The given pie charts compare the expenses in 7 different categories in 1966 and 1996 by American Citizens.
Sample Response
The pie charts show changes in American spending patterns between 1966 and 1996. Generally speaking, Americans spent the highest proportion of their money on food and car in 1996 and after three decades, cars comprised their highest costs. Food and cars made up the two biggest items of expenditure in both years. Together they comprised over half of household spending. Food accounted for 44% of spending in 1966, but this dropped by two-thirds to 14% in 1996. However, the outlay on cars almost doubledoutlay on cars doubled, rising from 23% in 1966 to 45% in 1996. Other areas changed significantly. Spending on eating out doubled, climbing from 7% to 14%. The proportion of spendingproportion of salary spent on computers increased dramatically, up from 1% in 19661996 to 10% in 1996. However, as computer expenditure rose, the share of spending on bookspercentage of outlay on books plunged from 6% to 1%. Some areas remained relatively unchanged. Americans spent approximately the same amount of salary on petrol and furniture in both years. In conclusion, increased proportions of spendingincreased amounts spent on cars, computers, and eating out were accompanied bywere made up for by drops in expenditure on food and books.
Why this response received Band 7.5
The response is strongest in its concise selection and comparison of the dominant spending changes, supported by varied, precise vocabulary and generally controlled complex grammar. Its main limitation is factual accuracy: the overview misstates the relevant year, and the computer figures are both labelled 1996. Prioritise checking every year and value against the charts, then present the material in clearly separated paragraphs.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
A clear overview and well-selected comparisons cover the principal changes, although two year references are inaccurate.
Check every date and figure against the charts so that the overview and supporting details are fully accurate.
Coherence and Cohesion
Information progresses logically through major changes and stable categories, with effective cohesive links, but the response is presented as one paragraph.
Separate the overview and grouped details into distinct paragraphs to make the organisation more immediately visible.
Lexical Resource
A wide and precise range, including terms such as "outlay," "comprised," and "plunged," conveys the comparisons flexibly.
Refine occasional awkward choices such as "food and car" and "amount of salary" for consistently natural phrasing.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A wide range of sentence forms is used accurately, with only occasional awkwardness that does not impede meaning.
Proofread the longest sentences for agreement and parallel phrasing, particularly constructions such as "food and car."
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IELTS Academic Writing Task 1
The given pie charts compare the expenses in 7 different categories in 1966 and 1996 by American Citizens.
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.