The graph below shows the quantities of goods transported in the UK between 1974 and 2002 by four different modes of transport.

Same questionCompare 4 different answers (Band 5–6.5)

Sample Response

1

The graph illustrates the quantities of goods transporteddifferences in transport from 1974 to 2002 in the UKin UK transport. It can be noticed that pipeline transportthe graph for pipeline remained steady from 1994 to 2002. However, other road, water and rail transportmeans of transportation on roads, water and railways showed different trendswent up slowly over the periodin the same year.

2

Goods transported using pipeline in the UK from 1974 and 2002 stayed constant at 20 million tonnes from 1994 up to 2002, which started at about one million tonnes in 1994. Unlike, Road and Water goods transported in those rose to 40 million tonnes. At the beginning of 1974, Pipeline increased in 1982 to almost 20 million tonnes and still maintained the same level from 1982 to 1990 and between 1990 to 1994 decreased slowly.

3

The three other transport modesThree goods transport in the UK (1974-2002) —road, water and rail—showedwere Road, Water and Rail showed an overall risea rise slowly over the periodin 2002. Goods transported by roadin Road was greater than that transported bygot higher than Water and Rail. DeleteAlthough, the amount transported by waterwaterway goods transportation was approximately 55 million tonnes in 1982stayed constant at approximately 60 million tonnes in 1982. Road freightRoadway transported goods fluctuated around 70 million tonnes until 1986reduced slowly to about 70 million tonnes. The pipeline had different statistics which increased slowly but most still levelled out at null to twenty million tonnes than others fluctuated from 1975 until 2002.

Overall assessment

Why this response received Band 5.0

The response shows some awareness of the pipeline's later stability and attempts to compare all four transport modes. However, major figures and trends are inaccurate or unclear, including the pipeline's starting point and the final levels for road and water, while frequent language errors obscure several statements. The priority is to identify the dominant overall patterns first, then report a small number of verified values in chronological, mode-based groups.

Band score breakdown

IELTS Writing Criteria Scores

TA

Task Achievement

4.5
Scoring rule

The response mentions all four modes and the pipeline plateau, but major trends, dates, and quantities are omitted, confused, or inaccurately reported.

Next step

State that road remained highest, water rose overall, rail fluctuated near 30-40 million tonnes, and pipeline climbed then levelled at 20 million tonnes.

CC

Coherence and Cohesion

5.0
Scoring rule

Paragraphing is present, but repeated pipeline details, weak grouping, and misused links prevent a clear progression through the data.

Next step

Use one overview paragraph and two detail paragraphs grouping road with water and rail with pipeline, each moving consistently from 1974 to 2002.

LR

Lexical Resource

5.0
Scoring rule

The vocabulary is sufficient to name transport modes and basic changes, but repetition and frequent inaccurate collocations limit precision.

Next step

Use standard expressions such as 'goods transported by road', 'rose gradually', 'fluctuated', and 'remained stable at 20 million tonnes'.

GRA

Grammatical Range and Accuracy

5.0
Scoring rule

Some complex structures are attempted, but frequent errors in clause formation, prepositions, agreement, and sentence boundaries often strain clarity.

Next step

Build shorter complete sentences with one clear subject and verb, then check time expressions such as 'between 1974 and 2002' and 'from 1994 to 2002'.

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IELTS Academic Writing Task 1

The graph below shows the quantities of goods transported in the UK between 1974 and 2002 by four different modes of transport.

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