The charts below give information on the ages of the populations of Yemen and Italy in 2000 and projections for 2050.
Sample Response
The charts illustrate the proportion of people of different ages in 2000 in two countries: Yemen and Italy and also forecast the data for the year 2050.
According to the charts, the main age of the population in Yemen will change from people below 15 years old to those between 15 and 59 years old. However, people who were 65 years old and more comprised the least portion of the population in Yemen in 2000 and in 2050 this same trend will persist.
The trend in Italy is slightly different. Although people who were between 15 and 59 years old were the biggest population in Italy, the number will decrease sharply from 2000 to 2050. 61.6% of people were in the range of 15 and 59 years old, but it is predicted that in 2050, people in this certain range of age will only take 46.2%. On the other hand, the number of people at 60 years old and more will increase significantly. The proportion of people at 60 years old and above in 2050 is almost as twice as in 2000.
In summary, the trends of the change on the ages of people in Yemen and Italy in 2000 and projections for 2050 are different.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Use correct age band Original: 65 years old and more Suggested revision: 60 years old and over Why it matters: The chart's oldest category begins at age 60, not 65.
- 2. Use chart vocabulary Original: least portion Suggested revision: smallest proportion Why it matters: “Smallest proportion” is the accurate collocation for a percentage share.
- 3. Mark the projection Original: this same trend will persist Suggested revision: this pattern is projected to persist Why it matters: The revised wording makes clear that the later figure is a projection.
- 4. Use concise age phrasing Original: people who were between 15 and 59 years old Suggested revision: people aged 15 to 59 Why it matters: “Aged 15 to 59” is the standard concise form for an age range.
- 5. Name the age group Original: biggest population Suggested revision: largest age group Why it matters: The chart compares age groups as proportions, not separate populations.
- 6. Report a proportion Original: the number will decrease Suggested revision: this proportion will decrease Why it matters: The chart gives percentages, so “proportion” is more accurate than an absolute number.
- 7. Correct the age range Original: in the range of 15 and 59 years old Suggested revision: aged 15 to 59 Why it matters: The revised form states the age interval grammatically and concisely.
- 8. Use natural age term Original: this certain range of age Suggested revision: this age range Why it matters: “This age range” is the standard expression for the category.
- 9. Use percentage verb Original: will only take 46.2% Suggested revision: will account for only 46.2% Why it matters: A group accounts for a percentage; it does not “take” one.
- 10. Report the measured share Original: the number of people at 60 years old and more Suggested revision: the proportion of people aged 60 and over Why it matters: The chart measures a proportion and labels the category as age 60 and over.
- 11. Fix comparative structure Original: almost as twice as in 2000 Suggested revision: almost twice the figure in 2000 Why it matters: “Twice” is used directly without “as” in this comparative structure.
- 12. Clarify age distribution Original: trends of the change on the ages Suggested revision: projected changes in the age distributions Why it matters: The revised phrase accurately describes changes in population shares by age.
Suggested Rewrites
- 65 years old and more 60 years old and over
- least portion smallest proportion
- this same trend will persist this pattern is projected to persist
- people who were between 15 and 59 years old people aged 15 to 59
- biggest population largest age group
- the number will decrease this proportion will decrease
Why this response received Band 6.5
The response is logically organised and clearly explains the principal directional changes, particularly the contraction of Italy's working-age group and the growth of its oldest group. Coverage is selective, however: it gives few Yemen figures, omits Italy's under-15 trend, mislabels the oldest category as 65+, and offers an overly general summary; the priority is to compare every age group across both countries using accurate labels and selected data.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
The response identifies several major trends accurately, but the overview is vague and important categories and figures are omitted or mislabeled.
State a specific comparative overview and support it with selected percentages for all three age groups, using the chart's correct 60+ label.
Coherence and Cohesion
Information is arranged in a clear sequence with distinct country-focused paragraphs and generally effective progression.
Make the final overview more purposeful by synthesising the main contrast rather than merely stating that the trends differ.
Lexical Resource
The vocabulary adequately describes proportions and change, though phrases such as 'main age', 'will only take', and 'almost as twice as' lack precision.
Use established statistical expressions such as 'largest age group', 'account for', and 'almost twice the proportion'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Most sentences are well controlled, and varied complex structures communicate relationships clearly despite a few awkward comparative and reference forms.
Refine comparative constructions and noun references, especially by replacing 'almost as twice as' with a grammatically complete proportion comparison.
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IELTS Academic Writing Task 1
The charts below give information on the ages of the populations of Yemen and Italy in 2000 and projections for 2050.
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.