The table below shows a survey on the preference of three age groups for different TV programmes in a European country in 2012.
Sample Response
The table shows the percentages of people who watched different television programs in a European country in 2012. The data is split into three different age categories (11-15, 15-20, 21-25).
Overall, feature films and sports programs were quite popular amongst all age groups and attracted similar percentages of viewers. Meanwhile, news programs and cartoons showed the biggest disparity in the percentages of viewers from the different age groups.
The biggest similarities between the three groups can be seen in the percentages of people who viewed feature films and sports programs. Both programs attracted approximately 20% of viewers from each age group. TV dramas also saw similar percentages from each group, at around 10%.
The biggest differences between viewing preferences of all the age groups were in cartoons and news programs. 29% of 11-15-year-olds watched cartoons, compared with only 4% of 21-25-year-olds. In contrast, 23% of 21-25-yearolds watched news programs, compared to (7) only 6% of 11-15-year-olds. Additionally(8), while soap operas attracted similar percentages of 11-15-year-olds and 21-25-year-olds (17% and 19%), only 12% of 15-20-year-olds viewed them.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Describe preferences accurately Original: watched Suggested revision: preferred Why it matters: The table reports survey preferences rather than confirmed viewing behaviour.
- 2. Use the table term Original: categories Suggested revision: groups Why it matters: Age groups is the clearer term for the three cohorts in the table.
- 3. Keep the survey framing Original: people who viewed feature films and sports programs Suggested revision: people who preferred feature films and sports programmes Why it matters: The figures show stated preferences rather than actual viewing.
- 4. State the denominator clearly Original: attracted approximately 20% of viewers from each age group Suggested revision: were preferred by approximately 20% of each age group Why it matters: Each percentage refers to the share within its respective age group.
- 5. Avoid personification Original: TV dramas also saw similar percentages from each group Suggested revision: TV dramas were also preferred by similar percentages of each group Why it matters: The revised passive form describes the survey results more naturally.
- 6. Repair the comparison Original: viewing preferences of all the age groups were in Suggested revision: the age groups' viewing preferences concerned Why it matters: The possessive structure and verb produce a grammatical comparison of the groups.
- 7. Hyphenate the age noun Original: 21-25-yearolds Suggested revision: 21-25-year-olds Why it matters: The compound plural noun requires a hyphen between year and olds.
- 8. Remove editing artifact Original: (7) Suggested revision: Delete Why it matters: This unexplained source marker interrupts the comparison and should be deleted.
- 9. Remove editing artifact Original: Additionally(8) Suggested revision: Additionally Why it matters: The unexplained number is not part of the linking expression.
- 10. Preserve preference meaning Original: viewed Suggested revision: preferred Why it matters: The table measures preference for soap operas rather than actual viewing.
Suggested Rewrites
- watched preferred
- categories groups
- people who viewed feature films and sports programs people who preferred feature films and sports programmes
- attracted approximately 20% of viewers from each age group were preferred by approximately 20% of each age group
- TV dramas also saw similar percentages from each group TV dramas were also preferred by similar percentages of each group
- viewing preferences of all the age groups were in the age groups' viewing preferences concerned
Why this response received Band 8.0
The response gives a clear overview and organises accurate comparisons around the strongest similarities and contrasts, making the table easy to understand. The main limitation is some repetitive wording around percentages, programmes, and the biggest differences, while the stray '(7)' and '(8)' markers interrupt an otherwise polished presentation. Prioritise removing editing residue and varying comparative phrasing while retaining the precise data selection.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
The response fully addresses the table with a clear overview, well-selected comparisons, and accurate supporting figures.
Maintain this selective approach while checking the final text for any presentational material unrelated to the data.
Coherence and Cohesion
The response is logically sequenced from overview to similarities and differences, with cohesive paragraphing throughout.
Reduce repeated framing such as 'the biggest similarities' and 'the biggest differences' to make progression even smoother.
Lexical Resource
Vocabulary is varied and accurate for describing preferences and comparisons, though some key nouns and percentage phrases recur.
Vary references to viewers, proportions, and programme preferences without sacrificing the report's precision.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A wide range of complex comparison structures is handled accurately, with only minor presentational slips and a missing space.
Remove the numbered editing markers and correct '21-25-year-olds' during final proofreading.
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IELTS Academic Writing Task 1
The table below shows a survey on the preference of three age groups for different TV programmes in a European country in 2012.
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.