IELTS Task 1 Marking Criteria (selected levels)

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What to expect

Key tips
• Constantly produce error-free sentences
• Don’t paraphrase at the expense of accuracy. Many words don’t have synonyms (e.g. family)
• Change the word form or sentence pattern instead, so that the meaning is kept.

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Line Graphs
Example 1: Percentage of the Population of Four Asian Countries
The charts below show the changes in ownership of electrical appliances and amount of time spent doing
housework in households in one country between 1920 and 2019.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where
relevant.

Tip
As you look at a graph/table/chart for the first time, ask yourself:
• Are there any common trends in the sources?
• Does any of the information differ from the rest in an obvious and significant way? If so, how?
• Is there anything that two or more categories have in common?
• Is there anything that only happens once?

How to make relevant and clear comparisons?

1. Never assume there is a causal relationship between the two graphs
2. Overview – include general trends, biggest category and biggest increase
3. Don’t make too many comparisons
4. Don’t mix all the lines together – report the lines one by one (as they have different trajectories)

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Sample Writing
The charts illustrate changes in household electrical appliance ownership Paraphrase using the title
and weekly housework hours in one country from 1920 to 2019. The first
chart shows the percentage of households owning washing machines,
refrigerators, and vacuum cleaners, while the second chart displays the Average = Total / weeks /
average hours spent on housework per week. households

Overall, ownership of all three electrical appliances increased significantly

over this period, with that of refrigerators having the greatest growth.
Meanwhile, the weekly hours spent on housework dropped sharply, with Comparison of adoptions –
the greatest changes occurring between 1920 and 1980. compare the lines one by
one
Looking at the first chart, washing machines were the most common
appliance in 1920, owned by 40% of households, while vacuum cleaners Show general trend +
were found in 30% of homes. Almost no households had refrigerators at this turning point
time. By 1940, ownership of all three appliances had risen notably, with
washing machines reaching 60%, and both refrigerators and vacuum
cleaners increasing to about 55% of households. Sharp changes noted

The most dramatic change was seen in refrigerator ownership, which rose
rapidly to reach 90% by 1960 and 100% by 1980. Vacuum cleaner
ownership grew more gradually, reaching 100% by 2000. In contrast,
washing machine ownership levelled off at around 70% from 1960 onwards,
with a slight dip to 65% in 1980 before rising again to 75% by 2019.

In contrast, as shown in the second chart, weekly housework hours fell Compare the trends of both
sharply from 50 hours in 1920 to 35 hours in 1940, and then continued to charts
decline to 15 hours by 1980. From there, the decrease was more gradual, There is no correlation
with hours dropping slightly to reach just above 10 hours per week in 2019. between the two graphs

Learning point – Describing changes

Increase Decrease General trends Peak

General General ● fluctuate ● peaks

● reaches a peak
● go up ● go down
● remains stable
● rise ● fall
● is essentially
● increase ● decrease
unchanged
● climb ● drop
Sudden A large decrease ● hover (very small,
● jump ● plunge ongoing fluctuations)
● shoot up ● plummet ● stabilises / levels off
● rocket ● collapse ● bottoms out
(downward trend
reaching minimum)

Learning point – Percentage vs percentage points

Change in percentage points = ending percentage value – beginning percentage value

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Bar Charts
Example 2: Families in a Country
The chart below gives information about how families in one country spent their weekly income in 1968
and 2018.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where
relevant.

The bar graph presents data on how the average family (per family per Average weekly spending
week) in one particular country spent their weekly income in 1968 and by families
2018.

Overall, the way families spent their income had changed significantly by Overview: Trend and
2018 compared with 1968. Most notably, leisure and housing had biggest categories
overtaken food as the largest areas of expenditure (≠ their expenses).

In 1968 families spent most on food, accounting for 35% of their weekly Biggest categories
income, while in 2018 this figure decreased by almost half to around 17%.
In 1968, the proportion of weekly income spent in any of the other Broad comments
categories never exceeded 10%. However, leisure and housing both showed Not the sum of other
a significant increase in 2018, replacing food as the largest expenses with categories
approximately 22% and 19% of family income respectively.

Expenditure on transport also rose, to almost 15% of weekly income, whilst Smaller categories
money spent on household goods remained at roughly 7%. In comparison,
clothing and footwear, fuel and power, and personal goods all saw a
reduction to no more than 5% of weekly income.

