The graph below shows the changes in car ownership in European households between 1971 and 2001.

Practice this IELTS Writing Task 1 question on IELTSX. The graph below shows the changes in car ownership in European households between 1971 and 2001.

Changes in car ownership in European households between 1971 and 2001 - 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.

IELTS Writing Task 1 chart for Changes in car ownership in European households between 1971 and 2001
Chart supplied with the IELTS Writing Task 1 question: Changes in car ownership in European households between 1971 and 2001

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 7 · 187 words.

The line graph compares the no-car, 1-car, and 2+-car categories in terms of the number of owners in European households over a 40-year period, between 1961 and 2001.

Overall, ownership of 2+ cars and 1 car exhibited an upward trajectory, whereas the reverse was true for the no-car category. Notably, the discrepancy between 1-car and 2+-car houses has narrowed down throughout the period.

In the initial year, the number of households with no car was dominant at a peak of approximately 73. Over the ensuing years, the figure dipped dramatically to about 10.

The remaining two households—2+ cars and 1 car—bucked this trend. The figure for the former was about 10, which was significantly lower than that of the latter at about 30 in 1961. The ownership of 1 car showed a marginal rise to roughly 35 prior to remaining static at 35 by 1981, after which this number witnessed a slight decrease to 30 in 1991 before staging a resurgence to 35 at the end of the period. Meanwhile, the ownership of 2+ cars skyrocketed to just under 50 throughout the timeframe, becoming the dominant category.

Examiner feedback

The response successfully covers the requirements of Task 1 by providing a clear overview and detailing the key trends for car ownership categories between 1971 and 2001. The language is generally well-controlled with a good variety of vocabulary and complex structures, resulting in a solid band 7 performance.

Task Achievement - 7

- The response covers all requirements of the task by addressing the three categories across the specified period. - A clear overview is presented, highlighting the main trends successfully. - Key features are selected and supported with data, though units (likely percentages) are omitted in the descriptions.

Coherence & Cohesion - 7

- Information is logically organized into an introduction, overview, and specific body paragraphs detailing trends. - Cohesive devices are used effectively to signal transitions between categories, though some referencing is slightly loose. - Paragraphing is clear and appropriate for Task 1 formatting.

Lexical Resource - 7

- A sufficient range of vocabulary is deployed to describe trends, such as 'upward trajectory', 'bucked this trend', and 'skyrocketed'. - Some minor collocation issues occur, such as referring to categories as 'households' rather than proportions/percentages. - Spelling and word formation are generally accurate.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy - 7

- A variety of complex sentence structures is used with reasonable accuracy and flexibility. - Grammar and punctuation are generally well controlled with frequent error-free sentences. - Minor awkwardness in phrasing does not heavily impede grammatical clarity.

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