The table below shows the average band scores for students from different language groups taking the IELTS General Test in 2010.
Sample Response
The table illustrates the breakdown of scores for the IELTS General Test in 2010. It shows separate scores for all four modules (Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking), together with the overall band scores for students from four different language groups around the world. From an overall perspective, German speakers achieved the highest overall band score. Moreover, they scored the highest of all four language groups in three modules of the test (Listening, Writing, Speaking). French speaking candidates scored the second highest overall score of 6.7 out of 9, closely followed by Malay and Indonesian speakers. Although French speakers did not do so well in the Reading, Speaking and Listening modules compared to Indonesian and Malay speakers, there was a significant difference in their grades for the Writing module. These grades were high relative to Indonesian and Malay candidates. Surprisingly, Malay speakers, who achieved the second lowest result overall, achieved the highest results of all four language groups for the Reading module. As a final point, it is interesting to note that the scores for each module show that all students, on average, scored the highest marks for the Speaking module and the lowest marks for the Reading module.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Complete the list Original: (Listening, Writing, Speaking) Suggested revision: (Listening, Writing and Speaking) Why it matters: Use a coordinating conjunction before the final item in this prose list.
- 2. Hyphenate compound adjective Original: French speaking candidates Suggested revision: French-speaking candidates Why it matters: The compound modifier before the noun requires a hyphen.
- 3. Correct French score Original: 6.7 out of 9 Suggested revision: 6.5 Why it matters: The table gives French speakers an overall score of 6.5.
- 4. Use singular reference Original: These grades Suggested revision: This Writing score Why it matters: The preceding comparison refers to one Writing score for the French group.
- 5. Fix agreement and comparison Original: were high relative to Suggested revision: was higher than that of Why it matters: The singular subject requires 'was', and this form makes the comparison grammatically complete.
- 6. Avoid repeated verb Original: achieved the second lowest result overall, achieved Suggested revision: had the second-lowest overall result, recorded Why it matters: This removes awkward repetition and correctly hyphenates the compound modifier.
- 7. Use singular score Original: results Suggested revision: score Why it matters: The Reading module provides one score for each language group.
- 8. Name the measure precisely Original: the breakdown of scores Suggested revision: the average scores Why it matters: The table reports average module and overall results rather than a distributional breakdown.
- 9. Remove unsupported scope Original: around the world Suggested revision: Delete Why it matters: The table identifies language groups but does not state that the students represent the whole world.
- 10. Use concise overview marker Original: From an overall perspective Suggested revision: Overall Why it matters: The shorter marker introduces the overview more directly.
- 11. Clarify comparison grammar Original: scored the highest of all four language groups Suggested revision: recorded the highest scores among the four language groups Why it matters: The plural noun and 'among' make the multi-module comparison precise.
- 12. Hyphenate ranking modifier Original: second highest overall score Suggested revision: second-highest overall score Why it matters: The compound ranking adjective before 'score' should be hyphenated.
Suggested Rewrites
- (Listening, Writing, Speaking) (Listening, Writing and Speaking)
- French speaking candidates French-speaking candidates
- 6.7 out of 9 6.5
- These grades This Writing score
- were high relative to was higher than that of
- achieved the second lowest result overall, achieved had the second-lowest overall result, recorded
Why this response received Band 7.0
The response is fluent, logically sequenced, and uses varied language to compare the four groups, with a useful overview of the strongest German performance and the general module pattern. Its main weakness is factual precision: the French overall result is misstated, and several French comparisons with Indonesian and Malay candidates are overgeneralised. Prioritise checking every claimed ranking and figure directly against the table.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
The report identifies several important rankings and an overall module pattern, but it gives the French overall result incorrectly and overstates some cross-group differences.
Verify each figure and separate equal, higher, and lower results when comparing French, Indonesian, and Malay speakers.
Coherence and Cohesion
The sequence moves clearly from the overall leader through group comparisons to a final cross-module observation, but the entire report forms one paragraph.
Divide the report into an introduction and overview followed by logically grouped detail paragraphs.
Lexical Resource
Vocabulary for describing rankings and comparisons is generally varied and appropriate, although 'scores,' 'results,' and related wording recur.
Use more exact comparative language such as 'equal to,' 'slightly above,' and 'the lowest of the four' where the data require it.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
The response uses a good range of complex sentences with generally accurate grammar and clear meaning.
Polish minor forms such as hyphenating 'French-speaking' and streamline long comparative clauses for greater precision.
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IELTS Academic Writing Task 1
The table below shows the average band scores for students from different language groups taking the IELTS General Test in 2010.
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.