The graph below shows the three different kinds of emission sources (oil/coal/gas) of greenhouse gas in the UK.

Carbon Emissions Three Fossil Fuels UK 1990-2010 - 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 6.5 · 223 words.

The bar chart compares three types of fuel in the UK by their contribution to carbon emission between 1990 and 2010, measuring in million of tons. Overall, the carbon emission by coal was the highest in the beginning of the period, while gas contributed to the least amount. During the period, the figure rose considerbly for gas, peaking in the last year. In contrast, it decresed for coal and hit its lowest point by the end of the period. The amount of greenhouse gases produced by oil fluctuated over the period and ended at a lower level than its initial position.

Starting with emission by gas, which saw its figure increased, it started at about 220 million tons in 1990. Following an uniterrupted upward trend, it reached a peak of 320 million tons in 2010, experiencing a 100 million tons.

Looking at the ones that show decresing patterns, around 310 million tons of greenhouse gas was released by coal in the UK in the first year. It declined continuously until the end of the period, dropping to just below 200 million tons. Similarly, the figure for oil was at 270 million tons in 1990 before decreasing to 240 million tons in 1995. It then rose to above 250 million tons in 2000, after which it fell gradually to 210 million tons in 2010.

Examiner feedback

This is a solid Band 6.5 performance. The overview is clear and the data is accurately reported. However, frequent spelling mistakes and some grammatical inaccuracies in complex sentences prevent it from reaching Band 7.0 overall.

Task Achievement - 7

- The response covers all requirements of the task, including a clear overview of the main trends. - All three sources (coal, gas, oil) are described with supporting data from the chart. - Key features are highlighted, such as the peak for gas and the overall decline for coal and oil.

Coherence & Cohesion - 7

- Paragraphing is logical with a clear introduction, overview, and two separate body paragraphs based on trends. - Cohesive devices like 'In contrast', 'Similarly', and 'after which' are used effectively to show relationships. - The progression of ideas is clear and easy to follow, though some referencing could be more sophisticated.

Lexical Resource - 6

- Vocabulary is adequate for the task, including words like 'fluctuated', 'uninterrupted', and 'contribution'. - Several spelling errors are present: 'considerbly', 'decresed', 'decresing', 'uniterrupted'. - The range of expression is sufficient to convey the data but lacks the precision and flexibility of higher bands.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy - 6

- A mix of simple and complex sentences is present, though errors occur in more complex structures. - Issues with verb forms are noted, such as 'saw its figure increased' instead of 'saw its figure increase'. - Punctuation is generally accurate, but some phrasing is slightly awkward or repetitive.

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