The charts below show degrees granted in different fields at the National University in the years 1990, 2000, 2010. Degrees Granted at the National University.
Sample Response
The provided pie charts compare four different degrees that were awarded to the students at the National University in three decades, commencing from 1990. As can be seen, more students were granted Computer Science degrees while Business graduates decreased over the time. The illustration indicates that both Business and Computer Science diplomas were achieved by 30% students in 1990 at the National University. The remaining 40% diplomas went to Medicine and Law graduates with a ration of 5: 3. After 10 years, the National University handed over 40% degrees to Computer Science students and 30% to Medicine students. Total students who achieved Business degrees in this year reduced by 10% while it was a 5% drop for the Law graduates. Finally, in 2000, the percentage of Computer Science graduates climbed to 45% in this institution. One-fourth diplomas were given to the Medicine students in this same year while the remaining 30% graduates were from the Business and Law departments with 15% from each faculty. In summary, more degrees were awarded to the Computer Science graduates in the National University and there was a significant decrease in the number of Business graduates in 2000.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Name the fields Original: four different degrees Suggested revision: degrees in four fields Why it matters: The charts compare fields of study, not four types of qualification.
- 2. State the chart years Original: in three decades, commencing from 1990 Suggested revision: in 1990, 2000, and 2010 Why it matters: The charts show three specific years across two decades.
- 3. Describe the share Original: more students were granted Computer Science degrees Suggested revision: the share of Computer Science degrees increased Why it matters: The pie charts show proportions of degrees rather than numbers of students.
- 4. Track the category share Original: Business graduates decreased over the time Suggested revision: the share of Business degrees decreased over time Why it matters: The visual reports the percentage of degrees in Business, not a student count.
- 5. Express proportions correctly Original: diplomas were achieved by 30% students Suggested revision: degrees accounted for 30% each Why it matters: The revision gives each field's share with correct grammar and chart terminology.
- 6. Add of degrees Original: The remaining 40% diplomas Suggested revision: The remaining 40% of degrees Why it matters: A percentage of a countable category requires the construction percentage of degrees.
- 7. Correct the word Original: ration Suggested revision: ratio Why it matters: Ratio, not ration, describes the relationship between the two percentages.
- 8. Use award terminology Original: handed over 40% degrees Suggested revision: awarded 40% of its degrees Why it matters: Degrees are awarded, not handed over.
- 9. Name the field Original: 30% to Medicine students Suggested revision: 30% in Medicine Why it matters: The chart categorizes degrees by field rather than by groups of students.
- 10. Correct the year Original: 2000 Suggested revision: 2010 Why it matters: The final pie chart represents 2010, not 2000.
- 11. Describe degrees Original: graduates Suggested revision: degrees Why it matters: The chart shows the distribution of degrees granted, not the proportion of graduates.
- 12. Complete the fraction Original: One-fourth diplomas Suggested revision: One-quarter of the degrees Why it matters: A fraction requires of before the noun it quantifies.
Suggested Rewrites
- four different degrees degrees in four fields
- in three decades, commencing from 1990 in 1990, 2000, and 2010
- more students were granted Computer Science degrees the share of Computer Science degrees increased
- Business graduates decreased over the time the share of Business degrees decreased over time
- diplomas were achieved by 30% students degrees accounted for 30% each
- The remaining 40% diplomas The remaining 40% of degrees
Why this response received Band 6.5
The response’s strongest feature is comprehensive selection: it accurately reports nearly every field share and clearly identifies the rise in Computer Science and decline in Business. The main limitation is a significant time-label error, as the final chart and concluding comparison are called 2000 rather than 2010, alongside recurring awkward degree-related phrasing. Prioritise correcting the chronology, then present the three years in clearly separated comparisons.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
The overview is clear and the percentages across all four fields are comprehensively and mostly accurately reported, but the final 2010 chart is twice mislabeled as 2000.
Correct the final year to 2010 and frame the Business decline and Computer Science rise explicitly across the full 1990–2010 period.
Coherence and Cohesion
The report follows a clear chronological sequence with an overview and summary, although the single-paragraph format and repeated conclusion reduce structural clarity.
Separate the overview from chronological detail paragraphs and avoid restating the same trend in a final summary.
Lexical Resource
The response has adequate vocabulary for trends and proportions, but “diplomas,” “handed over degrees,” “achieved degrees” and the misspelling “ration” reduce precision.
Use consistent terms such as “degrees awarded,” “graduates,” “proportion” and “ratio” throughout.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A range of sentence forms conveys the comparisons clearly, but missing articles and prepositions and awkward subject constructions recur in phrases involving percentages and students.
Use forms such as “30% of students,” “the proportion fell by 10 percentage points,” and “one quarter of the degrees” consistently.
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IELTS Academic Writing Task 1
The charts below show degrees granted in different fields at the National University in the years 1990, 2000, 2010. Degrees Granted at the National University.
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.