The pie charts show the main reasons for migration to and from the UK in 2014. Main reasons for Migration to & from the UK – 2014
Sample Response
The first pie chart classifies the main reason for different nationalities to migrate to the UK while the second one shows the reasons for English to leave the country in 2014. Overall, study and job were two predominant reasons for people to migrate to and from the UK. As is stated, almost one-third of the people immigrated to the UK in 2014 for academic study and that comprised the highest percentages of immigrants in the UK. 28% foreigners came to work for a UK company while 14% were there to get a job. Interestingly, one out of ten came to join friends or family members. 7% of them stated no apparent reason for their migration and the remaining 10% came for reasons that are not listed in the diagram. On the other hand, the highest percentage of British migrated to other countries for their study and just over one-fourth were hired by foreign companies. It is worth noticing that the primary reasons for immigration and emigration to and from the UK have a similar pattern. 15% British moved to other countries to search for a job and 14% moved to accompany someone they knew. Remaining 17% left the UK for unspecified reasons.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Use chart reporting phrase Original: As is stated Suggested revision: As shown Why it matters: 'As shown' refers more naturally to information displayed in a chart.
- 2. Use concise noun Original: the people immigrated Suggested revision: immigrants came Why it matters: The concise noun avoids the awkward phrase 'the people immigrated'.
- 3. Match category label Original: academic Suggested revision: formal Why it matters: The chart labels this category 'Formal study'.
- 4. Use singular form Original: highest percentages Suggested revision: largest percentage Why it matters: A single 31% share requires a singular noun.
- 5. Clarify migration measure Original: of immigrants in the UK Suggested revision: of immigration to the UK Why it matters: The percentage represents reasons for immigration, not a share of all immigrants residing in the UK.
- 6. Add partitive form Original: 28% foreigners Suggested revision: 28% of immigrants Why it matters: A percentage referring to a group requires 'of' before the group noun.
- 7. Avoid unsupported detail Original: to work for a UK company Suggested revision: because they had a definite job Why it matters: The chart states 'Definite job' and does not specify a UK company.
- 8. Match visual category Original: were there to get a job Suggested revision: came to look for work Why it matters: The 14% category is 'Looking for work', not already getting a job.
- 9. Use exact percentage Original: one out of ten Suggested revision: 10% of immigrants Why it matters: Using the displayed percentage makes the comparison more direct and precise.
- 10. Clarify reference Original: them Suggested revision: immigrants Why it matters: The explicit noun removes any ambiguity in the pronoun reference.
- 11. Use category wording Original: reasons that are not listed in the diagram Suggested revision: other reasons Why it matters: The concise phrase matches the chart's 'Other' category.
- 12. Add partitive phrase Original: 15% British Suggested revision: 15% of Britons Why it matters: The percentage needs 'of' before the noun identifying the group.
Suggested Rewrites
- As is stated As shown
- the people immigrated immigrants came
- academic formal
- highest percentages largest percentage
- of immigrants in the UK of immigration to the UK
- 28% foreigners 28% of immigrants
Why this response received Band 7.0
The response gives a clear overview, selects nearly all major categories, and reports the percentages accurately, with a useful comparison between immigration and emigration patterns. The main limitation is imprecise reference to people and categories, including “English” for UK emigrants and the merging of two distinct categories into an unspecified 17%. Prioritise naming groups precisely and distinguishing “no reason stated” from “other.”
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Detailed feedback by IELTS writing criterion after the annotated essay.
Task Achievement
The response accurately reports the principal proportions and provides a clear overview, though the two smallest emigration categories are combined.
Report “no reason stated” and “other” separately and describe UK emigrants without assuming they are English.
Coherence and Cohesion
The response follows a clear chart-by-chart progression and uses cohesive devices effectively, despite limited paragraph separation.
Separate the overview and the two sets of details into distinct paragraphs for a more visibly controlled structure.
Lexical Resource
There is a good range of migration and comparison vocabulary, but several references and collocations are imprecise or awkward.
Use precise terms such as “immigrants,” “emigrants,” and “people from the UK,” while avoiding loose labels for national groups.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Varied sentence structures are generally clear, but missing articles and determiners and awkward noun phrases occur noticeably.
Check quantifier structures, especially forms such as “28% of foreigners” and “the remaining 17%.”
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IELTS Academic Writing Task 1
The pie charts show the main reasons for migration to and from the UK in 2014. Main reasons for Migration to & from the UK – 2014
Your response
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