The pie charts below compare the proportion of energy capacity in gigawatts (GW) in 2015 with the predictions for 2040.
Sample Response
The charts show the expected changes in energy capacity between 2015 and 2040in 2040 compared to 2015.
The most noticeable feature is the drop in fossil fuels' share of total capacitythe proportion of the annual gross capacity of fossil fuels, with totalthe projected capacity almost doubling from 6.688 to 11.678 gigawatts. The share of fossil fuels is expectedIt is expected to experience a significant decline, falling from 64% in 2015 to 44% in 2040. By contrast, it is predicted that there will be a dramatic rise in solar energy's share of capacitythe proportion of energy capacity from solar energy jumping from 2% to 18%with a jump from 2% to 18% in 2040. While wind's share of capacitythe proportion of the capacity for wind is anticipated to increase more than twofold from 5% in 2015 to 12% in 2040, it is estimated that other renewables will account for a smaller share, decreasing from 23% to 21%a smaller proportion with a decrease from 23% to 21%. The projected proportion for nuclear energy will be 5% in 2040, a slight decline from 6%.
It is clear that despite the decline in the proportion of energy capacity from fossil fuels and the rise in solar and wind sources, the former will remain the largest energy sourcea major energy source in 2040.
Why this response received Band 7.5
The response gives a clear account of the main shifts and accurately reports every percentage, using controlled language and logical progression. Its main limitation is the statement that fossil-fuel capacity nearly doubles from 6.688 to 11.678 GW, since these figures represent total capacity rather than fossil fuels alone. The highest-priority improvement is to distinguish absolute totals from category shares explicitly while retaining the effective comparisons and overview.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
The response presents a clear overview and covers all five energy shares accurately, but it wrongly links the two total-capacity figures to fossil fuels.
State that overall capacity rises from 6.688 to 11.678 GW, then describe the separate fall in fossil fuels' percentage share.
Coherence and Cohesion
Information progresses logically through the category comparisons, and the final overview effectively consolidates the dominant trends.
Place the overview immediately after the introduction to establish the main pattern before presenting detailed figures.
Lexical Resource
Vocabulary is varied and generally precise, although phrases such as 'annual gross capacity' are awkward and contribute to factual ambiguity.
Use exact terms such as 'total installed capacity' and 'share of capacity' consistently to separate absolute amounts from proportions.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A strong range of complex structures is used with good control, and the few awkward references do not impede meaning.
Give potentially ambiguous pronouns such as 'it' an explicit noun reference when moving between total capacity and individual energy sources.
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IELTS Academic Writing Task 1
The pie charts below compare the proportion of energy capacity in gigawatts (GW) in 2015 with the predictions for 2040.
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.