The charts below show the main reasons why students chose a particular university in the UK, in 1997 and 2007.

Same questionCompare 3 different answers (Band 7–8)

Sample Response

1

The two pie charts compare five main reasons whyfor which students made university choices inbetween 1997 and 2007. It is clear that students were most concernedconcerned most about suitable degree courses in both given years. While proximity to their parental homeparental home and suitable degree courses both saw a rise in proportionproportion rise in the period given, the opposite change happened to the other threeother three reasons. In 1997, the suitabilitysuitablility of degree courses made up the largest proportion (35%), and maintained this top positionkept this highest position in 2007 with a slight 2% increase. Quality of teaching also experienced a moderate growth, from 15% in 1997 to 18% in 2007. Concerns about a short distanceshort distance to parents' homeparental house had the least significance in 1997, taking up only 10%, after which the figure more than doublednearly doubled to 22% in 2007. Meanwhile, the other two Deletepivotal reasons both experienced a reductionboth experienced reduction to varying degreeswith different extents. Good sports and social activities accounted for 19% in 1997, and then dropped to the bottom of the list, at 6% in 2007. A milder decrease can be found in the quality of resourcesin quality of resources, with the figure slidingslid from 21% to 17%.

Overall assessment

Why this response received Band 7.0

The report provides a well-organized comparison of data points across both years, supported by precise figures for each reason. However, the overview contains a minor factual inconsistency regarding which categories increased over the period. To improve, ensure summary statements accurately capture trends across all categories before detailing specific numbers.

Band score breakdown

IELTS Writing Criteria Scores

TA

Task Achievement

6.5
Scoring rule

Key details and figures are reported accurately, but the overview incorrectly states that only two categories increased when three actually grew.

Next step

Verify overview summary statements against all data points to ensure trend generalizations are completely accurate.

CC

Coherence and Cohesion

7.0
Scoring rule

Information is logically grouped by trends and categories, with clear paragraphing and smooth transitional phrases.

Next step

Maintain logical grouping while ensuring transitional links between paragraph descriptions remain precise and seamless.

LR

Lexical Resource

7.0
Scoring rule

A good range of topic-specific vocabulary and flexible phrasing is used to describe proportions and trends effectively.

Next step

Refine word choices and grammatical collocations, such as correcting past tense form uses like 'slid' to 'sliding' or 'slid'.

GRA

Grammatical Range and Accuracy

6.5
Scoring rule

A variety of complex sentence structures is produced with good control, alongside occasional minor grammatical slips.

Next step

Proofread prepositional phrases and verb form agreements to eliminate minor tense and structural inaccuracies.

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IELTS Academic Writing Task 1

The charts below show the main reasons why students chose a particular university in the UK, in 1997 and 2007.

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