User-written IELTS example

Writing Academic Task 1 Band 8.0 Example

Original task prompt, user essay, band score, and related examples in the same report workspace.

199 words AcademicTask 1Line Graph

Task 1

Illustrative target band for this original model answer.

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Ideas to explore

Petroleum was the leading fuel throughout, reaching about 140 in the mid-1980s, dipping around 1990–91, then recovering to a similar level.
Coal had a sharp early fall, a partial rebound, and then a longer decline to about 35 by 2000.
Natural gas stayed near 40 for much of the 1980s, rose strongly after 1991, and ended at about 100, above coal but below petroleum.

Suggested structure

Introduce the graph by naming the three fuels, the UK, the years and the unit.
Give an overview of the overall ranking and the contrasting directions of change.
Describe petroleum’s rise, dip and recovery with key dates and approximate figures.
Compare coal’s decline with natural gas’s later growth, including their end values.

Useful vocabulary & examples

remain the leading source: continue to have the highest production level among the categories.
Petroleum remained the leading source throughout the period.
fall sharply: decrease quickly and substantially over a relatively short interval.
Coal production fell sharply to around 40 in 1984.
recover to approximately: rise again after a decline to reach a similar or specified level.
Petroleum recovered to approximately 140 in 1996.
overtake: become greater than another category after previously being lower.
Natural gas overtook coal in the early 1990s.

Task Prompt

The graph below shows the production levels of the main kinds of fuel in the UK between 1981 and 2000. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparison where relevant.

User Essay Analysis

Review the public answer with report-style highlights.

Band 8.0

The given graph illustrates the production output of several kinds of energy resources in the United Kingdom between 1981 and 2000. Overall, there were fluctuations in petroleum refinement and coal mining, but there was mainly an upward trend for natural gas production. For the 20-year span between 1981 and 2000, petroleum has been the highest throughout the period, in terms of output. It began at around 90 energy units in 1981 and climbed rapidly to approximately 140 by 1984. After remaining close to this level for several years, production fell to about 100 in 1990–91. It then recovered, reaching roughly 140 in 1996 and fluctuating around 140–150 until 2000. Natural gas output was comparatively steady at about 40 units during the early years. From around 1989, it rose gradually, with a more noticeable increase after 1991, and finished at approximately 100 units. Coal, by contrast, began at about 80 units, dropped sharply to around 40 in 1984, and briefly recovered to just over 60 in 1986. Thereafter, it generally declined, despite small fluctuations, ending at approximately 35 units. Thus, petroleum remained the leading fuel, while natural gas was the only source to show a clear overall increase.

Targeted Improvement Tips

Replace process terms such as “refinement” with the measure shown: fuel production or output.

Keep historical descriptions in the past tense and make ranking statements explicit, for example, “had the highest output.”

Use the chart’s largest changes to guide the detail: petroleum’s early rise and later recovery, gas’s sustained increase, and coal’s overall fall.

AI Feedback

Overall Band

8.0

Excellent

Words

199

Type

Line Graph

Criteria Breakdown

Task Achievement

7.0 Band

The answer covers the full period and identifies the main contrast: petroleum has the highest output, natural gas rises overall, and coal declines. The figures are appropriately approximate, such as natural gas ending at “approximately 100 units.” However, calling petroleum “refinement” describes a process rather than the graph’s production measure. Next, use the chart’s production terminology consistently and prioritise the overall trends before adding key turning points.

Coherence & Cohesion

7.0 Band

The sequence is easy to follow: an overview is followed by petroleum’s pattern and then comparisons with gas and coal. Phrases such as “By contrast” clarify the shift to coal. The final summary repeats the overall direction but adds little after the overview. To refine the organisation, group the three series into a clearer high-output versus lower-output comparison, or omit the repeated concluding sentence.

Lexical Resource

6.5 Band

There is useful task vocabulary, including “climbed rapidly,” “remained close,” and “fluctuating,” which helps describe different movements. However, “petroleum refinement” is not an accurate label for the plotted series, and “petroleum has been the highest” is an imprecise way to express its ranking. Replace these with “petroleum production” and “had the highest output,” and use “units” consistently when reporting values.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy

6.0 Band

Most of the continuation uses clear past-tense clauses, for example, “It began at around 90 energy units in 1981.” The preserved phrase “petroleum has been the highest” shifts to the present perfect even though the chart describes a completed period ending in 2000; the wording is also incomplete without an understood noun. Use “petroleum had the highest output” and check that tense remains consistent across the historical description.

Topic Band Distribution

Band 9.03 examples

Band 8.03 examples

Band 7.03 examples

Band 6.03 examples

Band 5.03 examples

Band 4.03 examples

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