The charts below show the percentages of food and goods bought in supermarkets in European countries in 1998 and 2008.

Practice this IELTS Writing Task 1 question on IELTSX. The charts below show the percentages of food and goods bought in supermarkets in European countries in 1998 and 2008.

Percentage Food and Goods Bought Supermarkets European Countries 1998 2008 - 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.

IELTS Writing Task 1 chart for Percentage Food and Goods Bought Supermarkets European Countries 1998 2008
Chart supplied with the IELTS Writing Task 1 question: Percentage Food and Goods Bought Supermarkets European Countries 1998 2008

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 ยท 209 words.

The bar chart compares three different countries - Country A, Country B, and Country C - in terms of their proportion of food and goods bought in supermarkets in Europe in two separate years, 1998 and 2008. Units are measured in percentages.

From an overall perspective, it is clear that all categories experienced an upward trend, albeit with varying levels. Of particular note is Country A, which witnessed the largest growth across all countries.

As far as food sales are concerned, Country A started at 10% in 1998 before reaching a high of 35% by 2008. Meanwhile, Country B also rose notably to about 27% by 2008 after commencing at around 23% in 1998. Country C, on the other hand, began at roughly 6% in 1998, prior to climbing marginally to around 8% by 2008.

By contrast, the fraction of goods sales exhibits different patterns. As for Country A, the figure accounted for nearly 4% in 1998 before reaching approximately 39% by 2008. In the meantime, Country B was recorded at around 24% in 1998, while Country C registered at only about 1% at the same time. Interestingly, Country B rose minimally to around 26% by 2008, but the figure for Country C climbed drastically to 14% by 2008.

Examiner feedback

This is a very strong response that accurately captures the trends and data from the charts. The organization is logical, and the language is varied and precise. To improve further, focus on making more direct comparisons between the countries rather than describing their progress individually.

Task Achievement - 8

- The response covers all requirements by comparing food and goods across three countries and two time periods. - A clear overview is provided, highlighting the general upward trend. - Key features are skillfully selected and supported with accurate data points.

Coherence & Cohesion - 8

- Information is logically organized by category (food and then goods), which allows for easy comparison. - Cohesive devices such as 'meanwhile', 'on the other hand', and 'by contrast' are used effectively to link ideas. - Paragraphing is clear and appropriate for a Task 1 response.

Lexical Resource - 8

- A wide range of vocabulary is used to describe changes, such as 'witnessed the largest growth', 'commencing at', and 'rose minimally'. - Use of synonyms for data like 'proportion', 'fraction', and 'figure' prevents repetition. - Word choice is precise and collocation is generally natural.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy - 8

- A variety of complex structures is used with flexibility, including 'before reaching', 'prior to climbing', and 'which witnessed'. - Punctuation is well-managed throughout the response. - The majority of sentences are error-free, demonstrating high level of control.

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