The chart below shows estimated world illiteracy rates by region and by gender for the year 2000.
Sample Response
The bar chart compares the proportion of the illiterate populationratio of uneducated population, groupeddivided by sex, in six regions of the world in 2000. Overall, illiteracy rates were highest in South Asia, were also high in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Arab states, and were close to zero in developed nationsilliteracy rates were the highest in Sub-Saharan Africa, Arab countries and South Asia and close to zero in developed nations. There wereHowever, there were more illiterate women than men in all regions. Illiterate men and women made upMen and women, unable to read or write, made up only 1% and 2% in developed countries. In comparison, the proportions of illiterate peoplecitizens in Latin America and the Caribbean were higher, 10% and 11%. In East Asia and Oceania, however, the gap was 12 percentage pointsgap was enormous; there were 20% of females were illiterate, compared with 8% of males20% illiterate females compared to 8% males. As regards the other regions, Sub-Saharan Africa had much greater proportions of the illiterateunschooled population, 48% women and 30% men. Similar proportions were seenA similar proportion was seen in Arab states, where illiteracy rates were approximately 52% for females and 29% for maleswhere illiteracy rates were 53% and 28% respectively for females and males. It is noticeable that more than half of their females and one-quarter males never received any formal education. However, South Asia stood out as having the worst illiteracy figures for both sexes; 55% of females compared with 34% of males55% females versus 34% males. Delete[Writtne by - Eynar Hajizadeh ]
Why this response received Band 7.5
The response gives a strong overview and reports the male-female pattern and regional figures comprehensively and accurately. Its main limitation is presentation: all information appears in one paragraph, some linking is repetitive, and a few lexical and grammatical choices are imprecise. Prioritise a clear overview-detail paragraph structure and remove the irrelevant attribution line while preserving the effective comparisons.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
The overview and supporting details accurately cover all six regions and the consistent gender gap, with only a small unsupported interpretation about schooling.
Keep interpretations strictly tied to illiteracy and omit the irrelevant attribution appended to the response.
Coherence and Cohesion
The comparisons progress logically from low-rate to high-rate regions, though one long paragraph and repeated use of 'however' reduce cohesion.
Use separate overview and detail paragraphs and vary linking so that contrasts arise from the data rather than repeated connectors.
Lexical Resource
A broad range of comparative vocabulary is used effectively, with occasional imprecision in terms such as 'uneducated,' 'unschooled,' and 'similar proportion.'
Use 'illiterate population' consistently and describe the Arab states as showing a similar gender pattern rather than a similar proportion.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Varied complex sentences are generally accurate and clear, although a few article, quantifier, and noun-phrase errors remain.
Refine forms such as '20% of females' and 'one-quarter of males,' and remove the misspelled attribution line.
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IELTS Academic Writing Task 1
The chart below shows estimated world illiteracy rates by region and by gender for the year 2000.
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.