The table below shows the number of medals won by the top ten countries in the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Sample Response
The table shows the list of top ten medal-winning nations in the London Olympic Games, 2012. Generally speaking, the United States won the highest number of medals while Hungary stood at the 9th position in this Olympic Games with the least number of medals. In details, the US athletes won 104 medals in total, the highest, and they also achieved the greatest number of gold (46) and silver (29) medals. The highest number of Bronze medals (32) was won by Russian participants. Two Asian countries that were in the top-ten-list were China and South Korea. China won 88 medals in total, of which 29 were gold medals. South Korea was in 5th position with their 28 total medals. UK and Russia were in 3rd and 4th positions respectively with 65 and 82 medals. Although Russia won more medals than the UK, they were in 4th position because the UK participants won more gold medals which seem to have better points than silver and bronze medals to be in the top position. Other countries who were in the top-ten-list were Germany, France, Italy, Hungary and Australia with less than 50 medals each. The least gold medal-winning country was Australia and they were in the 10th position of the list.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Natural event name Original: London Olympic Games, 2012 Suggested revision: 2012 London Olympic Games Why it matters: This is the conventional word order.
- 2. Academic overview Original: Generally speaking Suggested revision: Overall Why it matters: Overall is more concise in a Task 1 overview.
- 3. Ranking phrase Original: stood at the 9th position Suggested revision: ranked ninth Why it matters: This is the standard collocation.
- 4. Fixed expression Original: In details Suggested revision: In detail Why it matters: The introductory phrase is singular.
- 5. Capitalisation Original: Bronze medals Suggested revision: bronze medals Why it matters: Medal types are common nouns.
- 6. Awkward compound Original: top-ten-list Suggested revision: top ten Why it matters: The hyphenated noun is unnecessary.
- 7. Incorrect figure Original: of which 29 were gold medals Suggested revision: including 38 gold medals Why it matters: The table shows 38 gold medals for China.
- 8. Country reference Original: with their 28 total medals Suggested revision: with a total of 28 medals Why it matters: Avoid ambiguous plural reference to a country.
- 9. Missing article Original: UK and Russia Suggested revision: The UK and Russia Why it matters: UK normally takes the definite article.
- 10. Agreement Original: which seem to have better points Suggested revision: which seems to carry greater weight Why it matters: The clause refers to the singular fact of winning more gold medals.
- 11. Relative pronoun Original: Other countries who Suggested revision: Other countries that Why it matters: Use that or which for countries.
- 12. Concise description Original: list of top ten medal-winning nations Suggested revision: medal totals for the ten leading nations Why it matters: This avoids the wordy list of construction.
Suggested Rewrites
- London Olympic Games, 2012 2012 London Olympic Games
- Generally speaking Overall
- stood at the 9th position ranked ninth
- In details In detail
- Bronze medals bronze medals
- top-ten-list top ten
Why this response received Band 6.5
The report selects several useful extremes and comparisons, including the United States’ dominance, Russia’s bronze total and the relationship between medal totals and gold-based ranking. However, China’s gold figure is incorrect, some phrasing confuses medals with countries, and the one-paragraph presentation limits clarity. Improve by checking every number against the table and grouping comparisons more systematically.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Detailed feedback by IELTS writing criterion after the annotated essay.
Task Achievement
A relevant overview and major comparisons are provided, but China's gold count is wrong and coverage is somewhat selective.
Verify all figures and compare the leading, middle and lower-ranked countries in organised groups.
Coherence and Cohesion
Ideas follow a broadly logical sequence, but the report is one dense paragraph and some long sentences weaken progression.
Separate the overview and organise detail by ranking group or medal pattern.
Lexical Resource
There is adequate table vocabulary, though several forms such as in details and top-ten-list are awkward.
Use standard academic collocations such as in detail, ranked, total medal tally, and bronze medals.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Meaning remains clear despite recurring article, agreement, capitalisation and reference errors.
Check plural reference and subject-verb agreement, especially when countries are the grammatical subject.