Write a report on the Consumption of Fast Food in the UK for a university lecturer describing the information in the graph.
Sample Response
The line graph compares the usage of three eatables between 1970 and 1990.
Overall, the three food items experienced different trends in the time period. While the consumption of fish and chips rose along with hamburgers, the quantity of Pizza fell over time.
As the graph depicts, hamburger figure started at 20% in 1970 followed by a slight increase to just over 100% by 1985. Then, it witnessed a boost in consumption and reached just under 300%. Regarding pizza, in 1970, the usage stood at roughly three hundred per cent, which is the highest number among all of them. Afterwards, the percentage plunged to 200% in 1985, subsequently rose to just over two hundred per cent.
By contrast, the consumption of fish experienced an increase in the five years. In 1978, it consumed nearly 100% followed by rose to few points and reached exactly 100%. Then, the usage witnessed s sharp growth to 150%, 300%, and reached 500 per cent, the highest number in 1980, 1985, and 1990, respectively.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Use precise term Original: usage of three eatables Suggested revision: consumption of three types of fast food Why it matters: “Eatables” is unnatural and too vague for the three food categories shown.
- 2. Describe consumption Original: quantity of Pizza Suggested revision: consumption of pizza Why it matters: The graph measures consumption, and “pizza” should not be capitalized here.
- 3. Add article Original: hamburger figure Suggested revision: the hamburger figure Why it matters: This singular countable noun phrase requires the definite article.
- 4. Correct starting figure Original: 20% in 1970 Suggested revision: about 30 in 1970 Why it matters: The graph places hamburger consumption at roughly 30, and its scale is not expressed as percentages.
- 5. Correct 1985 value Original: just over 100% by 1985 Suggested revision: about 120 by 1985 Why it matters: The hamburger line reaches approximately 120 in 1985, without a percentage unit.
- 6. Name the trend Original: it witnessed a boost in consumption Suggested revision: hamburger consumption then rose sharply Why it matters: Naming the series directly makes the trend clearer and more precise.
- 7. Add accurate endpoint Original: just under 300% Suggested revision: about 280 in 1990 Why it matters: The final hamburger figure is approximately 280 in 1990, not a percentage.
- 8. Use natural noun Original: the usage stood Suggested revision: consumption stood Why it matters: “Consumption” is the appropriate term for the amount of pizza eaten.
- 9. Remove wrong unit Original: roughly three hundred per cent Suggested revision: just over 300 Why it matters: Pizza begins slightly above 300, and the vertical scale does not show percentages.
- 10. Clarify comparison Original: which is the highest number among all of them Suggested revision: which was the highest of the three figures at that point Why it matters: The past tense and a specific comparison make the reference grammatically clear.
- 11. Describe steady fall Original: the percentage plunged Suggested revision: the figure fell steadily Why it matters: The pizza line declines gradually across the period rather than plunging suddenly.
- 12. Remove percent sign Original: 200% in 1985 Suggested revision: 200 in 1985 Why it matters: The plotted value is 200 and the graph does not present it as a percentage.
Suggested Rewrites
- usage of three eatables consumption of three types of fast food
- quantity of Pizza consumption of pizza
- hamburger figure the hamburger figure
- 20% in 1970 about 30 in 1970
- just over 100% by 1985 about 120 by 1985
- it witnessed a boost in consumption hamburger consumption then rose sharply
Why this response received Band 5.5
The response has a clear overview and reports the broad direction of all three series, with several endpoint figures close to the chart. Its main weakness is data precision: every quantity is presented as a percentage, some years and values are misstated, and the fish-and-chips description becomes difficult to follow. Prioritise checking units, dates, and series labels against the visual before writing each comparison.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
A clear overview identifies the three main trends, but unsupported percentage units and several inaccurate dates and values reduce precision.
Use the chart's actual units and verify each series, year, and figure before selecting the most important comparisons.
Coherence and Cohesion
The overview and separate detail paragraphs provide a recognizable structure, though referencing and progression become unclear in the final paragraph.
Group each series consistently and use accurate comparison links instead of shifting abruptly between items and dates.
Lexical Resource
The response has enough trend vocabulary to describe change, but frequent inaccurate choices such as 'eatables,' 'usage,' and 'consumed' weaken clarity.
Use precise chart language such as consumption, figure, rose, fell, and remained, while avoiding personification of data.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Some complex forms are attempted, but frequent errors in articles, sentence structure, agreement, and verb forms sometimes impede reading.
Build complete subject-verb sentences and check forms after linking phrases, especially constructions such as 'followed by a rise.'
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IELTS Academic Writing Task 1
Write a report on the Consumption of Fast Food in the UK for a university lecturer describing the information in the graph.
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.