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.

200 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 6.0

The provided line graph delineates the production levels of the main fuels in the UK between 1981 to 2000. Overall, it can be noted that majority of the fuel production was of petroleum over two decades. Coal was at a decent production rate at the starting, but plummeted over the period. On the other hand, natural gas output remained almost stable at about 40 million tonnes of oil equivalent until the late 1980s, before rising steadily. It overtook coal in the early 1990s and reached approximately 100 million tonnes by 2000.

Petroleum production began at around 90 million tonnes in 1981 and climbed sharply to about 140 in the mid-1980s. It then fluctuated slightly before falling to roughly 100 in 1991. After that, it recovered, reaching about 140 in 1996 and ending the period at a similar level.

Coal started at approximately 80 million tonnes, but its output fell sharply to around 40 in 1984. Although it recovered to just over 60 by 1986, production generally declined thereafter, finishing at about 35 in 2000. By contrast, natural gas increased substantially from roughly 40 to 100 over the period. At the end, it ranked second, while coal was the least-produced fuel.

Targeted Improvement Tips

Replace the opening overview with two concise comparisons: petroleum was the highest throughout, while gas rose and coal fell overall.

Use consistent units when giving figures, for example, “about 140 million tonnes of oil equivalent,” and avoid repeating the unit only where convenient.

Group related trends together and check the first paragraph specifically for article use, preposition pairs, and natural phrases such as “at the start.”

AI Feedback

Overall Band

6.0

Competent

Words

200

Type

Line Graph

Criteria Breakdown

Task Achievement

6.5 Band

The answer covers all three fuels and identifies the main trends: petroleum remains highest, natural gas rises, and coal declines overall. Details such as gas reaching “approximately 100 million tonnes by 2000” and coal finishing “at about 35 in 2000” support the summary. However, the opening claim that the “majority” of production was petroleum is less precise than saying it was the highest-producing fuel. Next, keep the overview focused on rankings and overall directions.

Coherence & Cohesion

6.0 Band

The response moves from an overview to fuel-specific details, and “By contrast” helps connect the final comparison. The sequence is understandable, though the body first discusses gas, then petroleum, and then coal and gas again, so the comparison is somewhat repetitive. Organise the body into petroleum versus the two lower-producing fuels, or use one paragraph per fuel with a consistent order. This would make the changes and final ranking easier to follow.

Lexical Resource

6.0 Band

There is useful task vocabulary in “fluctuated slightly,” “recovered,” and “declined thereafter,” and the answer generally describes the graph’s movements clearly. Some wording is imprecise or conversational: “decent production rate” does not describe a measurable trend, while “at the starting” is not an idiomatic phrase. Replace these with neutral chart language such as “relatively high at the start” and “production fell.” Also use “output” consistently to avoid repetition.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy

5.5 Band

Most of the continuation uses clear past-tense sentences, including “It then fluctuated slightly before falling.” However, the opening has several noticeable problems: “between 1981 to 2000” uses the wrong preposition pairing, and “that majority” is missing an article. “Coal was at a decent production rate at the starting” is also awkwardly formed. Check articles and fixed preposition patterns, then read the opening aloud while editing for complete, natural sentence structures.

Topic Band Distribution

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