The charts below give information about USA marriage and divorce rates between 1970 and 2000, and the marital status of adult Americans in two of the years.
Sample Response
The provided charts compare the rate of marriage and divorce and marital status of adults Americans between 1970 and 2000.
As can be observed, marriage in 1970 and 1980 remained unchanged, but after that, it started falling. In 1970 and 1980, there were 2.5 million marriages, equally. However, it decreased to almost 2.3 million in 1990 and 2 million in 2000 respectively. The lowest divorce rate was recorded in 1970 and 2000 with 1 million marriages in both years. Highest divorce (1.4 million) occurred in 1990, which decreased significantly to 1.1 million in 1990.
It is noticeable that, in 1970, highest proportions of adult Americans, precisely 70%, were married. On the other hand, 59% were married in 2000. Lowest divorce percentage was recorded at 2% and 8% in 1970 and 2000 respectively in both years. Overall, the number of people getting married had decreased with an increased divorce rate in 2000 in the USA.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Use count terms Original: the rate of marriage and divorce Suggested revision: the numbers of marriages and divorces Why it matters: The first chart reports numbers in millions rather than rates.
- 2. Add the article Original: and marital status Suggested revision: and the marital status Why it matters: The specific marital-status information requires the definite article.
- 3. Correct adjective order Original: adults Suggested revision: adult Why it matters: Use the singular noun as an attributive modifier before Americans.
- 4. Name the quantity Original: marriage in 1970 and 1980 Suggested revision: the number of marriages in 1970 and 1980 Why it matters: The chart compares marriage counts, not the abstract concept of marriage.
- 5. Clarify the reference Original: after that, it started falling Suggested revision: afterwards, this figure began to fall Why it matters: Naming the figure makes the reference and progression clearer.
- 6. Avoid repetition Original: In 1970 and 1980, there were Suggested revision: In each of those years, there were Why it matters: This wording links the sentence to the unchanged figures just stated.
- 7. Remove misplaced adverb Original: marriages, equally Suggested revision: marriages Why it matters: Equally is not grammatical in this position, and each year already expresses the meaning.
- 8. Clarify time and reference Original: However, it decreased Suggested revision: After 1980, this figure decreased Why it matters: The revision states when the fall began and identifies the figure clearly.
- 9. Correct the figure Original: almost 2.3 million Suggested revision: approximately 2.4 million Why it matters: The 1990 marriage bar is about 2.4 million.
- 10. Remove respectively Original: 2 million in 2000 respectively Suggested revision: 2 million in 2000 Why it matters: Respectively is redundant because each value is already paired directly with its year.
- 11. Remove the comma Original: It is noticeable that, Suggested revision: It is noticeable that Why it matters: A comma should not separate that from the clause it introduces.
- 12. Fix article and number Original: highest proportions Suggested revision: the highest proportion Why it matters: A single 1970 category needs the definite article and singular proportion.
Suggested Rewrites
- the rate of marriage and divorce the numbers of marriages and divorces
- and marital status and the marital status
- adults adult
- marriage in 1970 and 1980 the number of marriages in 1970 and 1980
- after that, it started falling afterwards, this figure began to fall
- In 1970 and 1980, there were In each of those years, there were
Why this response received Band 5.5
The response is clearly divided between the two charts and reports several central figures accurately, especially the decline in marriages and the dominant married category. However, the overview is imprecise, two marital-status categories are omitted, and the divorce discussion contains a wrong peak year and a contradictory comparison. The priority is to select all major trends first, then verify every year, category, and unit against the visuals before writing.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Detailed feedback by IELTS writing criterion after the annotated essay.
Task Achievement
The response addresses both charts and identifies some main patterns, but its overview is unclear and key omissions and inaccurate divorce data limit achievement.
State a precise overall comparison and cover all marital-status categories while checking every figure and year against the charts.
Coherence and Cohesion
The information is arranged logically by chart and generally progresses clearly, although contradictory details weaken the flow within the first body paragraph.
Use one consistent comparison sequence for each series and ensure that each reference word and year links unambiguously to the preceding figure.
Lexical Resource
The vocabulary is sufficient for describing trends and proportions, but imprecise choices such as confusing rates, numbers, marriages, and divorces reduce accuracy.
Use exact chart language such as number of divorces, proportion married, remained stable, and peaked, with the correct noun for every figure.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A mix of simple and complex structures communicates the main meaning, but recurring article, agreement, word-form, and sentence-construction errors reduce control.
Proofread noun phrases and comparisons, especially articles, plural forms, subject-verb agreement, and the grammatical subject of each trend sentence.
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IELTS Academic Writing Task 1
The charts below give information about USA marriage and divorce rates between 1970 and 2000, and the marital status of adult Americans in two of the years.
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.