The charts below show the proportion of people's total spending in a particular European country was spent on different commodities and services in 1958 and in 2008.

Proportion of total spending on different commodities and services in European country in 1958 and 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.

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 · 167 words.

The pie charts illustrate the proportions of individuals' spending on six different commodities and services in 1958 and in 2008 in a particular European country.

Overall, spending on housing, travel and transport and luxury goods increased over the period, whereas spending on food, clothing and entertainment decreased. Although individuals spent the largest proportion on food at the beginning of the period, housing became the biggest spending category at the end of the period.

Regarding the categories on which people spent the most, housing followed an upward trend. Starting at 22% in 1958, it experienced an increase to 32% by 2008. Spending on travel and transport doubled from 8% to 17% over the period. Likewise, spending on luxury goods rose dramatically from 7% to 17%.

As for the remaining categories, spending on food decreased sharply from 32% to 12% by 2008. Moreover, spending on clothing remained almost unchanged, falling only slightly from 18% to 16%. The proportion spent on entertainment more than halved, dropping from 13% to 6%.

Examiner feedback

The response is well-structured, accurate, and covers all requirements of the task efficiently with a clear overview and precise data support. The grammar, vocabulary, and cohesion are handled skillfully, resulting in a strong band 8 performance.

Task Achievement - 8

- All parts of the task are fully and appropriately satisfied, with accurate data selection from the charts. - A clear overview is presented, highlighting the main trends and shifts in spending categories. - Key features such as the largest spending categories at the start and end periods are effectively contrasted and supported with precise figures.

Coherence & Cohesion - 8

- Information is logically organised into clear paragraphs with an introduction, overview, and distinct body paragraphs. - Cohesive devices such as "Regarding", "As for the remaining categories", and "Likewise" are used effectively to guide the reader. - The progression of ideas is smooth, with clear referencing throughout the text.

Lexical Resource - 8

- A wide range of vocabulary appropriate for describing statistical data and trends is used fluently. - Words like "proportion", "upward trend", "sharply", and "remain almost unchanged" demonstrate a strong lexical resource. - Word formation and spelling are entirely accurate.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy - 8

- A wide range of sentence structures, including complex forms, is used with high accuracy. - Grammar and punctuation are very well controlled, with error-free sentences dominating the response. - Control over tense usage (past simple for past data) is consistent and accurate.

Related prompts

• Male Female Students Art Related Subjects UK University 2011
• Town Centre Changes 1990 and Today
• Male Female Students High Grades Five Subjects Parston School National Average
• Qualifications Staff Advertising Company 1990 and 2010
• Australian School Leavers Activity 1980 1990 2000
• Layout Town Shopping Centre Present and Future Redevelopment