The graph below shows the average cost of housing in three different areas. Average cost of Housing
Sample Response
The bar graph compares the housing costs in two different years in rural, suburban and city areas. As an overall trend, the housing price increased considerably in 2000 than that of 1990 and housing in city areas were far more expensive than it was in villages and towns. As can be seen in the column graph, the cost of accommodation in village area was 75 thousand dollars in 1990 and it was 25 thousand more in the suburban area. Housing cost in city areas was the highest and it was precisely double than the price of houses in rural areas. After a decade the housing cost increased remarkably and in city areas, it went as high as 300 thousand dollars, which was exactly double than that of 1990’s housing price. The housing cost in suburban areas skyrocketed and reached to 275 thousand which was almost 3 times higher than that of 10 years ago. Finally, the housing cost in rural areas also went up in the ten years’ time but was far cheaper than that of city areas.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Use chart categories Original: city Suggested revision: urban Why it matters: Urban matches the category label used in the chart.
- 2. Use consistent category Original: in village area Suggested revision: in rural areas Why it matters: Rural areas is the chart's category and requires a natural plural form.
- 3. Format currency clearly Original: 75 thousand dollars Suggested revision: $75,000 Why it matters: Standard numerical currency formatting makes the value easier to read.
- 4. Clarify the comparison Original: 25 thousand more Suggested revision: $25,000 higher Why it matters: Higher is the appropriate comparative word for housing cost.
- 5. Use category plural Original: the suburban area Suggested revision: suburban areas Why it matters: The chart describes a general area category, so the plural form is more natural.
- 6. Fix number and term Original: Housing cost in city areas Suggested revision: Housing costs in urban areas Why it matters: The plural noun agrees with the general category and urban matches the chart.
- 7. Fix double comparison Original: precisely double than Suggested revision: exactly twice Why it matters: Twice takes no than in this comparison.
- 8. Add introductory comma Original: After a decade the Suggested revision: After a decade, the Why it matters: A comma should follow the introductory time phrase.
- 9. Use precise trend verb Original: in city areas, it went as high as Suggested revision: in urban areas it reached Why it matters: Reached reports the chart value more directly and formally.
- 10. Format currency clearly Original: 300 thousand dollars Suggested revision: $300,000 Why it matters: Standard currency formatting improves numerical clarity.
- 11. Fix comparison structure Original: exactly double than that of 1990’s housing price Suggested revision: exactly twice the 1990 figure Why it matters: Exactly twice the figure is the correct comparative structure.
- 12. Use neutral reporting Original: skyrocketed Suggested revision: rose sharply Why it matters: Rose sharply is more neutral and appropriate for an academic chart description.
Suggested Rewrites
- city urban
- in village area in rural areas
- 75 thousand dollars $75,000
- 25 thousand more $25,000 higher
- the suburban area suburban areas
- Housing cost in city areas Housing costs in urban areas
Why this response received Band 6.5
The response identifies the overall rise in housing costs and accurately supports the comparison with nearly all the key figures. Its main limitation is language control: recurring errors in comparisons, agreement, articles, and verb patterns make otherwise clear points sound awkward. Prioritise accurate comparative structures such as 'twice as high as' and 'rose to', while separating the overview and details into distinct paragraphs.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
A clear overview and well-selected figures give an accurate account of changes across all three areas.
Add the rural figure for 2000 and qualify the urban-suburban difference, which was relatively small that year.
Coherence and Cohesion
The report follows a logical sequence from the overview to 1990 and 2000 comparisons, but it is presented as one paragraph.
Use separate paragraphs for the overview and detailed comparisons so the hierarchy of information is immediately clear.
Lexical Resource
The response uses a reasonable range of trend and housing vocabulary, though repetition and several awkward collocations reduce precision.
Use natural combinations such as 'rose to $275,000', 'almost three times the 1990 figure', and 'urban housing'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Meaning remains clear and some complex sentences are attempted, but errors in comparison forms, agreement, articles, and verb patterns recur.
Practise forms such as 'higher than', 'twice as high as', and 'reached $275,000' while checking subject-verb agreement.
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IELTS Academic Writing Task 1
The graph below shows the average cost of housing in three different areas. Average cost of Housing
Your response
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