkward or imprecise; prioritise dividing the overview from the details and replacing phrases such as reached to and almost touched the GDP with natural comparative language.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
A clear overview and well-selected figures accurately cover the US lead, China's rapid rise, Japan's decline, and the UK's stability.
Add one concise comparison of Japan's 2012 peak and the UK's slight fluctuations to make the coverage still more complete.
Coherence and Cohesion
The information progresses logically from an overview to starting values and subsequent trends, but it is presented as one dense paragraph.
Separate the overview from two detail paragraphs, grouping the rising economies and the stable or declining economies.
Lexical Resource
The report uses a good range of economic and trend vocabulary, though several collocations are unnatural or imprecise.
Use natural phrases such as reached over, was close to China's figure, and approximately 2,500 billion dollars.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A variety of complex structures is handled with generally good control, with only occasional article, preposition, and punctuation errors.
Proofread prepositions after trend verbs and avoid unnecessary commas after introductory reporting phrases.
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IELTS Academic Writing Task 1
The graph below shows the Gross Domestic Products (GDP) in four selected countries between 2010 and 2015.
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.