The graph gives information about the age of the population of Iceland between 1990 and 2020.
Sample Response
The bar chart compares the proportions of people in different age groupsdifferent ages of people living in Iceland between 1990 and 2020.
All in all, the size of the 25-54 age group increased the most over the period while the size of the two younger age groups decreased a little bit. The proportionsnumber of people in the two older age groups remained broadly stablestayed about the same.
The 25-54 age group grew from about 32%approximately a third of the population in 1990 to nearly half of the population in 2020.
The two older age groupsThe older two age groups did not increase or decrease much. The size of the 65 and over age group remained at about 13%, whereas the size of the 55 -64 age group fellonly fell from about 14% to about 10% of the population.
By contrast, the 0-14 age group fell from about 26%just over 25% in 1990 to just under 20% in 2020. Similarly, the 15-24 age group dropped from about 22%just over 20% of the population in 1990 to just under 10% of the population in 2020.
Why this response received Band 7.5
The response is strongest in its clear overview and orderly comparison of all five age groups, with most endpoint figures matching the chart. Its main limitation is that it understates the steep fall in the 15–24 group and gives little attention to intermediate years; prioritise more precise descriptions of change and a few well-chosen comparisons across the full period.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
A clear overview and accurate endpoint figures cover all major age groups, although the substantial 15–24 decline is misleadingly described as slight.
Characterise the magnitude of each trend precisely and include selective evidence from 2000 or 2010 to show development across the period.
Coherence and Cohesion
Information progresses logically from the overview to older and younger groups, with comparisons linked clearly throughout.
Combine the short standalone paragraph on the 25–54 group with related detail to create fuller, more balanced body paragraphs.
Lexical Resource
Vocabulary is varied and generally precise for describing proportions and change, with only minor imprecision such as “decreased a little bit.”
Use sharper trend language such as “fell markedly” when the chart shows a large proportional change.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A range of simple and complex structures is used accurately, with strong control of agreement, clauses, and punctuation.
Refine comparative phrasing further by varying structures for stability, decline, and growth while maintaining the same high accuracy.
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IELTS Academic Writing Task 1
The graph gives information about the age of the population of Iceland between 1990 and 2020.
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.