The line graph shows the prison population in a European country between 1911 and 2001.

Line graph shows prison population European country between 1911 and 2001 - 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 · 173 words.

The two line graphs compare the male and female prison populations in a European country between 1911 and 2001.

Overall, both male and female prison populations experienced fluctuations in the first half of the twentieth century before diverging sharply after 1971, with the male figure rising dramatically while the female figure remained comparatively stable. Throughout the entire period, the male prison population was substantially larger than the female population, differing by a factor of more than ten.

In 1911, the male prison population stood at approximately 18,000, a figure that remained steady until 1921, before dropping to around 10,000 in 1931. It then rose gradually, reaching about 20,000 by 1961, before surging dramatically from 1971 onwards to reach roughly 44,000 by 2001.

The female prison population followed a different trajectory. Starting at approximately 3,200 in 1911, it declined steadily to a low of just 600 in 1941. Thereafter, it fluctuated moderately between 900 and 1,600, ending the period at around 1,600 in 2001, only marginally higher than at the midpoint of the century.

Examiner feedback

This is a model response for Task 1. It demonstrates a high level of mathematical literacy by comparing scales ('factor of ten') and identifies the most significant trend (the 1971 turning point) immediately. The language is academic, precise, and flows naturally.

Task Achievement - 9

- The response fully satisfies all requirements of the task, providing a comprehensive and accurate summary of the data. - The overview is exceptionally clear, identifying the sharp divergence after 1971 and the significant disparity in scale between the two groups. - Key features are skillfully selected; the writer highlights the peak for males and the low point for females with precise data support.

Coherence & Cohesion - 9

- Information is logically sequenced with a very natural progression from the general overview to specific gender-based trends. - Cohesive devices (e.g., 'thereafter', 'before surging', 'starting at') are used with such fluidity that they do not attract attention. - Paragraphing is managed skillfully, dedicating specific sections to each gender which aids clarity.

Lexical Resource - 9

- The vocabulary is sophisticated and precise (e.g., 'diverging sharply', 'substantially larger', 'trajectory', 'fluctuated moderately'). - The use of 'differing by a factor of more than ten' shows an excellent ability to interpret and describe data relationships mathematically and linguistically. - There are no errors in spelling or word formation.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy - 9

- A wide range of structures is used with full flexibility and control, such as participle clauses ('starting at...', 'ending the period...') and relative clauses. - The majority of sentences are error-free, and punctuation is used flawlessly to manage complex information. - The choice of tenses is consistently appropriate for the historical timeframe provided.

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