The chart shows the proportion of people in a UK survey carried out in three different years who said they were interested in certain sports.
Sample Response
The bar chart shows the percentage of UK residents interested in six different sports, in three years (1995, 2000 and 2005).
It is clear that walking was by far the most popular physical activity in all surveyed years, while golf was the least popular activity. Additionally, the percentages of people who enjoyed walking, swimming and rugby increased, whereas the figures for those who enjoyed other sports decreased over the measured years.
In 1995, walking was the most popular activity, chosen by 40% of the survey participants, while playing snooker and tennis accounted for around 30%. In contrast, about 23% of people chose swimming, while only 18% said they were interested in golf. Meanwhile, approximately 25% of survey respondents chose rugby as their preferred sport.
In 2005, slightly more people preferred walking, with the figure rising to just under 45%, but there was a significant decline in the figures for tennis and snooker, to about 22% each. The figures for golf remained the same, at around 15%, as opposed to the figures for swimming and rugby, which experienced considerable gains in popularity to over 25% each.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Link the time frame Original: in six different sports, in three years Suggested revision: in six different sports across three years Why it matters: The revised preposition connects the categories and survey years more smoothly.
- 2. Match the survey measure Original: people who enjoyed walking, swimming and rugby Suggested revision: people interested in walking, swimming and rugby Why it matters: The chart measures interest rather than whether respondents enjoyed each activity.
- 3. Name the declining sports Original: those who enjoyed other sports Suggested revision: those interested in snooker, tennis and golf Why it matters: Naming the categories makes the overview precise and consistent with the chart.
- 4. Define the comparison period Original: over the measured years Suggested revision: overall between 1995 and 2005 Why it matters: This wording makes clear that the claim compares the first and final years.
- 5. Describe interest accurately Original: chosen by 40% of the survey participants Suggested revision: attracting interest from about 40% of the survey participants Why it matters: The survey records interest, not a single chosen or preferred activity.
- 6. Use a valid data phrase Original: playing snooker and tennis accounted for around 30% Suggested revision: interest in snooker and tennis stood at around 30% Why it matters: Percentages refer to respondents' interest rather than the activities themselves accounting for a share.
- 7. Avoid changing the measure Original: chose rugby as their preferred sport Suggested revision: said they were interested in rugby Why it matters: The chart reports interest and does not establish respondents' single preferred sport.
- 8. Report interest, not preference Original: slightly more people preferred walking Suggested revision: interest in walking rose slightly Why it matters: The revised wording accurately reflects the quantity measured by the survey.
- 9. Specify the survey years Original: in all surveyed years Suggested revision: in all three survey years Why it matters: The revision refers explicitly to the three time points shown in the chart.
- 10. Define the comparison set Original: the least popular activity Suggested revision: the least popular of the six activities Why it matters: The expanded phrase makes the scope of the comparison explicit.
- 11. Give a precise estimate Original: with the figure rising to just under 45% Suggested revision: with its figure rising to about 44% Why it matters: The chart places the 2005 figure at approximately 44%.
- 12. Use a direct comparison Original: but there was a significant decline in the figures for tennis and snooker Suggested revision: while the figures for tennis and snooker declined Why it matters: The direct verb makes the contrast with walking more concise.
Suggested Rewrites
- in six different sports, in three years in six different sports across three years
- people who enjoyed walking, swimming and rugby people interested in walking, swimming and rugby
- those who enjoyed other sports those interested in snooker, tennis and golf
- over the measured years overall between 1995 and 2005
- chosen by 40% of the survey participants attracting interest from about 40% of the survey participants
- playing snooker and tennis accounted for around 30% interest in snooker and tennis stood at around 30%
Why this response received Band 7.0
The response gives a clear overview and makes effective, mostly accurate comparisons between the starting and ending years, supported by varied vocabulary and well-controlled complex sentences. The central limitation is incomplete task coverage: the 2000 results are almost entirely omitted, and golf is inaccurately described as unchanged. Add a concise comparison of the middle year and verify every trend statement against all three bars.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
A clear overview and relevant comparisons for 1995 and 2005 are provided, but the 2000 data are omitted and the claim that golf remained unchanged is inaccurate.
Include the 2000 figures, highlighting swimming's peak and rugby's low point, and verify the golf trend across all three years.
Coherence and Cohesion
Information progresses logically from overview to detailed comparisons, with well-controlled paragraphing and cohesive links despite the missing middle-year detail.
Organize the two detail paragraphs around rising and falling sports so all three years can be integrated more evenly.
Lexical Resource
The response uses a varied and generally precise range of trend and comparison vocabulary, with only minor repetition and occasional imprecision.
Maintain this range while distinguishing carefully between being interested in a sport and choosing it as a preferred activity.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A wide range of complex comparative structures is used accurately, and nearly all sentences are error-free and easy to follow.
Refine minor punctuation and attachment choices, especially unnecessary commas and long final clauses, to make the syntax even cleaner.
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IELTS Academic Writing Task 1
The chart shows the proportion of people in a UK survey carried out in three different years who said they were interested in certain sports.
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.