The table below shows a survey on the preference of three age groups for different TV programmes in a European country in 2012.
Sample Response
The table shows the percentages of people who preferredwatched different television programs in a European country in 2012. The data is split into three different age groupscategories (11-15, 15-20, 21-25).
Overall, feature films and sports programs were quite popular amongst all age groups and attracted similar percentages of viewers. Meanwhile, news programs and cartoons showed the biggest disparity in the percentages of viewers from the different age groups.
The biggest similarities between the three groups can be seen in the percentages of people who preferred feature films and sports programmespeople who viewed feature films and sports programs. Both programs were preferred by approximately 20% of each age groupattracted approximately 20% of viewers from each age group. TV dramas were also preferred by similar percentages of each groupTV dramas also saw similar percentages from each group, at around 10%.
The biggest differences between the age groups' viewing preferences concernedviewing preferences of all the age groups were in cartoons and news programs. 29% of 11-15-year-olds watched cartoons, compared with only 4% of 21-25-year-olds. In contrast, 23% of 21-25-year-olds21-25-yearolds watched news programs, compared to Delete(7) only 6% of 11-15-year-olds. AdditionallyAdditionally(8), while soap operas attracted similar percentages of 11-15-year-olds and 21-25-year-olds (17% and 19%), only 12% of 15-20-year-olds preferredviewed them.
Why this response received Band 8.0
The response gives a clear overview and organises accurate comparisons around the strongest similarities and contrasts, making the table easy to understand. The main limitation is some repetitive wording around percentages, programmes, and the biggest differences, while the stray '(7)' and '(8)' markers interrupt an otherwise polished presentation. Prioritise removing editing residue and varying comparative phrasing while retaining the precise data selection.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
The response fully addresses the table with a clear overview, well-selected comparisons, and accurate supporting figures.
Maintain this selective approach while checking the final text for any presentational material unrelated to the data.
Coherence and Cohesion
The response is logically sequenced from overview to similarities and differences, with cohesive paragraphing throughout.
Reduce repeated framing such as 'the biggest similarities' and 'the biggest differences' to make progression even smoother.
Lexical Resource
Vocabulary is varied and accurate for describing preferences and comparisons, though some key nouns and percentage phrases recur.
Vary references to viewers, proportions, and programme preferences without sacrificing the report's precision.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A wide range of complex comparison structures is handled accurately, with only minor presentational slips and a missing space.
Remove the numbered editing markers and correct '21-25-year-olds' during final proofreading.
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IELTS Academic Writing Task 1
The table below shows a survey on the preference of three age groups for different TV programmes in a European country in 2012.
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.