User-written IELTS example

Writing Academic Task 1 Band 6.0 Example

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

197 words AcademicTask 1Line Graph

Task 1

Illustrative target band for this original model answer.

Plan your answer

Try your own response before reading the samples.

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 6.0

The displayed line graph depicts the volume of the premier fuels produced in the United Kingdom from 1981 to 2000. Looking at the details, there was a dramatic decrease in use of petroleum and coal for certain periods, while natural gas’s usage has experienced a stable rise. In 1981, about 95,000,000 tonnes of petroleum was produced, and its output then rose sharply to around 140 energy units by the middle of the decade. It fluctuated at this high level until 1986, before falling to approximately 100 in 1990. After that, petroleum production recovered, reaching about 140 in 1996 and remaining close to this figure through 2000.

Coal began at roughly 80 units. Following a steep drop to around 40 in 1984, it rebounded to just over 60 by 1986. Its output then declined overall, with a further fall in the early 1990s, ending at about 35 units. By contrast, natural gas started at approximately 40 units and changed little until the late 1980s. It subsequently increased, most noticeably after 1991, finishing at around 100 units in 2000. Overall, petroleum remained the leading fuel, while natural gas grew to become the second-largest source and coal declined.

Targeted Improvement Tips

Use the graph’s stated energy-unit scale consistently; check the opening petroleum figure rather than converting it to tonnes.

Make the overview distinguish petroleum’s rise to a high level, coal’s overall fall, and natural gas’s increase, then support each trend with one or two turning points.

Use past-tense production language throughout, and reserve words such as “stable” or “dramatic” for changes that the plotted line clearly supports.

AI Feedback

Overall Band

6.0

Competent

Words

197

Type

Line Graph

Criteria Breakdown

Task Achievement

5.5 Band

You cover all three fuels and identify the main contrast: petroleum remains highest, natural gas rises, and coal declines. The overview is useful, but “a dramatic decrease in use of petroleum” does not capture petroleum’s early rise, and the opening figure “95,000,000 tonnes” does not match the graph’s energy-unit scale. Next, report the axis units consistently and select the main turning points without implying a general decline in petroleum.

Coherence & Cohesion

6.0 Band

The account moves from an introduction and overview to petroleum, then coal and natural gas, with a closing comparison. This makes the trends easy to follow, and phrases such as “After that” and “By contrast” help signal sequence and comparison. However, the early overview conflicts with the later description of petroleum rising. Align the overview with the body, and group comparisons by trend rather than repeating broad claims.

Lexical Resource

5.5 Band

There is a useful range of trend language, including “rose sharply,” “rebounded,” and “declined overall.” Some choices are imprecise for this chart: “premier fuels” is an unusual substitute for “main fuels,” while “use” and “usage” describe consumption rather than the production being measured. “Stable rise” also understates the later, faster increase in gas output. Prefer precise production terms and distinguish gradual change from a sharp rise.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy

5.5 Band

Most sentences are complete, and the answer uses a mix of simple and more developed structures, such as “Following a steep drop …, it rebounded.” However, “natural gas’s usage has experienced” uses a present perfect form for a chart period that ended in 2000; past simple is more appropriate. The long opening also combines several claims. Use consistent past-tense reporting and check that each sentence describes one clear trend.

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

Practice this prompt

Use the same topic in Hack Admission AI and compare your answer with this example.

Check your answer on this topic Browse all examples

Writing Academic Task 1 Band 6.0 Example

Plan your answer

Ideas to explore

Suggested structure

Task Prompt

User Essay Analysis

Targeted Improvement Tips

Enhanced Essay

Related examples for this topic