The line graph shows the percentage of spending in a European country from 1960 to 2000.

Percentage of spending in a European country 1960 to 2000 - 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 · 198 words.

The line graph illustrates how the percentage of spending on five different purposes changed from 1960 to 2000.

Overall, it can be observed that money spent on most purposes decreased noticeably, with the exception of transport, where the figure grew gradually. While spending on food accounted for the highest percentage, money spent on energy was the lowest throughout the period.

In terms of the noticeable decreases, money spent on food fell significantly. Starting at around 33%, it dipped slightly to 30% in 1970 before declining gradually over the period and reaching just below 15% in 2000. Meanwhile, spending on leisure exhibited a less pronounced fall compared to spending on food. Starting at 20% initially, the figure declined steadily to about 13% by the end of the timeframe.

As for the minor changes, spending on energy and clothing witnessed modest declines over the period. In 1960, the figures were 10% for the former and 5% for the latter, which then decreased to 5% and 2% respectively. Conversely, money spent on transport rose progressively and overtook the percentage for food. Starting at around 8% in the initial years, the figure grew gradually over the timeframe and recorded 15% in 2000.

Examiner feedback

This is a very high-quality response that clearly and accurately summarizes the data. The organization is logical, the vocabulary is varied, and the grammatical control is excellent, missing only the 'full flexibility' or 'rare lapses' requirement for a Band 9.

Task Achievement - 8

- The response covers all key features of the graph, including the starting points, ending points, and significant trends for all five categories. - A clear overview is provided, identifying the general decline in most categories and the unique growth in transport. - Data is accurately extracted from the graph and used effectively to support the description.

Coherence & Cohesion - 8

- Paragraphs are logically organized by trend type (major decreases vs. minor changes/increases), ensuring a smooth flow. - Cohesive devices such as "Conversely", "Meanwhile", and "Starting at..." are used naturally to link data points. - Referencing (e.g., "the former", "the latter", "the period") is precise and avoids unnecessary repetition.

Lexical Resource - 8

- Uses a strong range of vocabulary for describing trends: "exhibited a less pronounced fall", "declined steadily", "rose progressively". - Collocations are natural and precise (e.g., "witnessed modest declines", "overtook the percentage"). - Spelling and word formation are accurate with no noticeable errors.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy - 8

- A wide range of structures is used, including complex sentences and participial phrases (e.g., "Starting at around 33%, it dipped..."). - The majority of sentences are error-free with correct tense usage (past tense for historical data). - Punctuation is well-managed throughout the response.

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