The graph below shows the quantities of goods transported in the UK between 1974 and 2002 by four different modes of transport.
Sample Response
The supplied line graph outlines the goods transportation in the UK from 1974 to 2002 through various modes of transportation namely road, water, rail and pipeline. In general, the quantities of materials transported increased in all types of transportation types over the years.
Looking at the details, goods brought through road transport swelled significantly from about 70 million tons in 1974 to about 95 million tons in 2002, approximately 25 million tons higher than in 1974. The same trend was true for both water and pipeline goods carrying. Water shipping distributed about 39 million tons of materials in 1974 and about 62 million tons in 2002. Pipeline showed the same trend despite the figure of goods carried was roughly slower than water transport, pipeline media only moved about 2 million tons in 1974 and about 21 million tons in 2002.
In contrast, the number of commodities brought through rail mode fluctuated gradually. It was about 40 million tons in 1974 and went down modestly by the year of 1978 and this quantity fluctuated until it levelled up to about 41 million tons in 2002. It accounted for a small change indeed, only about 1 million tons over the years.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Use natural phrasing Original: the goods transportation Suggested revision: the transportation of goods Why it matters: This noun phrase is the natural way to describe the movement of goods.
- 2. Clarify the list Original: through various modes of transportation namely Suggested revision: by four modes of transport, namely Why it matters: The revision uses the correct preposition and marks the following list clearly.
- 3. Remove repetition Original: types of transportation types Suggested revision: modes of transport Why it matters: The original phrase repeats the same idea unnecessarily.
- 4. Describe road freight Original: goods brought through road transport Suggested revision: goods transported by road Why it matters: Goods are transported by a mode rather than brought through it.
- 5. Use chart language Original: swelled Suggested revision: rose Why it matters: Rose is a more precise neutral verb for an increase in a graph.
- 6. Use accurate verb Original: Water shipping distributed Suggested revision: Water transport carried Why it matters: A transport mode carries goods rather than distributes an amount.
- 7. Fix contrast clause Original: despite the figure of goods carried was roughly slower than water transport Suggested revision: although the quantity carried was much lower than by water Why it matters: Although correctly introduces a finite contrast clause, and quantities are lower rather than slower.
- 8. Name the mode Original: media Suggested revision: transport Why it matters: Media does not refer naturally to a method of freight transport here.
- 9. Correct starting value Original: about 2 million tons Suggested revision: about 5 million tonnes Why it matters: The pipeline begins at approximately 5 million tonnes in 1974.
- 10. Match the endpoint Original: about 21 million tons Suggested revision: about 20 million tonnes Why it matters: The pipeline is shown at approximately 20 million tonnes in 2002.
- 11. Use quantity correctly Original: the number of commodities Suggested revision: the quantity of goods Why it matters: An uncounted mass measured in tonnes requires quantity rather than number.
- 12. Fix the preposition Original: through rail mode Suggested revision: by rail Why it matters: By rail is the standard construction for this mode of transport.
Suggested Rewrites
- the goods transportation the transportation of goods
- through various modes of transportation namely by four modes of transport, namely
- types of transportation types modes of transport
- goods brought through road transport goods transported by road
- swelled rose
- Water shipping distributed Water transport carried
Why this response received Band 6.5
The response is strongest in its broad coverage of all four transport modes and its generally clear organisation by trend. Its main limitation is an incomplete overview and selective treatment of the graph, with road's continuing dominance and several important intermediate fluctuations omitted, alongside a few imprecise figures. Prioritise a fuller overview and sharper comparisons across the whole period, then use more natural transport vocabulary and tighter sentence structures.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
The response identifies the overall rise and reports broadly accurate start and end figures for every mode, but it omits road's sustained dominance and simplifies several fluctuations.
Add an overview comparing the highest and lowest modes, then select key turning points such as water's late dip and rail's fall and recovery.
Coherence and Cohesion
The introduction, overview, and mode-based detail paragraphs create a clear progression, although some long sentences and linking choices weaken the flow.
Group road with water and rail with pipeline more deliberately, and use shorter sentences to make comparisons easier to follow.
Lexical Resource
There is sufficient range for trends and quantities, but awkward collocations such as goods carrying, pipeline media, and rail mode reduce precision.
Use standard Task 1 combinations such as goods transported by road, waterborne freight, and rail freight.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A mix of simple and complex structures communicates the main information, though article, clause, and preposition errors recur.
Focus on controlling comparison clauses and avoid compressed constructions such as despite the figure of goods carried was roughly slower.
Write this task while it is fresh
Try the same task now. It helps you remember the feedback and write better next time.
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.
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.