The bar chart below shows the percentage of government spending on roads and transport in 4 countries in the years 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005.
Sample Response
The bar chart illustrates the proportion of government expenditure in Italy, Portugal, the UK and the USAproportion of expenditure by governments of Italy, Portugal, the UK and the USA on road and transport. The chart compares the figuresThe study compared the figures recorded between 1990 and 2005 at five-year intervalswith 5-year intervals. On the whole, the proportion of government spending on road and transport generally declined in each country surveyed except in the USAbut the USA. It is also noticeable that the proportions of expenditure allocated to this purposeshares of money spent for this purpose by Italy and Portugal were significantly higher throughout the periodspan than those of the other two countries. In 1990, the USA spentThe USA, in 1990, spent approximately 12% of its total expenditureexpenses on road and transport, which was about one percentage point higher2% higher than the UK figure in the same year. Despite falling slightly by about one percentage pointby around 2% in 1995, the USA’s spending rose noticeablyhad risen noticeably to 15% by the final year. Interestingly, the European countries in the research all followed a downward trend. Portugal, being the biggest spender in 1990 and 1995, decreased the proportion of the funds it channeled from around 27% to a fifth over the period. Similarly, Italy’sItaly and the UK’s spending proportions for roads and transportproportional investment in road and transport fellexperienced a drop over the periodduring the time frame from about 2223% to just under a fifth and from a tenth to about 87%, respectively, though each showed a rise in expenditure in 2000.
Why this response received Band 7.5
The response gives an accurate overview, compares all four countries, and supports the trends with relevant start and end values. Its strongest language is varied and precise, but presenting the entire report as one paragraph weakens the visual organisation, while a few comparisons are only approximate. Prioritise a clear overview paragraph followed by grouped detail paragraphs for the higher-spending and lower-spending countries.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
The overview identifies the contrasting national trends and relative spending levels, and the supporting figures accurately cover all four countries.
Refine approximate comparisons, especially the USA’s initial lead over the UK, and include the relevant intermediate figures where useful.
Coherence and Cohesion
Ideas progress logically from the overall trends to country comparisons, but the single unbroken paragraph limits structural clarity.
Divide the response into an introduction, an overview, and two grouped detail paragraphs to make the comparisons easier to follow.
Lexical Resource
A wide range of vocabulary describes proportions and movement precisely, with only occasional awkward choices such as ‘throughout the span’.
Keep the varied trend language while replacing less natural expressions with concise terms such as ‘throughout the period’.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Complex comparative structures are frequent and mostly accurate, with only minor lapses in phrasing and possessive construction.
Refine forms such as ‘Italy and the UK’s proportional investment’ so coordinated comparisons are grammatically unambiguous.
Write this task while it is fresh
Try the same task now. It helps you remember the feedback and write better next time.
IELTS Academic Writing Task 1
The bar chart below shows the percentage of government spending on roads and transport in 4 countries in the years 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005.
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.