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Pie Charts
Example 3: Average Percentages in Typical Meals
The charts below show the average percentages in typical meals of three types of nutrients, all of which
may be unhealthy if eaten too much.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where
relevant.
Average percentages of sodium, saturated fats and
added sugars in typical meals consumed in the USA

Handling pie charts

1. Choose the biggest categories (comparative, superlative and greatest source)
2. Describe the charts one at a time
3. Show similarities and differences when you start discussing the 2nd pie chart.

The pie charts illustrate the distribution of three potentially harmful nutrients
– sodium, saturated fat, and added sugar – across different meals in typical
American diets.

Overall, there are distinct consumption patterns for each nutrient, with Analyse the charts one by
dinner dominating sodium and saturated fat intake, while snacks contribute one
the highest proportion of added sugar. Notably, breakfast consistently shows
the lowest or joint-lowest consumption across all three nutrients.

Sodium consumption is highest at dinner and second highest at lunch, ≠ the highest
accounting for 43% and 29% of total sodium consumption respectively.
The proportions of this type of nutrient taken in at snack time and breakfast
are the same, both at 14%. Dinner and lunch also account for the largest and
the second largest proportions of total saturated fat intake respectively, at
37% and 26%. However, a greater proportion is eaten at snack time, at
21%, than at breakfast, at 16%.

Compared with the other two nutrients, added sugar has a relatively low
consumption level at dinner, at 23%. It is snacks that are the greatest source
of sugar intake, at 42%. However, as with the other nutrients, it is also
consumed least at breakfast, at only 16%.

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Tables
Example 4: Families in a Country
The table below gives information about the underground railway systems in six cities.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where
relevant.

Handling tables
1. Determine which way to analyse – by city or by points of comparison?
2. Group categories together when they show similarities
3. There can be biggest two – e.g. largest annual passenger numbers
4. Report less important data in broader sentences – give a rough number or give a range

The table provides information about underground railway systems across

six major cities, showing their opening dates, route lengths, and annual
passenger numbers.

Overall, the three oldest systems, in London, Paris and Tokyo, have more Showing comparison
extensive routes and higher passenger volumes than the three in Washington
DC, Kyoto and Los Angeles.

Opening in 1863 and spanning 394 kilometers, London’s is the oldest and
longest of the systems in the six cities. Railway systems opened in Paris in
1900 and Tokyo in 1927. Even though they are less than 200 kilometers Comparison
long, they have the largest annual passenger numbers, at 1927 million for
Tokyo and 1191 million for Paris, surpassing the one in London.

In contrast, Kyoto and Los Angeles were the last two of these cities to have
their own railway networks. These two networks also have the shortest
routes, at 11 and 28 kilometers respectively, and are used by the smallest
numbers of passengers per year, at 45 and 50 million respectively. Compared
with the two networks mentioned above, the one in Washington DC is
relatively long, at 126 kilometers, and has a relatively large yearly
passenger count, at 144 million.

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Mixed Charts
Example 5: Police Budget
The table and charts below give information on the police budget for 2017 and 2018 in one area of
Britain. The table shows where the money came from and the charts show how it was distributed.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where
relevant.

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Expressing increase
which rose
with an increase
saw the largest growth
£10.5 million more than the previous year
up from £38 million in the previous year

Sample writing

The table shows police budget funding sources, while the pie charts illustrate
expenditure distribution in a British region during 2017-2018.

Overall, while the total budget increased from £304.7m to £318.6m, the
funding structure remained relatively stable, with the national government
providing the largest share. The expenditure patterns showed a notable shift
from salaries toward technology, though salaries remained the dominant
expense category.

The national government contributed the largest portion of funding, Table

increasing marginally from £175.5m to £177.8m. Of all sources of funding,
local taxes showed the most substantial growth, rising by £11.1m to reach
£102.3m in 2018. Other sources, including grants, remained relatively stable
with a slight increase from £38m to £38.5m.

Regarding expenditure, while salaries for officers and staff consumed the Pie chart
majority of the budget, their share decreased from 75% to 69%. This
reduction coincided with increased investment in technology, which rose
from 8% to 14% of total spending. The proportion allocated to buildings and
transport remained constant at 17% across both years, despite the larger
overall budget.

