The pie charts below give information about world population in 1900 and 2000.
Sample Response
The pie charts illustrate changes in the population of different areas of the world between 1900 and 2000. The major regions are represented as percentages of the total world population. From 1900 to 2000, the percentage of people living in Africa more than doubled from 4.5% to 10%, while Latin America’s proportion almost tripled in the same period. On the other hand, the percentage of population in Europe and Asia decreased over the last century. Europe’s percentage dropped from 25% to 14%, while Asia declined from 60% to 54%. North America’s percentage however, remained constant at 5% in 1900 and 2000. The Middle East and North Africa, a new category in 2000, represented 6% of world population. Overall, this represents a huge increase in the number of humans on the planet, from 1.6 billion to 6 billion in just one century. Most of this population growth has occurred in developing countries.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Correct Africa's figure Original: 4.5% Suggested revision: 4% Why it matters: The 1900 chart labels Africa at 4%, not 4.5%.
- 2. Include the Caribbean Original: Latin America’s proportion Suggested revision: the share for Latin America and the Caribbean Why it matters: The chart's category combines Latin America with the Caribbean in both years.
- 3. Name the changing shares Original: the percentage of population in Europe and Asia Suggested revision: the shares of the world's population in Europe and Asia Why it matters: The regions' shares of world population decreased, rather than their populations necessarily falling.
- 4. Describe the proportion Original: Asia declined Suggested revision: Asia's share fell Why it matters: This wording accurately identifies the percentage as the quantity that changed.
- 5. Punctuate the interrupter Original: North America’s percentage however, Suggested revision: North America’s percentage, however, Why it matters: The parenthetical adverb requires a comma on both sides.
- 6. Add the article Original: of world population Suggested revision: of the world’s population Why it matters: The definite article is needed before this specific population reference.
- 7. Use concise terminology Original: number of humans on the planet Suggested revision: world population Why it matters: The shorter term is more formal and precise in a statistical report.
- 8. Sentence rewrite Original: The pie charts illustrate changes in the population of different areas of the world between 1900 and 2000. Suggested revision: The pie charts compare the percentage distribution of the world’s population across regions in 1900 and 2000. Why it matters: The charts compare regional shares at two points rather than directly showing changes in regional population totals.
- 9. Remove unsupported claim Original: Most of this population growth has occurred in developing countries. Suggested revision: Remove this sentence. Why it matters: The charts do not classify regions as developing countries or show where most absolute growth occurred.
- 10. Move the overview earlier Suggested revision: Place a concise overview after the introduction that contrasts the falling shares of Asia and Europe with the gains elsewhere and notes the rise in total world population. Why it matters: Presenting the main patterns before the detailed figures would improve progression and make the overview more complete.
Suggested Rewrites
- 4.5% 4%
- Latin America’s proportion the share for Latin America and the Caribbean
- the percentage of population in Europe and Asia the shares of the world's population in Europe and Asia
- Asia declined Asia's share fell
- North America’s percentage however, North America’s percentage, however,
- of world population of the world’s population
Why this response received Band 7.5
The response gives a clear, concise account of the main regional shifts and uses comparisons effectively, with Europe, Asia, Africa, Latin America, and North America all addressed. Its main limitation is precision: Africa begins at 4%, not 4.5%, the unchanged Others share is omitted, and the final developing-country claim is broader than the chart labels. Prioritise exact values and a fully visual-based overview.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
The main changes and totals are selected effectively, but one starting value is inaccurate and one stable category is omitted.
Report Africa's starting share as 4%, mention that Others remained at 3%, and keep the overview tied directly to the displayed categories.
Coherence and Cohesion
The response follows a clear sequence from rising regions to declining and stable ones, with comparisons easy to follow.
Use a distinct overview paragraph and a separate detail paragraph so the hierarchy of information is clearer.
Lexical Resource
Vocabulary is varied and generally precise, with effective use of proportion, tripled, declined, constant, and represented.
Prefer the more exact phrase share of the world population and avoid broad labels such as developing countries when the chart does not use them.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A good range of complex comparative structures is produced accurately, with only minor punctuation and phrasing lapses.
Set off however with commas and check article and preposition choices in phrases such as the percentage of the population.
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IELTS Academic Writing Task 1
The pie charts below give information about world population in 1900 and 2000.
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.