The table below shows the results of surveys in 2005, 2010 and 2015 about McGill University.
Sample Response
The table shows the change in attitude, over ten years, of students at McGill University to different aspects of its academic provision.
Overall, the most striking set of statistics relatesrelate to ratings of student servicesapproval for student services. There was a sharp increase in the percentagenumber of students giving these services a good rating, particularly in the first five years: from 54 percent in 2005, to 81 percent in 2010, and 95 percent in 2015. There was also an overall improvement in ratings for teaching quality, though the increase was relatively small (74 percent in 2005 rising to 78 percent in 2015) and there was a decline in the interim (72 percent in 2010). There was also a fluctuation in ratings of library resourcesa fluctuation in attitudes to library resources, rising from 86 percent to 88 percent in the first five years and then falling by one percentage pointfalling by one percent in 2015. Good ratings for the university’s sports and social facilities were identical throughout, at 65 percent. Finally, there were relatively few good ratings at the beginningpoor ratings at the beginning of the period for the range of modules offered (39 percent in 2005) and the percentage fell steadilyand they got worse, falling steadily to 31 percent in 2010 and 25 percent in 2015.
Why this response received Band 8.5
The response accurately reports every category and uses precise comparisons, with the sharp rise in student services clearly foregrounded. Its main limitation is presentation: almost all details sit in one long paragraph, which slightly weakens the visual grouping of trends. The highest-priority improvement is to divide the details into two logically grouped paragraphs while preserving the accurate, concise coverage.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
The response fully and accurately covers all five aspects, with a clear overview and well-selected comparisons.
Retain this comprehensive accuracy while making the overview slightly broader by also noting the decline in module ratings.
Coherence and Cohesion
Information progresses logically and cohesive devices clarify the relationships between trends, although the detail is concentrated in one long paragraph.
Group the improving and declining or stable categories into separate body paragraphs for clearer visual organisation.
Lexical Resource
Vocabulary is varied and precise, including effective language for increases, fluctuations, stability, and decline.
Refine occasional phrasing such as academic provision so it accurately encompasses services and facilities as well as teaching.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A wide range of complex structures is used accurately, with only a minor subject-verb agreement lapse.
Check agreement in noun phrases such as the most striking set of statistics relates to remove the remaining small error.
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IELTS Academic Writing Task 1
The table below shows the results of surveys in 2005, 2010 and 2015 about McGill University.
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.