The chart below give information about the high-speed continuous internet connection of households in five countries in 2001 and 2002.
Sample Response
The bar chart and table compare five countries in terms of the percentage of families with high-speed internet access, and the change over two consecutive years, from 2001 to 2002.
It is clear that the percentage of families with high-speed internet connection was highest in South Korea and the USA during those years. In addition, the biggest change in the number of families with high-speed internet access occurred in Britain.
In 2001, about 11.2% of South Korean households had access to high-speed internet, compared to 9.3% of US families. One year later, the number of US families with high-speed internet soared by 170% to reach 25.11% of the population, which was the highest figure of all measured countries for those years. By contrast, the growth rate was significantly lower in South Korea, at only 20%.
High-speed internet was not as common in Germany, Switzerland and Britain, with only roughly 0.35% of households having a high-speed connection. All three countries saw significant increases over the year, with Germany and Switzerland witnessing increases of 80% and 120% respectively. Meanwhile, Britain saw the biggest growth rate in high-speed internet connections with a 230% increase.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Use chart unit Original: terms of the percentage of families Suggested revision: terms of the number of connections per 1,000 people Why it matters: The chart reports connections per 1,000 people rather than a percentage of families.
- 2. Specify the change Original: the change over two consecutive years Suggested revision: the percentage change between the two years Why it matters: This wording identifies the table's percentage-change measure more precisely.
- 3. Use plural noun Original: families with high-speed internet connection Suggested revision: households with high-speed internet connections Why it matters: A plural count noun is needed when referring generally to connections across households.
- 4. Describe growth measure Original: biggest change in the number of families Suggested revision: largest percentage increase in connections Why it matters: Britain leads the percentage-change table, which does not show a change in the number of families.
- 5. Correct South Korea figure Original: about 11.2% Suggested revision: 122 connections per 1,000 people Why it matters: The 2001 bar for South Korea is 122 connections per 1,000 people.
- 6. Name the measure Original: the number of US families Suggested revision: the figure for the USA Why it matters: The visual measures connections per 1,000 people, not a count of families.
- 7. Correct USA unit Original: 25.11% of the population Suggested revision: 251.1 connections per 1,000 people Why it matters: The 2002 USA value is shown as 251.1 connections per 1,000 people.
- 8. Limit the comparison Original: all measured countries for those years Suggested revision: all five countries in 2002 Why it matters: The USA is highest in 2002, while South Korea is highest in 2001.
- 9. Report the range Original: only roughly 0.35% of households Suggested revision: between 3.3 and 3.6 connections per 1,000 people Why it matters: The three 2001 values are close but distinct and use the chart's per-1,000 unit.
- 10. Distinguish yearly leaders Original: highest in South Korea and the USA during those years Suggested revision: highest in South Korea in 2001 and in the USA in 2002 Why it matters: The leading country changes between the two years.
- 11. Correct USA figure Original: 9.3% of US families Suggested revision: 93 connections per 1,000 people in the USA Why it matters: The 2001 USA bar is 93 connections per 1,000 people.
- 12. Use concise reporting Original: with high-speed internet soared Suggested revision: rose sharply Why it matters: The replacement removes an awkward modifier while preserving the reported increase.
Suggested Rewrites
- terms of the percentage of families terms of the number of connections per 1,000 people
- the change over two consecutive years the percentage change between the two years
- families with high-speed internet connection households with high-speed internet connections
- biggest change in the number of families largest percentage increase in connections
- about 11.2% 122 connections per 1,000 people
- the number of US families the figure for the USA
Why this response received Band 7.0
The response is well organised and uses varied, generally accurate language to present the main contrasts and all five countries. Its main weakness is numerical framing: the chart reports connections per 1,000 people, yet the response recasts figures as percentages of families or population and gives South Korea's 2001 value inaccurately. Prioritise keeping the original unit and reporting each leading 2002 figure precisely.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
A clear overview and relevant comparisons cover all countries, but the unit is misrepresented and South Korea's 2001 figure is inaccurate.
Retain the chart's connections-per-1,000 unit and report South Korea's 122 and 134.4 values accurately.
Coherence and Cohesion
Information progresses logically from the overview to the leading countries and then the lower figures, with effective paragraphing.
Make the overview contrast between the 2001 and 2002 leaders more explicit to sharpen progression.
Lexical Resource
A varied range of trend and comparison vocabulary is used effectively, though references to families and population are sometimes imprecise.
Use the chart's exact measurement language consistently instead of alternating among families, households, and population.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
The response uses a strong range of complex structures with generally accurate control and only minor lapses.
Refine article and noun-form choices, such as using high-speed internet connections when referring to the measured total.
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IELTS Academic Writing Task 1
The chart below give information about the high-speed continuous internet connection of households in five countries in 2001 and 2002.
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.