The table data below shows the top ten Internet users by country in 2016.
Sample Response
The table data listslists down the top ten countries Deletein the world with the highest number of internet users in 2016in the year 2016. It gives the number of people with access to the internet, each country's total populationthe total population of the country and the percentage of people with internet access in 2016as of 2016. Overall, China had the largest number of internet usersthe highest internet users while the UK and Japan had the highest proportionsratio of internet users. The table shows thatAs is signified in the illustration, the population of China in 2016 was over 1.3 billion and more than half of them had access to the internet. In terms of the number of internet users, China ranked firstChina stood at the top of the list while India and the U.S.where India and the USA held the second and third positions respectively with over 462 million and 286 million internet users. Although India's population exceeded 1.3 billionThough India’s population was more than 1.3 billion, only about one-third of its populationone-third of them were connected to the internet, unlike the USA where nearly nine in ten peoplewhere almost nine out of ten citizens used the internet. Brazil, Japan and Russia with more than 100 million netizens each (citizens who are connected to the internet) stood fourth till sixth positions. The UK and Mexico ranked ninth and tenthThe UK and Mexico were at the bottom of the list with around 60 million netizens. However, the internet users’ ratio in the UK was highest, over 92% while it was the second highest in the USA.
Why this response received Band 7.0
The response presents a useful overview, selects the leading countries, and makes effective comparisons between absolute user totals and penetration rates. Its main content flaw is the final claim that the United States had the second-highest percentage, whereas Japan occupied that position, and a few phrases are grammatically awkward. Prioritise verifying rankings across all columns and expressing quantities with precise, natural comparison structures.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
The overview and most supporting comparisons are accurate and relevant, but the final percentage ranking incorrectly places the United States above Japan.
State that the UK had the highest penetration rate at 92.6%, followed by Japan at 91.1%, and check each ranking against the table.
Coherence and Cohesion
The response moves logically from an overview to the highest totals, contrasting percentages, and lower-ranked countries, with clear overall progression.
Divide the report into an overview and two detail paragraphs, grouping absolute user totals separately from penetration-rate comparisons.
Lexical Resource
The response uses a good range of vocabulary for rankings and proportions, although phrases such as 'lists down' and 'highest internet users' are imprecise.
Use natural formulations such as 'lists,' 'the largest number of internet users,' and 'ranked fourth to sixth.'
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Complex comparisons are mostly accurate and meaning remains clear, though several article, noun-phrase, and ranking constructions are awkward.
Revise forms such as 'China had the largest number of users' and 'Brazil, Japan, and Russia ranked fourth, fifth, and sixth respectively.'
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IELTS Academic Writing Task 1
The table data below shows the top ten Internet users by country in 2016.
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.