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 · 204 words.

The line chart illustrates the average monthly contract cost for four mobile phone brands — Domo, Lex, Sim TX, and Alpha — in a European country from January to September 2002, with values given in euros.

Overall, the trends for the four brands differ significantly over the period. Domo’s contract price showed a steady rise from around 15 euros in January to a peak of 25 euros in July, before slightly declining to 24 euros by September. In contrast, Sim TX demonstrated a downward trend, starting at approximately 13 euros in January and falling to about 8 euros by May, after which it stabilised at that level until the end of the period.

Lex’s pricing remained relatively stable, fluctuating slightly between 10 and 12 euros throughout the nine months. Alpha, which began at a low of 5 euros in January, experienced a sharp increase from June onwards, rising to roughly 19 euros by September — a notable growth compared to its initial value.

Comparing the brands, Domo consistently had the highest contract cost for most of the period, while Sim TX and Lex remained in the mid‑to‑lower range. Alpha started as the cheapest option but ended up as one of the more expensive ones by September. This indicates varying pricing strategies among the providers over the observed timeframe.

Examiner feedback

The response is exceptionally well-written, fulfilling all Task 1 requirements with precise data selection and a clear overview. The language is natural, grammatically accurate, and demonstrates a strong command of cohesion and lexical resource.

Task Achievement - 8

- All requirements of the task are fully satisfied, presenting a clear overview of the main trends and comparisons. - Key features are accurately selected and supported by precise figures from the chart. - The data is appropriately categorised and highlights the differences between the four mobile phone brands effectively.

Coherence & Cohesion - 8

- The response is well-structured with clear paragraphs, including an introduction, overview, and body paragraphs detailing the trends. - Cohesive devices such as "In contrast" and "while" are used effectively to link ideas and contrast data points. - Information flows logically with a clear progression from individual trends to comparative analysis.

Lexical Resource - 8

- A varied and precise vocabulary is used to describe trends, such as "steady rise", "downward trend", and "fluctuating slightly". - Word formation and spelling are entirely accurate, with appropriate use of collocations. - The language feels natural and well-suited to an academic Task 1 response.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy - 8

- A wide range of sentence structures is used accurately and flexibly throughout the response. - Grammar and punctuation are well controlled, with frequent error-free sentences. - Complex structures are handled with high accuracy, contributing to natural readability.

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