The diagram below shows the number of houses built per year in two cities, Derby and Nottingham, Between 2000 and 2009.
Sample Response
The chart outlines the number of houses built annually in the cities of Derby and NottinghamDerby and Nottingham cities from 2000 to 2009. Overall, more houses were built in Derby than Nottingham each year except in 2000, 2001 and 2007. According to the bar graph, only 50 houses were built in Nottingham in 2000, whereasin 2000 where this number was about 40 in Derbyaround 45 in Derby. After two years, this trend changed and more houses were built in Derby than Nottingham. Until 2005, the trend remained almost the same and in 2005 more than 100 houses were built in Derby while less than 80 in Nottingham. Interestingly, theInterestingly the number of houses constructed in Nottingham was very lowwere very few (about 10)(less than 10) in 2006 and 2008 while it was much higher in Derby. In 2007, a reverse2007 a reverse trend could be observed when about 190where more than 190 dwellings were constructed in Nottingham compared to about 120 housesthe only 110 houses in Derby. In the final year, 2009 about 350 homes were built in Derbymore than 240 homes were developed in Derby while about 250 were built in Nottinghamwhile 250 in Nottingham. In summary, over timeover the time, the number of houses that were built in Derby showed an overall increaseincreased almost in each year while the Nottingham figures fluctuated considerablythis showed some anomaly in Nottingham where fewer houses were built than in Derbyfewer houses were built than Derby, except in 2000, 2001 and 2007.
Why this response received Band 6.5
The response selects several meaningful comparisons and uses varied reporting vocabulary, with the year-by-year sequence generally easy to follow. However, the final-year comparison is materially inaccurate—Derby reaches about 350 homes, not just over 240—and the 2008 surge is omitted; prioritise checking every quoted figure against the chart and organising the report into a distinct overview and grouped detail paragraphs.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
The report presents a relevant overview and several correct comparisons, but it omits a major 2008 feature and significantly understates Derby's 2009 figure.
Verify the final two years carefully and report Derby's sharp rise from about 110 in 2007 to 280 in 2008 and 350 in 2009.
Coherence and Cohesion
Chronological progression and linking are generally clear, but the entire report forms one paragraph and the ending repeats the overview.
Separate the overview from two grouped detail paragraphs, using one for 2000–2005 and another for the contrasting final years.
Lexical Resource
Vocabulary is varied and generally precise, with effective terms such as annually, reverse trend, dwellings, and constructed.
Refine less natural choices such as Nottingham cities and showed some anomaly to maintain consistent precision.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
The response uses a range of complex structures, although agreement, article, and comparison errors appear with some regularity.
Check agreement after the number of and use complete comparison clauses with accurate articles and punctuation.
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IELTS Academic Writing Task 1
The diagram below shows the number of houses built per year in two cities, Derby and Nottingham, Between 2000 and 2009.
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.