The bar graph below shows the numbers of male and female research students studying six subjects at a US university in 2011.
Sample Response
The provided chart compares the numbers of male and female studentsenrollees in the research study in six subjects (Linguisticslinguistic, psychology, natural science, engineering, programmingengineering programming and mathematics) at a US universityUniversity. Overall, there were more male than female research students in most subjectsmore male students enrolled in the field of research than female students.
According to the given illustration, both male and female students have equal numbers of studentsan equal number of enrollees in natural science. In mathematics, there were more male studentsmale students showed greater interest than female students. Furthermore, male students outnumbered female students in all subjects except Linguistics and Natural Science.Furthermore, male enrollees in all the subjects except in linguistics. It is evident from the given data that natural science was the most sought subject for both male and female students as they recorded about 400 students in total400 enrollees altogether (200 inon each group). In mathematics, there were about 200 male studentsmale recorded another 200 enrollees as opposed to only about 4050 female students. In addition, in psychology, there were about 375 students in total, with around 200 males and 175 femalesabout 375 enrollees, male students still dominated at 200 and 175 for their female counterpart. On the contrary, linguistic showed a different story as female students exceededtoppled the number of male students at around about 110 and 80 respectively120 and 80 respectively.
Why this response received Band 5.5
The report has a recognisable introduction, overview, and detail section, and it correctly identifies equal participation in Natural Science. Its main limitation is incomplete and inaccurate coverage: Engineering and Programming are largely omitted, while several reported figures for other subjects do not match the chart. Check every bar before writing, then group all six subjects by gender pattern and present each comparison in a complete, precise sentence.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
The response gives a basic overview and reports some relevant figures, but several values are inaccurate and two subjects, Engineering and Programming, are not properly covered. Natural Science is correctly identified as equal for both genders, but Psychology and Linguistics figures are misstated.
Check each bar against the chart and include all six subjects, especially the large male advantages in Engineering, Programming, and Mathematics.
Coherence and Cohesion
There is a clear introduction, overview, and detail paragraph, but the second paragraph becomes list-like and one sentence is incomplete.
Group subjects by pattern, such as male-dominated, female-dominated, and equal, then use complete comparative sentences.
Lexical Resource
Vocabulary is adequate for a chart report, but there are awkward word choices such as "enrollees" and inaccurate subject names.
Use precise chart terms such as research students, subjects, and numbers, and copy category labels accurately.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Meaning is generally clear, but there are frequent errors with articles, prepositions, fragments, and plural forms.
Revise subject-verb agreement and build full clauses for every comparison.
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IELTS Academic Writing Task 1
The bar graph below shows the numbers of male and female research students studying six subjects at a US university in 2011.
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.