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Map
Example 6: Southwest Airport
The plans below show the site of an airport now and how it will look after redevelopment next year.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where
relevant.

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Sample writing
The plans compare Southwest Airport’s current layout with its planned
redevelopment next year.

Overall, the airport will undergo significant expansion, with more than
double the number of gates and additional facilities to enhance convenience
for both departing and arriving passengers.

In the departures area, which is accessed through the left entrance, the most Departures area
notable change will be the addition of a bag-drop zone before passport
control. While the check-in counters will be repositioned to accommodate
this new facility, they will remain immediately before passport control. The
café will be relocated near the entrances, and security screening will
maintain its position after passport control.

The concourse will see the most substantial transformation. The current Concourse
eight-gate configuration with its moving walkway will be replaced by an
extended concourse featuring 18 gates, served by a new sky train system.
Additionally, retail outlets will be introduced beyond security, where
currently there are none.

The arrivals hall will be significantly enhanced. While it currently houses Arrivals hall
only passport control and customs facilities, the redevelopment will
introduce various services after customs, including a café, ATM machines,
and car rental facilities.

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Example 7: Grange Park
The plans below show a public park when it first opened in 1920 and the same park today.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where
relevant.

Verbs for Describing Changes

Consider the stage for musicians. Was it converted into an amphitheater, using much of the original material?
Or, was the stage completely removed and a new amphitheater was built? There is no way that we can tell
from the maps. Therefore, it's best to avoid using the three verbs below.
turn into convert into transform into
“Knock down” and “tear down” are also bad word choices here because, again, we don't know what
happened to those old features. Maybe they were burned down by fire rather than knocked down by
construction workers.

Use the below expressions instead:

● Replace: The stage for musicians has been replaced by an amphitheater.)
● Give way to: The stage for musicians has given way to an amphitheater.)
● Give place to: The stage for musicians has given place to an amphitheater.)
● Take the place of: An amphitheater has taken the place of the stage for musicians.)
● House: The park's left side previously housed a stage for musicians.)
● Feature: The park's left side now features an amphitheater.)

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Use ‘Previously’ or ‘Previous’ to Describe Old Features
To the right of the Eldon Street entrance, a water feature has been added, taking the place of the previous
glasshouse and seating area.
The park's left side, which previously housed a stage for musicians, now features an amphitheater.

Three Clauses for Describing Changes

Which clause: The central feature used to be a fountain, which has now been replaced by a rose garden
surrounded by seats.
Where clause: A café and children’s play area now occupy the space where the rose garden and water
plants’ pond used to be.
Participle clause: A water feature has been added, taking the place of the previous glasshouse and seating
area.

How to Paraphrase the Question Statement

It's impossible to change the keywords “public park”. So we can simply add some additional information and
use a different grammatical construction.
Original: The plans below show a public park when it first opened in 1920 and the same park today.
My paraphrase: The maps illustrate the changes in the layout of Grange Park between its inauguration in
1920 and the present day.

Sample writing
The maps illustrate the changes in the layout of Grange Park between its
inauguration in 1920 and the present day.

Overall, the park has undergone substantial modernization, with its original
natural elements giving way to contemporary facilities. These modifications
have enhanced both visitor access and the park's recreational capabilities.

The original entrances along Arnold Avenue and Eldon Street have been Entrances
retained, though a new entrance on Eldon Street now provides access to the
newly constructed underground parking facility.

The park’s central area has undergone significant transformation. The Central area
original fountain has been replaced with a rose garden encircled by seating.
The former glasshouse and seating area have given way to a water feature,
while the original rose garden and water plants’ pond have been converted
into a café and children's play area.

On the left, an amphitheater now stands where musicians once performed on Left area
a stage. The rose garden adjacent to Arnold Avenue remains the sole
preserved feature from 1920.

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Process Diagrams
Example 8: Salmon
The diagrams below show the life cycle of a species of large fish called the salmon.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where
relevant.

Verbs for Describing a Life Cycle

● Develop: The smolts develop into adult salmon.
● Grow: The smolts grow into adult salmon.
● Mature: The smolts mature into adult salmon.
● Turn: The smolts turn into adult salmon.
● Transform: The smolts transform into adult salmon.
● Consider: After growing in the lower river for about 4 years, the fry reach 12-15 centimeters long and
are considered smolts.

