The pie charts compare ways of accessing the news in Canada and Australia.
Sample Response
The pie charts show the principle ways of finding out the news in two different countries, Canada and Australia. The two nations show broadly similar patterns, though there are some differences, both significant and minor. One of the most prominent features of this data is that, while in Canada over a third of people access the news online, in Australia the figure is more than half, at 52%. It is apparent that viewing the TV news is popular in both countries, with about two fifths of Canadian population favouring this mode of delivery and only 3% fewer in Australia. One major difference between Canada and Australia is that over twice as many people read the news in print in the former, compared with the latter. The figures are 14% and 7% respectively. Similarly, listening to the news on the radio is preferred by three times more people in Canada than in Australia. Overall, it can be said that the high levels of internet use in Australia mean that other methods such as radio and print are used less in comparison with Canada.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Use correct word Original: principle Suggested revision: principal Why it matters: Principal means main, whereas principle refers to a rule or belief.
- 2. Use precise phrasing Original: finding out the news Suggested revision: accessing the news Why it matters: This phrase is more concise and matches the task wording.
- 3. Use plural agreement Original: this Suggested revision: these Why it matters: In formal academic usage, data is treated as a plural noun here.
- 4. Add the article Original: Canadian population Suggested revision: the Canadian population Why it matters: A definite article is needed before the name of this specific population.
- 5. Use percentage points Original: 3% fewer Suggested revision: 3 percentage points lower Why it matters: The chart compares 40% with 37%, a difference of three percentage points.
- 6. Correct the comparison Original: over twice as many Suggested revision: twice as many Why it matters: The print shares are exactly 14% and 7%, so the Canadian figure is twice the Australian one.
- 7. Remove repetition Original: in two different countries, Canada and Australia Suggested revision: in Canada and Australia Why it matters: Naming the two countries directly avoids repeating the same location information.
- 8. Specify the similarity Original: broadly similar patterns Suggested revision: a common preference for TV and online news Why it matters: The replacement identifies the two major modes that account for the largest combined shares in both countries.
- 9. Avoid vague wording Original: some differences, both significant and minor Suggested revision: notable differences in the proportions Why it matters: This wording identifies what differs instead of using an imprecise contrast.
- 10. Make wording concise Original: One of the most prominent features of Suggested revision: A prominent feature of Why it matters: The shorter phrase reports the feature more directly without changing the meaning.
- 11. Use the exact figure Original: over a third Suggested revision: 36% Why it matters: The Canadian online share is explicitly labelled as 36% in the chart.
- 12. Report directly Original: It is apparent that Suggested revision: Delete Why it matters: Removing this introductory phrase makes the data statement more direct and concise.
Suggested Rewrites
- principle principal
- finding out the news accessing the news
- this these
- Canadian population the Canadian population
- 3% fewer 3 percentage points lower
- over twice as many twice as many
Why this response received Band 7.5
The response compares the dominant news sources clearly and uses accurate figures and relationships for most categories, with particularly effective cross-country contrasts. The main limitation is incomplete precision: the small unspecified shares are omitted, print use is described as more than double when it is exactly double, and radio figures are not stated. Add those remaining values and divide the report into purposeful paragraphs.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
The main patterns and dominant categories are clearly compared, although the unspecified shares are omitted and two proportional comparisons lack full precision.
Include the 3% and 2% unspecified categories and state that print is exactly twice as common in Canada, while radio is 7% versus 2%.
Coherence and Cohesion
The comparisons follow a clear sequence and referencing devices connect the two countries effectively, but the response is presented as one continuous paragraph.
Separate the overview from the detailed comparisons so the hierarchy of information is immediately visible.
Lexical Resource
The response uses a flexible range of comparative and reporting vocabulary, with only occasional imprecise word choice.
Replace principle with principal and favour natural expressions such as accessing the news over finding out the news.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Complex comparison structures are varied and mostly accurate, with meaning consistently clear.
Check article use in phrases such as the Canadian population and keep comparative structures exact when describing proportions.
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IELTS Academic Writing Task 1
The pie charts compare ways of accessing the news in Canada and Australia.
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.