The bar chart below shows the percentage of government spending on roads and transport in 4 countries in the years 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005.
Sample Response
The bar chart illustrates the proportion of expenditure by governments of Italy, Portugal, the UK and the USA on road and transport. The study compared the figures recorded between 1990 and 2005 with 5-year intervals. On the whole, the proportion of government spending on road and transport generally declined in each country surveyed but the USA. It is also noticeable that the shares of money spent for this purpose by Italy and Portugal were significantly higher throughout the span than those of the other two countries. The USA, in 1990, spent approximately 12% of its total expenses on road and transport, which was 2% higher than the UK figure in the same year. Despite falling slightly by around 2% in 1995, the USA’s spending had risen noticeably to 15% by the final year. Interestingly, the European countries in the research all followed a downward trend. Portugal, being the biggest spender in 1990 and 1995, decreased the proportion of the funds it channeled from around 27% to a fifth over the period. Similarly, Italy and the UK’s proportional investment in road and transport experienced a drop during the time frame from about 23% to just under a fifth and from a tenth to about 7%, respectively, though each showed a rise in expenditure in 2000.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Correct interval phrase Original: with 5-year intervals Suggested revision: at five-year intervals Why it matters: The standard preposition for regularly spaced observations is "at".
- 2. Use exception marker Original: but the USA Suggested revision: except in the USA Why it matters: "Except in" correctly identifies the one country that did not follow the general trend.
- 3. Use natural time phrase Original: span Suggested revision: period Why it matters: "Throughout the period" is the conventional phrasing for the years shown.
- 4. Use accurate term Original: expenses Suggested revision: expenditure Why it matters: "Expenditure" is the more appropriate term for government spending.
- 5. Correct comparison value Original: 2% higher Suggested revision: about one percentage point higher Why it matters: The chart shows roughly 11% for the USA and 10% for the UK in 1990.
- 6. Correct decrease value Original: by around 2% Suggested revision: by about one percentage point Why it matters: The USA's share fell from approximately 11% to 10% in 1995.
- 7. Correct separate possession Original: Italy Suggested revision: Italy’s Why it matters: Separate possessive forms are required because each country has its own spending proportion.
- 8. Use natural noun phrase Original: proportion of expenditure by governments of Italy, Portugal, the UK and the USA Suggested revision: proportion of government expenditure in Italy, Portugal, the UK and the USA Why it matters: The revision expresses the country-level spending measure more naturally and concisely.
- 9. Name the visual source Original: The study compared the figures Suggested revision: The chart compares the figures Why it matters: The source is a chart rather than a study, and the present tense is standard when describing it.
- 10. Use precise spending term Original: shares of money spent for this purpose Suggested revision: proportions of expenditure allocated to this purpose Why it matters: The revision uses more precise language for the percentages shown.
- 11. Improve information order Original: The USA, in 1990, spent Suggested revision: In 1990, the USA spent Why it matters: Placing the time reference first creates a smoother comparison with the UK figure later in the sentence.
- 12. Use simple past Original: had risen noticeably Suggested revision: rose noticeably Why it matters: The simple past is appropriate for this completed change within the stated period.
Suggested Rewrites
- with 5-year intervals at five-year intervals
- but the USA except in the USA
- span period
- expenses expenditure
- 2% higher about one percentage point higher
- by around 2% by about one percentage point
Why this response received Band 7.5
The response gives an accurate overview, compares all four countries, and supports the trends with relevant start and end values. Its strongest language is varied and precise, but presenting the entire report as one paragraph weakens the visual organisation, while a few comparisons are only approximate. Prioritise a clear overview paragraph followed by grouped detail paragraphs for the higher-spending and lower-spending countries.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
The overview identifies the contrasting national trends and relative spending levels, and the supporting figures accurately cover all four countries.
Refine approximate comparisons, especially the USA’s initial lead over the UK, and include the relevant intermediate figures where useful.
Coherence and Cohesion
Ideas progress logically from the overall trends to country comparisons, but the single unbroken paragraph limits structural clarity.
Divide the response into an introduction, an overview, and two grouped detail paragraphs to make the comparisons easier to follow.
Lexical Resource
A wide range of vocabulary describes proportions and movement precisely, with only occasional awkward choices such as ‘throughout the span’.
Keep the varied trend language while replacing less natural expressions with concise terms such as ‘throughout the period’.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Complex comparative structures are frequent and mostly accurate, with only minor lapses in phrasing and possessive construction.
Refine forms such as ‘Italy and the UK’s proportional investment’ so coordinated comparisons are grammatically unambiguous.
Write this task while it is fresh
Try the same task now. It helps you remember the feedback and write better next time.
IELTS Academic Writing Task 1
The bar chart below shows the percentage of government spending on roads and transport in 4 countries in the years 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005.
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.