The table below shows the consumption of three basic foods, rice, wheat and maize, by people in four different countries
Sample Response
The table provides details about the amount of calories that people from four different countries consume on a daily basis from different foods.
Overall, people in Egypt consume the highest amount of calories per day out of all four countries. Additionally, the biggest single source of caloric intake was from the consumption of rice in Cambodia.
At over 2,000 calories per day, Egyptians have the highest intake of calories of all four countries, along with the highest consumption of wheat (1095 calories/day). Their consumption of both rice (501 calories/day) and maize (578 calories/day) are around half that of their wheat intake. Meanwhile, the people of Poland have the lowest caloric intake of all four countries, with a daily wheat consumption of 865 calories and rice consumption of 19 calories.
Caloric consumption trends in Mexico and Cambodia are quite different, with Mexicans getting most of their calories from maize (1083 calories/day), while Camodians consume the majority of their calories from rice (1445 calories).
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Use count noun Original: amount Suggested revision: number Why it matters: Calories are countable, so 'number' is the appropriate quantifier.
- 2. Use concise wording Original: on a daily basis Suggested revision: each day Why it matters: This shorter phrase conveys the same frequency more directly.
- 3. Name the scope Original: different foods Suggested revision: the three foods Why it matters: The table is specifically limited to rice, wheat, and maize.
- 4. Use direct phrasing Original: was from the consumption of rice Suggested revision: is rice Why it matters: The direct present-tense phrasing describes the table more naturally.
- 5. Fix agreement Original: are Suggested revision: is Why it matters: The head noun 'consumption' is singular and requires 'is'.
- 6. Avoid time-series term Original: consumption trends Suggested revision: intake patterns Why it matters: 'Trends' can imply change over time, which this static country comparison does not show.
- 7. Correct spelling Original: Camodians Suggested revision: Cambodians Why it matters: The nationality is misspelled.
- 8. Include the zero value Suggested revision: Add that Poland records no calories from maize when explaining its lowest total. Why it matters: The zero value is a notable extreme that strengthens the comparison with Egypt.
Suggested Rewrites
- amount number
- on a daily basis each day
- different foods the three foods
- was from the consumption of rice is rice
- are is
- consumption trends intake patterns
Why this response received Band 7.0
The response gives a clear overview and accurately reports the principal totals, dominant foods, and several precise figures from the table. Its main limitation is that coverage is somewhat selective, leaving Cambodia’s other foods, Mexico’s smaller sources, and Poland’s zero maize figure unexplored; the highest-priority improvement is to add a few strategically chosen comparisons so the four countries and three foods are represented more fully.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
The overview and selected figures are accurate and relevant, though some notable values and cross-country comparisons are omitted.
Add comparisons covering the unreported foods in Cambodia and Mexico and Poland’s zero maize consumption.
Coherence and Cohesion
The response follows a clear introduction-overview-detail structure, with logical progression and generally effective linking.
Develop the final paragraph more evenly so its comparisons match the detail provided for Egypt and Poland.
Lexical Resource
Vocabulary is varied and appropriately quantitative, with only minor imprecision and the spelling error in “Camodians.”
Proofread country names and use precise countable wording such as “number of calories” where appropriate.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A good range of simple and complex structures is used accurately, with only occasional agreement or phrasing errors.
Check subject-verb agreement in constructions such as “their consumption ... is” and refine comparative sentence structure.
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IELTS Academic Writing Task 1
The table below shows the consumption of three basic foods, rice, wheat and maize, by people in four different countries
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.