The graph below shows the number of complaints made about noise to Environmental Health authorities in the city of Newtown between 1980 and 1996.
Sample Response
The line graph provides data on the complaints on noise filed to the Newton’s Environmental Health authorities from 1980 to 1996. Overall, the number of complaints made about four noise sources increased over the 16-year period except for domestic noise, which actually declined. In details, Environmental Health authorities in Newtown received over 600 household noise-related objections in 1980 and that was the highest among the four categories of noise complaints this year. Complaints about domestic noise kept on steadily declining with a few minor fluctuations till it hit the trough of just around 100 complaints, the lowest in 1996. Complaints lodged about traffic and roadwork noises showed a similar trend – both were almost steady till 1998 and then soared rapidly afterwards. Traffic blare was responsible for about 300 complaints, 200 fewer than that of road works, both of which remained unchanged till 1984 and then dropped to 200 and 300 respectively between 1986 and 1988. The number of objections about both types of cacophony surged to the highest point in 1996, with over 1200 complaints about road works and 600 about traffic noise. In particular, 1200 complaints were the highest number on the recorded objections made to authorities during the whole period. Now turning to the complaints people made to authorities regarding noises from factories, it was just 400 in 1980. It then rose to 700 in 1986, and afterwards, it levelled off with minimal oscillation till 1996 when around 650 complaints were lodged.
[Author - Vanessa]
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Use correct preposition Original: complaints on noise Suggested revision: noise complaints Why it matters: Noise complaints is the natural noun phrase for this data.
- 2. Correct reporting preposition Original: to Suggested revision: with Why it matters: Complaints are filed with an authority.
- 3. Correct city name Original: Newton’s Suggested revision: Newtown’s Why it matters: The graph identifies the city as Newtown.
- 4. Correct fixed phrase Original: details Suggested revision: detail Why it matters: In detail is the correct fixed expression.
- 5. Match past reference Original: this Suggested revision: that Why it matters: That year correctly refers back to 1980 in a past-time account.
- 6. Use concise trend verb Original: kept on steadily declining Suggested revision: declined steadily Why it matters: The shorter form reports the downward trend more directly.
- 7. Correct chart year Original: till 1998 Suggested revision: until 1988 Why it matters: The chart ends in 1996, and both series remain broadly stable through 1988 before rising.
- 8. Repair noun phrase Original: the highest number on the recorded objections Suggested revision: the highest number of recorded complaints Why it matters: Number of is the correct structure and complaints is the appropriate noun here.
- 9. Use precise opening value Original: over 600 household noise-related objections Suggested revision: about 650 domestic-noise complaints Why it matters: The chart starts the domestic-noise series at approximately 650 complaints.
- 10. Use neutral trend wording Original: till it hit the trough of Suggested revision: until it reached a low of Why it matters: Reached a low is clearer and more neutral for an objective report.
- 11. Correct category wording Original: roadwork noises Suggested revision: roadworks noise Why it matters: Roadworks noise is the natural form for this source category.
- 12. Remove redundant trend wording Original: then soared rapidly afterwards Suggested revision: then rose rapidly Why it matters: Soared, rapidly, and afterwards overlap in meaning in this sequence.
Suggested Rewrites
- complaints on noise noise complaints
- to with
- Newton’s Newtown’s
- details detail
- this that
- kept on steadily declining declined steadily
Why this response received Band 7.0
The response gives a clear overview, covers all four noise sources, and uses varied language to compare their trajectories across the period. Its main weakness is precision: it refers to 1998 although the chart ends in 1996 and misstates the mid-period road-works figure, while some ambitious word choices sound forced. Prioritise checking dates and values against the graph and choosing simpler, more exact reporting language.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
The report presents a clear overview and covers every series with relevant figures, but the 1998 reference and a road-works value are inaccurate.
Check the timeline and report that road-works complaints stayed near 400 in 1986 and 1988 before rising sharply.
Coherence and Cohesion
Ideas progress logically from the overview through the four series, although the single dense paragraph weakens the clarity of grouping.
Divide the details into two focused paragraphs that group rising trends separately from the declining domestic-noise trend.
Lexical Resource
Vocabulary is varied and generally precise, though terms such as traffic blare and cacophony are unnecessarily marked for an objective report.
Choose neutral graph-reporting terms such as traffic noise, complaints, rose, and remained stable.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
The response uses a wide range of complex structures with good overall control, despite several local errors in phrasing and reference.
Edit constructions such as In details and the highest number on the recorded objections into concise, idiomatic forms.
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IELTS Academic Writing Task 1
The graph below shows the number of complaints made about noise to Environmental Health authorities in the city of Newtown between 1980 and 1996.
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.