The chart below shows information about changes in average house prices in five different cities between 1990 and 2002 compared with the average house prices in 1989. Percentage change in average house prices in five different cities 1990 - 2002 compared with 1989.
Sample Response
The bar chart depicts the average house prices in five different cities between 1990 and 2002 compared with the prices of the year 1989, a period of 12 years. Overall, it can be seen that the average house prices in London were shown fluctuating throughout the year.
In details, the percentage of house prices in New York in between the year 1990 -1995 was accounted just 5 percent in a negative direction. However, the same percentage in New York was on the positive side between 1996 - 2002. Similarly, the average house prices in London and Tokyo (Japan) was presented in similar percentage approximately 7 percent in negative in 1990-1995 where the percentage of London peaks at the highest position at 13 percent in 1996-2002 and Tokyo city house price was still observed the on the negative side at 5 percent.
The percentage change in average house price of Madrid (Spain) was only 1 percent in previous 6 years but it dramatically increased 4 times in next following year. In 1990-1995 the average house price of Frankfurt (Germany) was only 2 percent but it was interesting that it declines and reached the same percentage as Madrid (Spain) at 1 percent.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Name the measure Original: depicts the average house prices Suggested revision: depicts percentage changes in average house prices Why it matters: The chart shows percentage changes relative to 1989, not the prices themselves.
- 2. Use concise wording Original: prices of the year 1989 Suggested revision: prices in 1989 Why it matters: This is the natural way to identify the comparison year.
- 3. Describe the grouping Original: a period of 12 years Suggested revision: covering two periods Why it matters: The chart reports two multi-year averages rather than one continuous annual series.
- 4. Fix fixed phrase Original: details Suggested revision: detail Why it matters: The standard transition uses the singular form detail.
- 5. Name the figure clearly Original: the percentage of house prices in New York Suggested revision: New York house prices Why it matters: The original phrase confuses house prices with their percentage change.
- 6. Fix date range Original: in between the year 1990 -1995 Suggested revision: between 1990 and 1995 Why it matters: Between requires two endpoints joined by and.
- 7. State the comparison directly Original: was accounted just 5 percent in a negative direction Suggested revision: were 5 percent below the 1989 level Why it matters: This wording gives the negative change clearly and grammatically.
- 8. Use accurate reference Original: the same percentage in New York Suggested revision: the figure for New York Why it matters: The later figure differs from the earlier one, so same percentage is misleading.
- 9. Give the value Original: on the positive side Suggested revision: 5 percent above the 1989 level Why it matters: The visual provides a precise positive change for New York.
- 10. Fix date range Original: between 1996 - 2002 Suggested revision: between 1996 and 2002 Why it matters: Between should be followed by endpoints joined with and.
- 11. Fix noun phrase Original: average house price of Madrid Suggested revision: average house prices in Madrid Why it matters: The city takes the preposition in and the category is expressed in the plural.
- 12. Correct Madrid value Original: only 1 percent Suggested revision: 2 percent Why it matters: Madrid was 2 percent above the 1989 level in 1990–1995.
Suggested Rewrites
- depicts the average house prices depicts percentage changes in average house prices
- prices of the year 1989 prices in 1989
- a period of 12 years covering two periods
- details detail
- the percentage of house prices in New York New York house prices
- in between the year 1990 -1995 between 1990 and 1995
Why this response received Band 5.0
The response covers all five cities and identifies several broad changes, with the shift in New York and the strong later rise in London communicated reasonably clearly. However, the overview does not summarize the two-period pattern and several figures or comparisons are inaccurate, especially for Madrid and Frankfurt. The priority is to state a valid overall contrast first, then report each percentage change precisely and compare the two periods consistently.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
All cities are mentioned and some major movements are recognized, but the overview is weak and several values and comparisons do not match the chart.
Summarize the overall contrast between the two periods, then verify each city's percentage and describe changes without unsupported calculations.
Coherence and Cohesion
The response has a recognizable introduction and body structure, but progression is weakened by overloaded sentences and somewhat mechanical city-by-city linking.
Group cities by shared trends and divide long comparisons into shorter sentences with clear reference to each time period.
Lexical Resource
The response uses a modest range of chart vocabulary, but recurring awkward collocations and imprecise expressions reduce clarity.
Use conventional phrases such as “house prices rose by,” “fell below the 1989 level,” and “recorded the largest increase.”
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Frequent errors in agreement, articles, tense, prepositions, and clause construction occur, though the main comparisons remain understandable.
Check subject-verb agreement and use consistent past-tense comparison structures with correctly formed time expressions.
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IELTS Academic Writing Task 1
The chart below shows information about changes in average house prices in five different cities between 1990 and 2002 compared with the average house prices in 1989. Percentage change in average house prices in five different cities 1990 - 2002 compared with 1989.
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.