The chart below shows information about fuel used in the transport sector in different countries in Europe, compared to the EU average, in 2009 and 2010.
Sample Response
The bar chart illustrates fuel usage for transportation in six different European nations, and compares these figures with the EU averagecompares these figures to the European average, in 2009 and 2010.
Overall, while the percentage of fuel used in Slovakia and Spain decreased, fuel consumption in Italy, France and Greece increased during the period shownsaw opposite trends during the research period. Additionally, the European average was higher than the figures for all countries, except for Slovakia.
In 2009, the transportation sector in Slovakia used nearly 9%consumed nearly 7% of the total fuel, about 3.5 percentage points higher than Austriaabout 2% higher than in Austria. Italy used about 4.5% of fuel in transportation, compared to approximately 1% in Greece, which was the lowest figure shown on the chart. Meanwhile, fuel consumed for transportation in the other countries accounted for just under 4% of total fuel usage in each.
In 2010, the figure for Austria remained unchanged, at just over 5%, and slightly less fuel was used for transportation in Slovakia and Greece as illustrated by decreases to just over 6% and 2% respectively. In contrast, Italy, France, and Greece all experienced increases of roughly 1% in fuel consumption.
Why this response received Band 6.5
The response has a clear four-paragraph structure, a useful overview, and flexible language for describing changes. However, several important chart details are inaccurate: Slovakia's 2009 figure is understated, Greece is wrongly described as decreasing, and the EU comparison is overgeneralized. The highest priority is to cross-check each value and direction of change before writing the overview and detail paragraphs.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
The response selects relevant features and includes an overview, but multiple significant inaccuracies weaken its account of the data.
Correct Slovakia's 2009 value to nearly 9%, describe Greece as rising from about 1% to 2%, and report the EU average more carefully.
Coherence and Cohesion
Paragraphing and overall progression are clear, but the consecutive claims that Greece decreased and increased create a confusing logical contradiction.
Ensure each category follows one consistent trend across the overview and detail paragraphs, and remove contradictory statements before finalizing.
Lexical Resource
The response uses a good range of chart vocabulary with generally appropriate collocations and precise comparative language.
Refine broad phrases such as the research period and avoid wording that obscures whether a percentage refers to transport fuel use or total fuel.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Complex and simple sentence forms are varied and mostly accurate, with only minor punctuation and attachment problems.
Tighten long coordinated sentences so modifiers such as as illustrated by decreases attach clearly to the correct countries and figures.
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IELTS Academic Writing Task 1
The chart below shows information about fuel used in the transport sector in different countries in Europe, compared to the EU average, in 2009 and 2010.
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.