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.
Sample Response
The chart illustrates the swapped the cost of average houses in five different city’s from 1996 to 2002 and compares these prices with the past year 1989.
Overall it is immediately apparent from the chart, the massive changes in prices of average homes observed in London, while its lowest in Tokyo and UK in previous years.
To begin with, the percentage of average houses was lowest in New York begin at -5% in the period of five years between 1990 to 1995, this situation got reversed between 1996 to 2002, and the total cost climbed to 5% in the USA. Moreover, the prices of homes were changed in Madrid began at 1% and remained the same for up to 5 years and suddenly got changed in 1996 which surged up by approximately 3% and followed up to 2002.
Furthermore, from 1990 to 1995, the asking price of every home was below -7% in Tokyo. Surprisingly this amount reduced to -5% in 1996. it is interesting to note that London had the lowest price range of homes with shares at -7% from 1990 to 1995 and it got doubled which skyrocketed and hits its peak more than 10% of prices got changed as compared with 1989 houses.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Describe the measure Original: illustrates the swapped the cost of average houses Suggested revision: illustrates changes in average house prices Why it matters: The chart presents percentage changes in prices, and the original phrase is not meaningful English.
- 2. Use plural noun Original: city’s Suggested revision: cities Why it matters: A plural noun is required, not a possessive form.
- 3. Correct time range Original: from 1996 to 2002 Suggested revision: between 1990 and 2002 Why it matters: The chart covers two periods beginning in 1990, not only the later period.
- 4. Name the base year Original: the past year 1989 Suggested revision: the base year of 1989 Why it matters: “Base year” clearly expresses that all percentage changes are measured against 1989 prices.
- 5. Use correct measure Original: the percentage of average houses Suggested revision: average house prices Why it matters: The percentages describe price changes, not a percentage of houses.
- 6. Correct the comparison Original: was lowest in New York Suggested revision: fell in New York Why it matters: New York was at -5%, while Tokyo and London had lower figures in the first period.
- 7. Correct paired preposition Original: to Suggested revision: and Why it matters: “Between” must be paired with “and.”
- 8. Correct paired preposition Original: to Suggested revision: and Why it matters: “Between” must be paired with “and.”
- 9. Name the figure precisely Original: the total cost climbed to 5% in the USA Suggested revision: the figure rose to 5% in New York Why it matters: The percentage is a change in New York house prices, not a total cost for the USA.
- 10. Use chart terminology Original: asking price of every home Suggested revision: average house-price change Why it matters: The chart reports an average percentage change rather than each home’s asking price.
- 11. Report value accurately Original: below Suggested revision: about Why it matters: Tokyo’s first-period average is approximately -7%, not below that level.
- 12. Correct trend and period Original: reduced to -5% in 1996 Suggested revision: rose to -5% in the 1996–2002 period Why it matters: Moving from about -7% to -5% is an increase, and the bar represents a period average.
Suggested Rewrites
- illustrates the swapped the cost of average houses illustrates changes in average house prices
- city’s cities
- from 1996 to 2002 between 1990 and 2002
- the past year 1989 the base year of 1989
- the percentage of average houses average house prices
- was lowest in New York fell in New York
Why this response received Band 5.0
The response selects several important figures and recognizes London's dramatic reversal, while its paragraphing broadly separates the overview from details. The account is incomplete because Frankfurt is omitted, the overview is unclear, and some changes are described inaccurately. The highest priority is to present a precise two-period overview and systematically compare all five cities, using percentage-change language rather than referring loosely to costs or asking prices.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
Several values and London's main pattern are reported, but Frankfurt is omitted and the overview contains unclear or inaccurate identification of the lowest figures.
Compare all five cities and state clearly that most rose in the later period, with London highest while Tokyo remained below 1989 levels.
Coherence and Cohesion
The response has a recognizable introduction, overview, and body structure, but long run-on sentences and unclear references weaken progression within paragraphs.
Organize the details by period or trend and use shorter sentences that make each city's two figures easy to compare.
Lexical Resource
There is some range in trend language, but frequent inaccurate collocations confuse percentage changes with house costs, prices, shares, and asking prices.
Use controlled terms such as percentage change, rose from, fell to, remained above or below, and compared with 1989.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Frequent errors in sentence boundaries, agreement, articles, verb forms, and prepositions reduce clarity, though the main comparisons can usually be recovered.
Write one grammatically complete comparison at a time and check subject-verb agreement and the forms used after 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.
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.