The graph below presents the number of different airline flights coming to Hong Kong per week in 1980 and 2000.
Sample Response
The graph compares the number of flights from different airlines that reached to Hong Kong per week in 1980 and 2000. Generally speaking, the number of flights in 2000 remarkably increased and the highest number of flights to Hong Kong came from Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore. As is given, Japan Airlines had 12 flights to Hong Kong in a week in 1980 and it trebled in just 20 years. During this time, Cathay Pacific's flight doubled from its initial 8 weekly flights. Dragon Air had no operation in Hong Kong in 1980 but in 2000, it had 10 weekly flights to Hong Kong. Thai, Malaysian and Singaporean Airlines flew a significant number of flights to Hong Kong in 2000 and their number of weekly flights were 45, 44 and 43 respective. These numbers were 3 to 4 times higher than that of 2 decades ago. While flights from Korean Air roughly doubled from 11 to 23 flights in a week, Canadian Airs flew 5 flights per week in 2000 compared to only 2 in 1980.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Remove incorrect preposition Original: reached to Hong Kong Suggested revision: arrived in Hong Kong Why it matters: The verb 'reach' takes no 'to', while 'arrive' requires 'in' before a city.
- 2. Fix number agreement Original: Cathay Pacific's flight doubled from its initial 8 weekly flights Suggested revision: the number of Cathay Pacific flights doubled from 8 to 16 per week Why it matters: A numerical change applies to the number of flights, and the revised phrase states both chart values clearly.
- 3. Describe flights precisely Original: had no operation in Hong Kong Suggested revision: operated no flights to Hong Kong Why it matters: The chart records weekly flights rather than the airline's broader operations.
- 4. Use exact airline names Original: Thai, Malaysian and Singaporean Airlines Suggested revision: Thai Airways, Malaysia Airlines and Singapore Airways Why it matters: These are the airline names shown on the chart.
- 5. Fix subject agreement Original: number Suggested revision: numbers Why it matters: The plural subject 'numbers' agrees with 'were' and refers to three separate figures.
- 6. Use the adverb Original: respective Suggested revision: respectively Why it matters: The adverb 'respectively' is required to match the three figures to the airlines in order.
- 7. Correct airline name Original: Airs Suggested revision: Air Why it matters: The chart labels this airline as Canadian Air.
- 8. Use precise chart wording Original: number of flights from different airlines Suggested revision: number of weekly flights operated by different airlines Why it matters: The revision states the weekly unit and describes the airlines as operators of the flights.
- 9. Use a natural reference Original: As is given Suggested revision: As shown Why it matters: This is a more natural way to refer readers to information displayed in a chart.
- 10. Use concise frequency wording Original: Hong Kong in a week in 1980 Suggested revision: Hong Kong per week in 1980 Why it matters: 'Per week' expresses the chart's frequency unit more concisely.
- 11. Clarify the reference Original: it trebled in just 20 years Suggested revision: this figure trebled over the next 20 years Why it matters: 'This figure' clearly refers to the number of weekly Japan Airlines flights.
- 12. Link the same period Original: During this time Suggested revision: Over the same period Why it matters: This phrase makes the comparison with the preceding 1980-to-2000 change explicit.
Suggested Rewrites
- reached to Hong Kong arrived in Hong Kong
- Cathay Pacific's flight doubled from its initial 8 weekly flights the number of Cathay Pacific flights doubled from 8 to 16 per week
- had no operation in Hong Kong operated no flights to Hong Kong
- Thai, Malaysian and Singaporean Airlines Thai Airways, Malaysia Airlines and Singapore Airways
- number numbers
- respective respectively
Why this response received Band 7.0
The response selects all eight airlines, reports the figures accurately, and provides a useful overview of the universal rise and the leading carriers in 2000. Its main weakness is recurrent awkwardness in collocation, agreement, and reference, although meaning remains clear. Prioritize more natural comparative phrasing and consistent plural forms when describing airline services and flight numbers.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
The response presents a clear overview and accurately covers the main values and changes for every airline in the chart.
Make the comparison among the three leading carriers more exact by relating each 2000 value directly to its 1980 figure.
Coherence and Cohesion
Information moves coherently from the overview to individual airlines and then grouped comparisons, with effective sequencing throughout.
Use clearer grouping and paragraphing to separate the lower-volume carriers from the three largest increases.
Lexical Resource
The response uses a good range of vocabulary for change and comparison, though several word choices and collocations are awkward.
Use natural phrases such as flights reached Hong Kong, rose markedly, and respectively, while preserving accurate airline names.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A range of simple and complex sentences communicates the data clearly, but agreement, plural, and comparative-form errors recur.
Check noun-number agreement and reference carefully, especially in phrases involving flights, their numbers, and comparisons with earlier figures.
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IELTS Academic Writing Task 1
The graph below presents the number of different airline flights coming to Hong Kong per week in 1980 and 2000.
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.