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 noise complaintscomplaints on noise filed withto the Newtown’sNewton’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 detaildetails, Environmental Health authorities in Newtown received about 650 domestic-noise complaintsover 600 household noise-related objections in 1980 and that was the highest among the four categories of noise complaints thatthis year. Complaints about domestic noise declined steadilykept on steadily declining with a few minor fluctuations until it reached a low oftill it hit the trough of just around 100 complaints, the lowest in 1996. Complaints lodged about traffic and roadworks noiseroadwork noises showed a similar trend – both were almost steady until 1988till 1998 and then rose rapidlythen 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 noise sourcesboth 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 of recorded complaintsthe highest number on the recorded objections made to authorities during the whole period. Now turning to the complaints people made to authorities about factory noiseregarding noises from factories, it was just 400 in 1980. It then rose to 700 in 1986, and afterwards, it levelled off with minor fluctuationsminimal oscillation till 1996 when around 650 complaints were lodged.
[Author - Vanessa]
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.