The graph below shows the area of land from which grain was harvested.
Sample Response
The line graph gives data on the area harvested for graingrain harvesting areas worldwide over a period of 46 years, beginning in 1950commencing from 1950. As an overall trend, the area of land in which grain was cultivatedthe seed was cultivated throughout the world increased during the period and land programmes initiated by the USSR, the increase in grain pricesgrain price increase and retrenchment affected the land area in which grain was harvestedfarmers grew the crops. As can be seen from the given line graph, just under 600 million hectares of landjust below 600 million hectares of the land area was used to grow different grains in 1950 and the start of the USSR Virgin Lands ProgrammeUSSR Virgin land programme initiation positively affected the total arealands devoted to cultivating grains. This programme was initiated around 1955 and as a result, the total harvested areatotal cultivable lands increased to around 650 million hectares in 1960. In the next ten years, the total area harvested for grain graduallygrain harvesting lands gradually increased with some minor fluctuations. The grain prices doubledgrain price doubles around 1973in 1975 and due to this the land for grain harvesting also rose to a peak of about 740 million hectares in the early 1980ssoared to the peak with approximately 750 million hectares. The retrenchment negatively affectedaffected negatively to the land area for grain harvesting and reduced the harvested area toand reduced the land to around 700 million hectares in 1990. With some oscillations, the total area harvested for grain stoodtotal grain harvesting lands stood at just over 700 million hectares after 1990.
Why this response received Band 7.0
The response presents a clear chronological account of the broad rise in harvested land and supports it with several well-chosen figures. Its main limitation is imprecise timing and interpretation around the mid-1970s rise, the early-1980s peak, and later retrenchment, while some awkward grammar and collocation reduce polish. Prioritise matching turning points to exact years and values from the graph, then proofread verb tense and preposition choices.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
A clear overview and relevant figures describe the long-term rise and subsequent decline, although some turning points are dated or linked imprecisely.
State the early-1980s peak and the later sharp fall with their correct years and approximate values rather than implying the peak occurred in 1975.
Coherence and Cohesion
The report progresses logically from the overall trend through the major chronological stages, with generally effective referencing and linking.
Separate the overview more clearly from the detailed chronology and reduce repeated phrasing about grain-harvesting land.
Lexical Resource
Vocabulary is varied and suitably academic, including precise trend language, though several collocations such as plural lands and cultivable lands are awkward.
Use natural data-reporting combinations such as harvested area, land devoted to grain, and fell to instead of less precise alternatives.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A useful range of complex structures is mostly controlled, but recurring tense, article, and preposition errors weaken accuracy.
Keep past tense consistent and correct structures such as affected the area negatively rather than affected negatively to the area.
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IELTS Academic Writing Task 1
The graph below shows the area of land from which grain was harvested.
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.