The charts compare the number of people per household in the UK in 1981 and 2001
Sample Response
The two stacked bar charts detail the UK’s household demographics in 1981 and 2001. The initial impression from the chart is that 1-person and 2-person households were the second most and the most common family classifications in both given years, and they also experienced rises in percentages. The remaining groups made up smaller proportions and underwent corresponding drops, with the 6-person household being the least popular one.
In 1981, 2-person household made up 31%, ranking first among the given household type, after which the rate underwent a mild rise to 34% in 2001. A similar picture is evident in 1-person household, with its figure accounting for 17% and thereafter rising to 26% in 2001.
Opposite patterns could be observed with regard to the remaining groups. In 1981 the shares of 3-person, 4-person, 5-person and 6-person were 20%, 18%, 8% and 6% respectively. Over the next 20 years, they all decreased by similar margins (of around 2-3%) to 17%, 15%, 6% and 2%.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Use precise trend term Original: corresponding drops Suggested revision: declines Why it matters: "Declines" describes the downward changes more directly and naturally.
- 2. Describe chart category Original: least popular one Suggested revision: smallest group Why it matters: The chart shows proportions rather than household popularity.
- 3. Use plural noun Original: household Suggested revision: households Why it matters: A plural category label is needed when referring generally to this household type.
- 4. Match plural reference Original: type Suggested revision: types Why it matters: The comparison ranks this category among several household types.
- 5. Simplify trend wording Original: after which the rate underwent a mild rise Suggested revision: and then rose slightly Why it matters: The revision expresses the numerical change more naturally and concisely.
- 6. Repair category grammar Original: in 1-person household, with its figure accounting Suggested revision: for one-person households, which accounted Why it matters: The revision uses the correct preposition and a grammatical plural category reference.
- 7. Clarify contrast Original: Opposite patterns could be observed Suggested revision: By contrast, the opposite pattern was observed Why it matters: An explicit linking phrase makes the contrast with the preceding increases clearer.
- 8. Sentence rewrite Original: The initial impression from the chart is that 1-person and 2-person households were the second most and the most common family classifications in both given years, and they also experienced rises in percentages. Suggested revision: Overall, two-person households were the most common in both years, while one-person households ranked second, and both groups increased their shares. Why it matters: This states the key ranking and trend from both charts more clearly and accurately.
- 9. Sentence rewrite Original: Over the next 20 years, they all decreased by similar margins (of around 2-3%) to 17%, 15%, 6% and 2%. Suggested revision: Over the next 20 years, their shares fell to 17%, 15%, 6% and 2%, representing decreases of 3, 3, 2 and 4 percentage points, respectively. Why it matters: The six-person category fell by four percentage points, so the stated two-to-three-point range is inaccurate.
Suggested Rewrites
- corresponding drops declines
- least popular one smallest group
- household households
- type types
- after which the rate underwent a mild rise and then rose slightly
- in 1-person household, with its figure accounting for one-person households, which accounted
Why this response received Band 7.5
The response gives a clear, accurate overview and covers every household size with well-selected comparisons and figures. Its main limitation is language precision: several collocations and noun phrases sound unnatural, and the claim that all decreases were around two to three percentage points overlooks the four-point fall for six-person homes. Prioritise more natural comparative phrasing and qualify changes exactly.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
A clear overview identifies the dominant household sizes and overall shifts, while the detailed figures are almost entirely accurate.
State that the six-person share fell by four percentage points rather than grouping it with the two-to-three-point declines.
Coherence and Cohesion
Information progresses logically from the overview to rising categories and then declining categories, with effective referencing.
Use simpler transitions between the two detail paragraphs to make the contrast feel less formulaic.
Lexical Resource
Vocabulary is varied and generally precise, though phrases such as ‘family classifications’ and ‘underwent a mild rise’ are unnatural.
Prefer natural combinations such as ‘household types’ and ‘rose slightly’ when describing categories and changes.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Complex structures are well controlled, but missing articles and plural marking recur in phrases such as ‘2-person household’.
Review countable noun phrases so each category is written as ‘a two-person household’ or ‘two-person households’ as appropriate.
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IELTS Academic Writing Task 1
The charts compare the number of people per household in the UK in 1981 and 2001
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.