The chart below shows the average cost of monthly contract for four different mobile (Cell) phones in a European country from January to September 2002, measured in euro.

Monthly Contract Cost Four Mobile Phones European Country 2002 Chart - 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 8.5 · 172 words.

The line graph illustrates the average monthly cost of mobile phone contracts for four different brands in a European country between January and September 2002, measured in euros.

Overall, it is clear that the cost of contracts for Domo and Alpha increased considerably over the period, while Sim TX showed a downward trend. Notably, Domo remained the most expensive option throughout most of the period.

At the beginning of the year, Domo’s monthly fee stood at around €15 and rose gradually to €20 by May, before peaking at approximately €25 in July. Although it fell slightly in August, it finished the period at about €23. Lex started at roughly €13, dropped to €10 in February, and then increased steadily and reached around €19 by September.

By contrast, Sim TX began with about €9 and fluctuated slightly until June, after which its cost declined to roughly €8. Initially, Alpha was the cheapest contract at €5, remaining low untill July, but then rose tremendously, reaching €25 and becoming the costliest option by September 2002.

Examiner feedback

This is a very strong response that satisfies all the requirements of the task with high precision. The overview is particularly effective, and the data is grouped logically to highlight comparisons rather than just listing numbers. Minor typos like 'untill' are the only slight imperfections in an otherwise top-tier performance.

Task Achievement - 8

- The response covers all the requirements of the task appropriately and sufficiently. - It provides a very clear overview identifying the main trends (Domo and Alpha up, Sim TX down) and the final ranking of the brands. - Key features are well-selected: initial points, peaks, and final values are all included. - Data is used effectively to support the description, with accurate approximations for figures.

Coherence & Cohesion - 9

- Information and ideas are logically sequenced with a very natural progression. - Paragraphing is used skillfully to group the brands (upward trends vs. stable/downward trends). - Cohesive devices (e.g., 'Notably', 'By contrast', 'Initially') are used seamlessly and do not attract undue attention. - Referencing (e.g., 'its cost', 'the period') is used effectively to avoid repetition.

Lexical Resource - 8

- A wide range of vocabulary is used accurately (e.g., 'stood at', 'fluctuated', 'rose tremendously', 'costliest'). - There is skillful use of uncommon items and collocations appropriate for Task 1. - Only one minor spelling error ('untill') was noted, which does not impede communication.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy - 9

- A wide range of structures is used with full flexibility and control. - The majority of sentences are error-free. - Punctuation is handled correctly throughout the response.

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