The graph below shows waste recycling rates in the U.S. from 1960 to 2011.
Sample Response
The line graph elucidates information pertaining to the total waste recovery (units in a million tons) and percentage of recycling in the US between 1960 and 2011.
Overall, it can be asserted that the total waste recovery was at its zenith in 2011, while in 1960, it was minuscule. Also, the recycling percentage pattern was the same as the total waste recovery, and both categories showed an upward trend.
Essentially, in 1960 and 1965, the total waste recovery in the us was 5.6 and 6.5 million tons, and the percentage of recycling was 6.4% and 6.2%, respectively. Furthermore, in 1970 the total waste recovery was 8 million tons which slightly increased by 1.3 million tons in 1975, whereas the recycling percentage was 6.6%, then rose slightly to 7.3% in 1975. Similarly, in 1980 and 1985, the total recovery augmented from 14.5 to 16.7, and the recycling percentage increased from 9.6 % to 10.1%, respectively.
Also, there was substantial growth in total waste recovery by 33.2, 55.8 and 69.5 million tons; however, the data for parentage recycling was 16%, 25.7% and 28.5%, respectively. Moreover, the total waste recovery proliferated prodigiously to 79.8 million tons in 2005 and 86.9 million tons in 2011, and the recycling percentage soared slowly to 31.4%in 2005 and 34.7% in 2011.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Use concise reporting verb Original: elucidates information pertaining to Suggested revision: shows Why it matters: Shows is clearer and more natural for introducing information in a graph.
- 2. Fix unit phrase Original: units in a million tons Suggested revision: measured in millions of tons Why it matters: The plural form and participial phrase express the measurement correctly.
- 3. Add article Original: and percentage of recycling in the US Suggested revision: and the recycling percentage in the US Why it matters: The second measured quantity needs an article and a more natural noun phrase.
- 4. Use neutral graph language Original: at its zenith Suggested revision: at its highest level Why it matters: The replacement is more precise and appropriately neutral for data description.
- 5. State the comparison Original: it was minuscule Suggested revision: it was at its lowest level Why it matters: Lowest accurately describes the 1960 value relative to the rest of the period.
- 6. Qualify trend comparison Original: the recycling percentage pattern was the same as the total waste recovery Suggested revision: the percentage recycling trend broadly followed the trend in total waste recovery Why it matters: The two measures share an overall rise, but their movements are not identical.
- 7. Name data measures Original: categories Suggested revision: measures Why it matters: The lines represent two measures rather than categories.
- 8. Remove vague linker Original: Essentially, Suggested revision: Delete Why it matters: This linker does not express a useful relationship with the preceding overview.
- 9. Match plural figures Original: the total waste recovery in the us was Suggested revision: the total waste recovery figures in the US were Why it matters: Two values require a plural subject and verb, and US must be capitalized.
- 10. Match plural percentages Original: the percentage of recycling was Suggested revision: the recycling percentages were Why it matters: Two percentage values require a plural noun and verb.
- 11. Use natural trend verb Original: the total recovery augmented Suggested revision: total recovery increased Why it matters: Increased is the standard verb for an upward numerical change.
- 12. Include the unit Original: from 14.5 to 16.7 Suggested revision: from 14.5 to 16.7 million tons Why it matters: The recovery figures need their unit to remain clear.
Suggested Rewrites
- elucidates information pertaining to shows
- units in a million tons measured in millions of tons
- and percentage of recycling in the US and the recycling percentage in the US
- at its zenith at its highest level
- it was minuscule it was at its lowest level
- the recycling percentage pattern was the same as the total waste recovery the percentage recycling trend broadly followed the trend in total waste recovery
Why this response received Band 7.0
The response accurately reports almost every plotted value and provides a clear overall upward trend, supported by logically sequenced paragraphs. Its main limitation is that it lists data more than it synthesises change, while several inflated or inaccurate choices such as 'proliferated prodigiously' and 'parentage recycling' reduce precision. Prioritise grouping the early and rapid-growth periods and using neutral, exact trend vocabulary.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
The overview identifies the dominant upward movement and the report includes nearly all values accurately, though key phases of change are insufficiently synthesised.
Highlight the slow growth before 1985 and the much steeper rises thereafter instead of mainly listing consecutive values.
Coherence and Cohesion
The report follows a clear chronological progression, but repetitive linking and dense sequences of figures make the development somewhat mechanical.
Group years by meaningful trend phases and use fewer routine connectors such as 'Furthermore', 'Similarly', and 'Moreover'.
Lexical Resource
The response demonstrates broad vocabulary, but several inflated, misspelled, or inaccurate choices weaken naturalness and precision.
Prefer neutral chart language such as 'rose sharply' and correct inaccurate forms such as 'parentage recycling'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Complex sentences are generally controlled and meaning remains clear, despite occasional problems with articles, punctuation, capitalization, and phrasing.
Proofread sentence boundaries, spacing around percentages, and noun phrases so accurate structures remain consistently polished.
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IELTS Academic Writing Task 1
The graph below shows waste recycling rates in the U.S. from 1960 to 2011.
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.