The graph below shows the pollution levels in London between 1600 and 2000.
Sample Response
The yielded line charts illustrate the level of pollution, sulphur dioxide and smoke in London from 1600 to 2000, and it measured micrograms per cubic metre.
Overall, it can be seen that sulphur dioxide pollution was higher than smoke. Additionally, after four centuries level was the same as it was in starting phase; in the early 17th-century, pollution rose.
In the late 16th century, sulphur dioxide had 1 microgram, which grew dramatically after 1600 and had 750 micrograms in 1800. Later, the level was similar, althoughAfter a century level was the same although, it reached a peak of 900 microgramstouched its zenith 900 micrograms. From 1900, it declined overall1900 it declines steadily, reached zerohad 0 pollution level in 2000.
For smoke, in 1600, it hadin 1600 had the same pollution levelsame micrograms impurity environment level as sulphur dioxide; however,sulphur dioxide, however, later it climbed steadily and took nearly three centuriestook four centuries to reachtouched its peakits peaks level at about 450 micrograms around 1900it was 400 micrograms in 1880. It then enteredAfter it turned to a downward trend and after considerable fluctuationsafter slight fluctuation the level in 2000in 2000 level was similar to that in 1600similar as was in 1600.
Why this response received Band 5.5
The response identifies the dominance of sulphur dioxide and the eventual decline of both pollutants, so the broad message is generally visible. However, several dates, peak values, and trend descriptions are inaccurate or unclear, while frequent grammatical and collocational errors make the data difficult to follow. The priority is to select a few accurate turning points from the graph and describe them in short, controlled sentences with consistent past-tense forms.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
The response presents the main overall contrast and end trend, but several peak dates, values, and intermediate movements are inaccurate or insufficiently clear.
Report accurate turning points, especially sulphur dioxide peaking near 900 around 1850 and smoke peaking at roughly 450 around 1900.
Coherence and Cohesion
The overview and separate pollutant paragraphs provide a recognisable structure, though faulty linking and crowded sentences weaken progression.
Use one clear sentence for each main stage and connect comparisons with simple, accurate linkers rather than loosely joined clauses.
Lexical Resource
There is enough trend vocabulary to convey the general account, but frequent unsuitable collocations and word forms reduce precision.
Use standard graph phrases such as rose to, peaked at, fell steadily, and returned to instead of expressions such as touched its peaks level.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Some sentence forms are attempted, but frequent errors with articles, subjects, verb tense, and clause structure regularly disrupt clarity.
Write complete past-tense sentences with an explicit subject and verb, then check articles and singular-plural agreement throughout.
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IELTS Academic Writing Task 1
The graph below shows the pollution levels in London between 1600 and 2000.
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.