The three pie charts below show the changes in annual spending by a particular UK school in 1981, 1991 and 2001.

Same questionCompare 8 different answers (Band 6–7.5)

Sample Response

1

The pie charts depict the shifts in annual expenditure by a certain UK school in three different yearstimes, 1981981, 1991, and 2001. In general, teachers’ salaries were the highest proportion of annual spending percentage. In contrast, insurance was consistent as the lowest percentage of annual school spending over the times observed.

2

Looking at the details, in 1981 teacher’s salaries accounted nearly a half, 40% of total school costs and increased significantly in 1991 which accounted exactly a half, 50% and remained the highest spending in 2001 as well, 45%. Meanwhile, other workers’ salariesother worker’s salaries, resourcesreferences, and furniture and equipmenttool fluctuated and accounted for a large percentageamassed big percentage of school expendituredisbursement altogether; together, these categories representedall together, it was about 5140% onin average.

3

Turning to the final categoryOn the other hand, insurance was the lowest percentage of total school spending in all three yearsoverall observed years. It was only 2% of total spending in 1981 and remained the smallest sharetiniest fraction at 3% in 1991 and 8% in 2001, respectivelysubsequently in 1991 and 2001, 3% and 8% respectively.

Overall assessment

Why this response received Band 6.0

The response provides a clear overview of the largest and smallest spending categories and reports the teachers' salaries and insurance figures accurately. However, it largely groups the other three categories together, gives an inaccurate approximate average, and therefore misses their contrasting changes across the years. The highest priority is to compare those categories individually, especially the fall in other workers' salaries and the sharp rebound in furniture and equipment.

Band score breakdown

IELTS Writing Criteria Scores

TA

Task Achievement

5.5
Scoring rule

An accurate overview and correct salary and insurance data are provided, but three categories are merged and their distinct trends are omitted.

Next step

Report each remaining category separately, including the fall in other workers' salaries, the changing pattern in resources, and the rise in furniture and equipment by 2001.

CC

Coherence and Cohesion

6.0
Scoring rule

The three-paragraph structure is easy to follow, though the second body paragraph is overloaded and the final paragraph repeats the overview.

Next step

Organise details by meaningful trends, contrasting the three fluctuating categories before presenting insurance briefly.

LR

Lexical Resource

6.0
Scoring rule

Some appropriate academic vocabulary is used, but frequent awkward collocations and imprecise nouns reduce clarity.

Next step

Replace phrases such as 'in different times' and 'amassed big percentage' with precise chart-reporting language.

GRA

Grammatical Range and Accuracy

5.5
Scoring rule

Simple meaning is usually clear, but errors in possessives, articles, prepositions, agreement, and sentence boundaries are frequent.

Next step

Use shorter comparative sentences and proofread possessive plurals, percentage structures, and prepositions such as 'on average'.

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IELTS Academic Writing Task 1

The three pie charts below show the changes in annual spending by a particular UK school in 1981, 1991 and 2001.

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