The tables show the average salaries of graduates and non-graduates in the UK in 2010.

Average salaries of graduates and non-graduates in the UK in 2010 - IELTS Writing Task 1

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Write at least 150 words.

A student's answer to this task, and the feedback on it

Written by an IELTSX user under exam conditions and published unedited and anonymously. Band 9 · 172 words.

The tables compare the average salaries of graduates and non-graduates in the UK in 2010 across different age groups.

Overall, graduates earned considerably more than non-graduates in every age group. In addition, salaries for both groups generally increased with age until the early fifties before declining among the oldest workers.

Among graduates, the average salary was around £24,000 for 22-year-olds. Earnings then rose steadily to approximately £32,000 at the age of 32 and over £33,000 at 42. The highest salary, at just above £34,000, was recorded for people aged 52 before falling to about £30,000 for those aged 62.

A similar pattern can be seen among non-graduates, although their salaries were much lower throughout the period. People aged 22 earned about £14,000, while those aged 32 and 42 received around £19,000. Earnings fell slightly to roughly £18,600 at age 52 and dropped further to just over £15,000 for the oldest group. Overall, the figures indicate that having a university degree was associated with significantly higher pay at every stage of working life.

Examiner feedback

This is an exemplary Task 1 response that would likely achieve a Band 9. It demonstrates a sophisticated control of language, precise data selection, and a very clear organizational structure. The overview is particularly strong, capturing both the main comparative point and the overall trend of the data.

Task Achievement - 9

- All requirements of the task are fully satisfied with an accurate and clear overview. - Key features are skillfully selected, highlighting the higher earnings of graduates and the common trend of peaking in middle age. - Every data point is supported with accurate figures from the provided tables.

Coherence & Cohesion - 9

- The message is followed effortlessly with a logical flow from the overview to detailed analysis. - Paragraphing is skillfully managed, separating the two main data sets while maintaining a clear relationship between them. - Cohesive devices such as 'In addition', 'A similar pattern', and 'while' are used naturally and effectively.

Lexical Resource - 9

- The vocabulary is sophisticated and precise, using terms like 'considerably', 'steadily', 'recorded for', and 'associated with'. - There is excellent variety in how trends are described, avoiding repetitive phrasing. - Spelling and word formation are accurate throughout the entire response.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy - 9

- A wide range of complex structures is used with full flexibility and control. - The response is entirely error-free, demonstrating a high level of grammatical precision. - Punctuation is used correctly throughout to support the clarity of the data presentation.

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