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 given bar chart shows the proportion of government expenditure on road and transport in four countries (Italy, Portugal, UK, USA) every five years between 1990 and 2005.
Overall, it can be seen that governments in mainland Europe spent far more money on roads and transport than those in the UK and USA. It is also clear that the UK spent the least amount of money on roads and transport in all measured years.
In 1990, Portugal spent the most amount of money on roads and transport at approximately 27%, followed by Italy at about 22%, while the USA and UK both spent only around 10% of their government budget. In 1995 however, all countries reduced their road and transport spending by between 1-3%.
By 2000 while Portugal continued to reduce its road and transport spending down to around 22%, Italy had increased its spending to approximately 23%, overtaking Portugal as the leading spender on transport infrastructure in 2000. The UK and USA had both increased spending in 2000 by about 3%. In 2005, all countries except USA further reduced their spending with Portugal, Italy, UK and the USA at 20%, 19%, 8% and 15% respectively.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Use plural roads Original: road Suggested revision: roads Why it matters: The plural noun is more natural when referring to road infrastructure generally.
- 2. Add country articles Original: (Italy, Portugal, UK, USA) Suggested revision: (Italy, Portugal, the UK and the USA) Why it matters: The country abbreviations UK and USA conventionally take the definite article.
- 3. Describe proportions Original: far more money Suggested revision: a much higher proportion of their budgets Why it matters: The chart compares percentages of government spending rather than absolute sums of money.
- 4. Use precise comparison Original: spent the most amount of money Suggested revision: allocated the highest proportion Why it matters: Highest proportion accurately describes a percentage and avoids the incorrect phrase most amount.
- 5. Set off however Original: In 1995 however Suggested revision: In 1995, however Why it matters: However requires a comma when it interrupts the opening phrase.
- 6. Mark subordinate clause Original: By 2000 while Suggested revision: By 2000, while Why it matters: The comma clarifies where the introductory time phrase ends.
- 7. Remove redundancy Original: spending down to Suggested revision: spending to Why it matters: The verb reduce already expresses downward movement, so down is redundant.
- 8. Sentence rewrite Original: In 2005, all countries except USA further reduced their spending with Portugal, Italy, UK and the USA at 20%, 19%, 8% and 15% respectively. Suggested revision: In 2005, all countries except the USA further reduced their spending, with Portugal, Italy, the UK and the USA at 20%, 19%, 8% and 15%, respectively. Why it matters: The rewrite adds the required articles and punctuation while preserving the accurate figures.
Suggested Rewrites
- road roads
- (Italy, Portugal, UK, USA) (Italy, Portugal, the UK and the USA)
- far more money a much higher proportion of their budgets
- spent the most amount of money allocated the highest proportion
- In 1995 however In 1995, however
- By 2000 while By 2000, while
Why this response received Band 8.0
The response presents a clear overview and selects the chart's main comparisons very effectively, with figures and changes reported accurately across all four years. Its organization is logical and its vocabulary is appropriately varied, while only occasional awkward phrasing and punctuation lapses limit polish. The main improvement is to refine sentence boundaries and collocations so that the otherwise precise analysis reads more naturally and fluently.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
The response fully addresses the task with an accurate overview, well-selected comparisons, and precise figures for the principal changes in all four countries.
For maximum precision, distinguish the close but not identical 1990 figures for the UK and USA rather than grouping them both simply as around 10%.
Coherence and Cohesion
Information progresses logically from the overview through 1990 and 1995 to the later years, with cohesive devices used clearly and appropriately.
Improve the flow of the final paragraph by punctuating the opening time clauses more clearly and avoiding an overly dense closing sentence.
Lexical Resource
Vocabulary is varied and precise, with effective use of terms such as 'government expenditure,' 'overtaking,' and 'transport infrastructure,' despite a few awkward collocations.
Replace expressions such as 'the most amount of money' with the more natural 'the largest proportion of spending' and vary repeated references to roads and transport.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A good range of simple and complex structures is used accurately, though occasional missing commas and minor article or phrasing errors remain.
Add commas after introductory elements such as 'In 1995, however,' and carefully punctuate clauses beginning with 'while' to sharpen grammatical control.
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.