The chart below give information about the high-speed continuous internet connection of households in five countries in 2001 and 2002.
Sample Response
The bar chart and table compare five countries in terms of the number of connections per 1,000 peopleterms of the percentage of families with high-speed internet access, and the percentage change between the two yearsthe change over two consecutive years, from 2001 to 2002.
It is clear that the percentage of households with high-speed internet connectionsfamilies with high-speed internet connection was highest in South Korea in 2001 and in the USA in 2002highest in South Korea and the USA during those years. In addition, the largest percentage increase in connectionsbiggest change in the number of families with high-speed internet access occurred in Britain.
In 2001, 122 connections per 1,000 peopleabout 11.2% of South Korean households had access to high-speed internet, compared to 93 connections per 1,000 people in the USA9.3% of US families. One year later, the figure for the USAthe number of US families rose sharplywith high-speed internet soared by 170% to reach 251.1 connections per 1,000 people25.11% of the population, which was the highest figure of all five countries in 2002all measured countries for those years. By contrast, the growth rate was significantly lower in South Korea, at only 20%.
Connection levels were much lowerHigh-speed internet was not as common in Germany, Switzerland and Britain, with between 3.3 and 3.6 connections per 1,000 peopleonly roughly 0.35% of households recorded in each countryhaving a high-speed connection. All three countries saw significant increases over the year, with Germany and Switzerland witnessing increases of 80% and 120% respectively. Meanwhile, Britain saw the largest percentage increasebiggest growth rate in high-speed internet connections, at 230%in high-speed internet connections with a 230% increase.
Why this response received Band 7.0
The response is well organised and uses varied, generally accurate language to present the main contrasts and all five countries. Its main weakness is numerical framing: the chart reports connections per 1,000 people, yet the response recasts figures as percentages of families or population and gives South Korea's 2001 value inaccurately. Prioritise keeping the original unit and reporting each leading 2002 figure precisely.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
A clear overview and relevant comparisons cover all countries, but the unit is misrepresented and South Korea's 2001 figure is inaccurate.
Retain the chart's connections-per-1,000 unit and report South Korea's 122 and 134.4 values accurately.
Coherence and Cohesion
Information progresses logically from the overview to the leading countries and then the lower figures, with effective paragraphing.
Make the overview contrast between the 2001 and 2002 leaders more explicit to sharpen progression.
Lexical Resource
A varied range of trend and comparison vocabulary is used effectively, though references to families and population are sometimes imprecise.
Use the chart's exact measurement language consistently instead of alternating among families, households, and population.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
The response uses a strong range of complex structures with generally accurate control and only minor lapses.
Refine article and noun-form choices, such as using high-speed internet connections when referring to the measured total.
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IELTS Academic Writing Task 1
The chart below give information about the high-speed continuous internet connection of households in five countries in 2001 and 2002.
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.