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Does the Life Cycle Have 3 or 4 Stages?
The numbers in the diagrams are not stages. They are there to refer you to the matching numbered
items in the legend. (A legend is a table on a map or chart, listing and explaining the symbols used.)
The life cycle has four main stages: egg, fry, smolt, and adult.

Common Mistakes
1. The plural form of “salmon” is also “salmon”, not “salmons”.
☑ The salmon has an average lifespan of nine years. (Here, "the salmon" refers to the species and
therefore is singular.)
☑ Salmon have an average lifespan of nine years. (Here, "salmon" refers to the fish themselves and
therefore is plural.)

2. When meaning small fish, "fry" is both singular and plural.

☑ After the eggs hatch, the baby salmon hide among the stones for approximately 5 to 6 months to
mature into fry that measure 3 to 8 centimeters long.
☑ After the eggs hatch, the baby salmon hide among the stones for approximately 5 to 6 months to
mature into fries that measure 3 to 8 centimeters long.

Warning
The diagrams are very misleading. For example, it looks like only after salmon leave the oceans do they
become adults. However, in fact, it is in the oceans where they grow into adults. Read some articles online to
get an idea of when salmon grow into fry, smolts and adults.

Sample writing
The diagrams display the life cycle of the salmon, which is a large fish
species.

Overall, salmon have an average lifespan of nine years and their life cycle
consists of four main stages: egg, fry, smolt, and adult. While the first three Ellipsis
stages occur in freshwater, the last one takes place in saline water.

The life cycle begins when salmon eggs are laid among small stones at the The river
base of reeds in the upper part of a river, where the current is slow. After
proximately 5 to 6 months, fry which measure 3 to 8 centimeters long can be
seen in the water. The fry then swim to the lower, faster-flowing part of the
river. After growing and feeding there for about 4 years, they reach 12 to 15
centimeters and are considered smolts.

They then head to the ocean where they grow/mature into adult salmon The ocean
which average 70 to 76 centimeters long. They spend around 5 years there,
after which they migrate upstream to their birthplace to spawn, and the entire
journey is repeated all over again.

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Example 9: Sugarcane
The diagram below shows the manufacturing process for making sugar from sugar cane.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where
relevant.

How to Write the Overview

“Overall, the process consists of seven steps of various time length, starting by farming sugar canes and ending
by drying sugar ready to use.”

Examiner’s comment
There is an overview presented in the first paragraph which summarizes the process into the farming stages
and the drying stages. This summary could be more detailed, e.g. farming, crushing, separating and drying
stages.

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Articles
Juice
Both “juice” and “the juice” are correct but “the juice” sounds better. The idea is the juice that is in the canes.
☑ The harvested canes are then crushed in a mill to extract juice.
☑ The harvested canes are then crushed in a mill to extract the juice. (even better)

Syrup
Both “syrup” and “a syrup” are correct. However, “a syrup” is definitely a better match for this context.
Normally we don't talk about “a syrup”. But this is a production process with steps. One of those steps
produces a substance that is a specific type of syrup.
Imagine a different production process that produces two syrups, each one at a different stage. Those are two
syrups. There might be a syrup produced at stage 3 and a different syrup produced at stage 6. You can't just
call all of it “syrup”. It’s more specific than that.
☑ The purified juice is boiled in an evaporator to remove water, which concentrates it into syrup.
☑ The purified juice is boiled in an evaporator to remove water, which concentrates it into a syrup. (even
better)

Sample writing
The diagram displays how sugar is manufactured from sugar cane.

Overall, it is a linear process consisting of four main stages: farming,

crushing, separating and drying.

The first step is to grow sugar cane and it takes about 12 to 18 months for it Growing sugarcane
to mature. After it has fully grown, it is harvested either manually or
mechanically. The manual method involves farmers removing the leaves first
and then chopping the canes, while the mechanized method uses machines to
cut the canes directly.

The harvested canes are then crushed in a mill to extract the juice, which Juice
later on is purified using a limestone filter. Next, the purified juice is boiled
in an evaporator to remove water, which concentrates it into a syrup. The
syrup is then poured into a centrifuge where it is spun at high speed to
separate the sugar crystals. Finally, the crystals are dried and cooled and the
end product is sugar.

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