The graph shows estimated oil production capacity for several Gulf countries between 1990 and 2010. Oil Production Capacity, millions of barrels per day (estimated) [Figure: Millions of Barrels per day]
Sample Response
The bar chart compares the daily oil production in five Gulf countries between 1990 and 2010. Overall, oil generation in Saudi Arabia was the highest and Iran, Iraq, Kuwait and the UAE produced nearly the same amount of oil. As the diagram suggests, Saudi Arabia produced over 8 million barrels oil per day in 1990 which was the highest. Its production went as high as 15 million daily after 2 decades. It is worth noticing that, Saudi Arabia’s oil stock was somewhat similar to the rest of the countries collectively. Oil generating capacity in Iran, Iraq, Kuwait and the UAE was almost the same in 1990, around 2-3 million barrels daily. Over the time their production capacity developed and reached to around 4 million barrels in 2010. Iran’s production was marginally higher than that of Iraq, Kuwait and the UAE. The least amount of oil production could be observed in Qatar, less than 1 million barrel in 1990 and this capacity remained exactly the same there except in 2000 when its production slightly progressed.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Correct the country count Original: five Suggested revision: six Why it matters: The chart includes Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.
- 2. Name the measured variable Original: daily oil production Suggested revision: daily oil production capacity Why it matters: The chart measures estimated capacity rather than actual production.
- 3. Use the chart term Original: oil generation Suggested revision: oil production capacity Why it matters: Production capacity is the precise term used for the measured quantity.
- 4. Report capacity accurately Original: produced over 8 million Suggested revision: had a capacity of over 8 million Why it matters: The bar represents capacity, so the wording should not claim this amount was produced.
- 5. Add the missing preposition Original: barrels oil per day Suggested revision: barrels of oil per day Why it matters: The quantity requires of between barrels and oil.
- 6. Set off the clause Original: 1990 which Suggested revision: 1990, which Why it matters: The non-defining relative clause needs a preceding comma.
- 7. Describe the rise precisely Original: production went as high as Suggested revision: production capacity rose to Why it matters: Rose to is a more precise trend expression for the bar chart.
- 8. Give units and year Original: 15 million daily after 2 decades Suggested revision: 15 million barrels per day in 2010 Why it matters: The revision supplies the chart's unit and names the endpoint year directly.
- 9. Use standard terminology Original: generating Suggested revision: production Why it matters: Oil production capacity is the standard and chart-accurate expression.
- 10. Remove the article Original: Over the time Suggested revision: Over time Why it matters: The fixed expression is over time without the article.
- 11. Use a trend verb Original: developed Suggested revision: increased Why it matters: Increased accurately describes a rise in production capacity.
- 12. Remove the preposition Original: reached to Suggested revision: reached Why it matters: Reach takes a direct object and does not require to here.
Suggested Rewrites
- five six
- daily oil production daily oil production capacity
- oil generation oil production capacity
- produced over 8 million had a capacity of over 8 million
- barrels oil per day barrels of oil per day
- 1990 which 1990, which
Why this response received Band 6.5
The response identifies the dominant producer, the broad upward trends, and Qatar’s low output, while supporting these points with mostly relevant figures. Its main limitation is imprecision: the chart contains six countries rather than five, and several quantities and trend descriptions are overgeneralised. The highest-priority improvement is to verify the category count and compare each series more exactly before describing the data.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
The overview and selected figures convey the principal patterns, but the opening miscounts the six countries and some comparisons are approximate.
Check every category and use exact values or carefully qualified approximations for the most important comparisons.
Coherence and Cohesion
The report follows a sensible path from the overall pattern to Saudi Arabia, the middle group, and Qatar, despite being one paragraph.
Separate the overview from two logically grouped detail paragraphs so the comparisons are easier to scan.
Lexical Resource
The vocabulary shows useful range, but collocations such as oil stock, capacity developed, and production progressed are imprecise.
Use standard chart language such as production capacity rose, remained stable, or reached a stated level.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Varied sentence forms communicate the data clearly, although article, preposition, punctuation, and singular-plural errors recur.
Proofread numerical phrases and fixed forms, especially barrels of oil, over time, reached, and one million barrels.
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 graph shows estimated oil production capacity for several Gulf countries between 1990 and 2010. Oil Production Capacity, millions of barrels per day (estimated) [Figure: Millions of Barrels per day]
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.