Eating sweet foods produces acid in the mouth, which can cause tooth decay. (High acid levels are measured by low pH values) Describe the information below and discuss the implications for dental health.
Sample Response
The graph depicts a comparison of acid level in mouth after consuming sugar/honey. One axis of the graph contains PH level which measures acidic level and the other axis reflects timeline after consuming, spaced out equally with 5 minutes gap. As per the graph, tooth decay starts when the PH level falls beneath 5.5 on the scale and it is quite clear that PH level falls rapidly after consuming all three commodities. To start with, the PH level in our mouth is at 7 and begins to decline after consuming each item and the rate at which it falls is maximum in case of cane sugar. It crosses the danger level within a span of 5 minutes and by the end of 5 minutes, PH level reaches its lowest point in case of cane sugar i.e. 3.5 and the same for fruit sugar and honey, which are 4.25 and 4.75 respectively. After 5 minutes has elapsed, the trend line tends to be inverted and from here on the PH level initiate its recovery in case of fruit/cane sugar though it remains at its lowest in the case of honey for a further 5 minute-period. On reaching 10 minute-mark, PH level in case of honey seems to recover at brisk pace taking over the recovery of other items and reaching the safe zone within a span of 15 minutes. Fruit sugar PH level crosses the line before 20 minutes but cane sugar PH level took almost double the time of honey to recover from tooth decay. Honey PH level normalise by the end of 25 minute's mark and the same is 32 minutes and 40 minutes in case of fruit sugar and cane sugar respectively.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Correct number and article Original: acid level in mouth Suggested revision: acid levels in the mouth Why it matters: The graph compares multiple acid levels, and mouth requires the definite article here.
- 2. Name foods clearly Original: sugar/honey Suggested revision: sugar and honey Why it matters: Writing out the conjunction is clearer and more formal than using a slash.
- 3. Format and punctuate pH Original: PH level which Suggested revision: pH level, which Why it matters: The scientific abbreviation is pH, and the non-defining relative clause needs a comma.
- 4. Use precise expression Original: measures acidic level Suggested revision: indicates acidity Why it matters: A pH value indicates acidity rather than measuring an acidic level.
- 5. Complete time phrase Original: reflects timeline after consuming Suggested revision: shows the time after consumption Why it matters: The revised phrase supplies the necessary article and noun object.
- 6. Correct interval phrase Original: with 5 minutes gap Suggested revision: at five-minute intervals Why it matters: The plural interval expression is the natural way to describe evenly spaced points.
- 7. Use formal reference Original: As per the graph Suggested revision: According to the graph Why it matters: According to is the more natural formal phrase for citing a visual source.
- 8. Use numerical preposition Original: beneath Suggested revision: below Why it matters: Below is the conventional preposition for a value under a numerical threshold.
- 9. Use accurate category Original: commodities Suggested revision: foods Why it matters: Cane sugar, fruit sugar and honey are foods in this context rather than traded commodities.
- 10. Use general reference Original: our Suggested revision: the Why it matters: The definite article is appropriate for a general physiological description.
- 11. Correct comparative phrasing Original: is maximum in case of cane sugar Suggested revision: is greatest for cane sugar Why it matters: Greatest for is the natural structure for comparing the three rates of decline.
- 12. Describe reversal clearly Original: the trend line tends to be inverted Suggested revision: the trend reverses Why it matters: The shorter phrase clearly states that the pH values begin to rise after reaching their minima.
Suggested Rewrites
- acid level in mouth acid levels in the mouth
- sugar/honey sugar and honey
- PH level which pH level, which
- measures acidic level indicates acidity
- reflects timeline after consuming shows the time after consumption
- with 5 minutes gap at five-minute intervals
Why this response received Band 7.0
The response gives a detailed, well-selected account of the rapid pH falls and subsequent recoveries, and it clearly connects the 5.5 threshold with dental risk. Its main weakness is occasional numerical imprecision alongside cumbersome, error-prone sentence construction. The highest-priority improvement is to organise the key comparisons into distinct paragraphs and verify the exact times when each substance returns above the danger threshold and reaches neutral pH.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
The main pattern, lowest pH values, recovery order, and dental-risk threshold are covered well, with only minor timing inaccuracies.
Distinguish clearly between crossing back above pH 5.5 and returning to pH 7, especially for fruit and cane sugar.
Coherence and Cohesion
The chronological sequence is easy to follow, but the entire report forms one dense paragraph and several long sentences carry too many comparisons.
Separate the overview, initial five-minute decline, and subsequent recovery into distinct paragraphs with shorter comparison sentences.
Lexical Resource
A broad range of vocabulary describes acidity, timing, and recovery, though terms such as 'commodities', 'inverted', and 'recover from tooth decay' are imprecise.
Use precise scientific chart language such as 'substances', 'the trend reversed', 'pH rose', and 'the level entered the safe range'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Complex structures are used extensively and meaning remains clear, but agreement, article, tense, and possessive errors recur throughout.
Check subject-verb agreement and article use in recurring phrases, and maintain the present tense consistently when describing the graph.
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IELTS Academic Writing Task 1
Eating sweet foods produces acid in the mouth, which can cause tooth decay. (High acid levels are measured by low pH values) Describe the information below and discuss the implications for dental health.
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.