The table below shows the figures for imprisonment in five countries between 1930 and 1980.
Sample Response
The chart compares the numbers of prisoners from 1930 to 1980 in five countriesfive different countries, namely Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand, the United States and Canada.
At a glance, the imprisonment figure in the USA and the UKin the USA and UK climbed over the period and in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, it actually declined.
The chart shows thatIt is clearly seen that the United States generally had the highest prisoner totalshad the highest number of inmates. In addition, BritainAlso, Britain had the lowest figure in four of the six years shown4 out of 6 years. In 1930, the number of prisoners in the United States was the highest, with 120 thousand prisoners; the figure then increased overall, then this number increased significantly to reach a peak of 140 thousand in 1980. By contrast, Britain had the lowest prisoner totalthe lowest figure for prisoners from 1930 to 1960until 1970, and the figure then rose sharplythen the figure jumped suddenly to reach about 85 thousand90 thousand.
Canada had the highest number of imprisonment in 1930 and 1960 with nearly 140 thousand people each year. In 1970,In 1970 the figures for Great Britain, New Zealand and Australia were equalnumber of prisoners in Great Britain, New Zealand and Australia was the same, about 70 thousand prisonerspeople. In 1980, New Zealand recorded 50 thousand prisoners50 thousand people in New Zealand were put in prison which was the lowest figure thatthis year.
Why this response received Band 6.0
The response is strongest in its clear organization and concise overview of the broad changes across the five countries. Its main limitation is factual accuracy: several claims conflict with the chart, including the United States figure for 1930, Canada's position in 1960, and the lowest figure in 1980. The highest-priority improvement is to verify country labels and values carefully before selecting comparisons.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
A relevant overview and several valid comparisons are included, but multiple important figures and rankings are misreported.
Cross-check every selected year and country, particularly 1930, 1960, and the 1980 lowest figure, against the chart.
Coherence and Cohesion
The response progresses clearly from an overview to country-specific details, with generally effective paragraphing and linking.
Arrange the detail paragraphs around consistent comparison groups so that changing country rankings are even easier to follow.
Lexical Resource
Vocabulary is generally appropriate and includes useful variation, though some collocations such as 'number of imprisonment' are inaccurate.
Use precise statistical phrases such as 'number of prisoners,' 'prison population,' and 'the lowest figure that year.'
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A mix of simple and complex sentences is handled with generally good control, despite occasional awkward coordination and reference.
Refine complex sentences by checking pronoun reference, clause boundaries, and punctuation around added comparisons.
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IELTS Academic Writing Task 1
The table below shows the figures for imprisonment in five countries between 1930 and 1980.
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.