The three pie charts below show the changes in annual spending by a particular UK school in 1981, 1991 and 2001.

Same questionCompare 8 different answers (Band 6–7.5)

Sample Response

1

The pie charts provideoverall information about the shift in yearly expenditure at a certain UK schoolschools in the three differentdeferent years: 1981, 1991, and 2001. Overall, the proportion spent on teachers' salaries wasproportions of educators’ paycheck was the highest amount spent in all three yearsin the mentioned years compared to other expenditure areas. Meanwhile, insurance had the smallest share of expenditurelowest contribution in term of money spending.

2

To begin with, the proportion spent on teachers' salariesfigure of educators’ salaries was exactly 40% in 1981. Ten years later, it increased to half of the total expenditurea half of total expenditure. However, in 2001, there was a slighttiny decrease in spending in the same categorycategorised to 45%.

3

Furthermore, other employees’ salaries also showed large share of the budgethuge proportion on budgeting after educators’ salaries. This area slightly declined in the observed years from 28% in 1981 to 22% in 1991 and just 15% in 2001from 28% in 1981, 22% in 1991 and just 15% in 2001.

4

There was, however, a category that increased steadilyfield which improved gradually in annual expenditure. It was insurance which increased steadilycontinually rose. The percentages were 2 %, 3% and 8% in 1981, 1991 and 2001, respectivelyrespectively from 1981, 1991 and 2001. The high improvement was shown between 1991 andto 2001 which rose by five percentage pointsincreased by 5 %. Yet, insurance was still the smallest share of spending among all categoriesbottom in money spending than other areas.

Overall assessment

Why this response received Band 6.0

The report gives a clear overview of the largest and smallest spending categories and accurately tracks teachers' salaries, other workers' salaries, and insurance. Its main limitation is incomplete coverage: books and furniture and equipment are entirely omitted, so important contrasting changes are missing. The highest priority is to compare all five categories, especially the fall in books and the rebound in furniture and equipment.

Band score breakdown

IELTS Writing Criteria Scores

TA

Task Achievement

6.0
Scoring rule

The overview and figures for three categories are accurate, but omitting resources and furniture and equipment leaves two major trends unreported.

Next step

Include all five categories and highlight the contrasting fall in resources and rise of furniture and equipment to 23% in 2001.

CC

Coherence and Cohesion

6.0
Scoring rule

The report uses clear paragraphing and a logical category-by-category sequence, though some paragraphs are narrowly focused and comparisons are limited.

Next step

Organise the details into two comparative groups so related rises and falls can be presented together rather than as isolated categories.

LR

Lexical Resource

5.5
Scoring rule

The response uses some appropriate spending and trend vocabulary, but frequent imprecise collocations and word-form errors reduce clarity.

Next step

Replace phrases such as huge proportion on budgeting and bottom in money spending with precise comparative language.

GRA

Grammatical Range and Accuracy

5.5
Scoring rule

The meaning is generally clear and several complex structures are attempted, but agreement, article, preposition, and sentence-formation errors recur.

Next step

Check each sentence for a complete verb phrase and accurate agreement, especially in the introduction and comparative statements.

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IELTS Academic Writing Task 1

The three pie charts below show the changes in annual spending by a particular UK school in 1981, 1991 and 2001.

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