The table below shows the monthly expenditure of an average Australian family in 1991 and 2001.
Sample Response
The table shows changes in the spending patterns of an average Australian household between 1991 and 2001. In general, Australian household spending was higherhigh in 2001 than in 1991 and the total rose by $40 per monthbut the difference was not significant (AUD $715 per month and AUD $675 per month respectively).
The amount of monthly spending on electricity and water increased substantiallysaw a dramatic increase over the 10-year period from $75 to $120. Yet in terms of the expenditure on other goods and servicesnon-essential goods and services, the increase was smallerthe rising trend was less obvious with a minor increase of $20. At the same time, the amount of money spent on food and housing rose only slightly from $155 to $160 and $95 to $100 respectively.
However, there was a decrease in expenditure on the other two items. Australians spent one third less on clothing, which fell from $30 to $20. Similarly, expenditure on transport dropped from $70 in 1991 to $45 in 2001.
DeleteIt seems that food and “other goods and services” were the two largest expenditure categoriestwo biggest items of expenditure. Altogether, they accounted for more than half of the total household spending. By comparison, Australians spent little on clothingdressing up.
Why this response received Band 8.0
The response presents a clear overview, accurately covers every expenditure category, and makes effective comparisons between the two years. Its main limitations are a few awkward or informal word choices and one incorrect comparative form, while the organisation and data selection remain strong. The priority is to polish lexical precision and grammatical accuracy, especially higher than and the formal description of clothing expenditure.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
The overview and supporting details accurately identify the total increase, category changes, largest items, and relevant comparisons across the table.
Strengthen the overview slightly by also noting that electricity and water recorded the largest rise while transport had the largest fall.
Coherence and Cohesion
Information is sequenced logically from the overall change to increases, decreases, and the largest categories, with clear paragraphing and referencing.
Keep the final comparison tightly integrated with the overview so the response ends without repeating already established information.
Lexical Resource
The response uses a wide range of appropriate expenditure vocabulary, though dramatic, dressing up, and less obvious are somewhat imprecise or informal here.
Prefer precise formal phrases such as the largest increase, clothing expenditure, and a smaller rise.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Complex sentence forms are varied and mostly well controlled, with only minor errors such as was high in 2001 than in 1991.
Use the correct comparative form was higher in 2001 than in 1991 and check article and preposition choices in complex sentences.
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IELTS Academic Writing Task 1
The table below shows the monthly expenditure of an average Australian family in 1991 and 2001.
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.