The chart below shows the average earnings of people in various areas of work in one country in 2000 and 2010. The table shows the average salary for all sectors in the same years.

Average Earnings Different Work Areas Country 2000 2010 Chart - 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.

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 9 · 168 words.

The bar chart compares the average annual earnings of full-time employees in six employment sectors in one country in 2000 and 2010, while the table presents the overall average salary across all sectors for the same years.

Overall, salaries increased in most sectors over the decade, and financial services consistently paid the highest wages. In addition, the average salary for all sectors rose from $44,000 in 2000 to $50,000 in 2010.

In 2000, employees in financial services earned approximately $110,000 on average, far exceeding other sectors. This figure climbed to around $130,000 in 2010. Telecommunications and administration also experienced growth, rising from about $60,000 to $70,000 and from roughly $45,000 to $50,000 respectively. Similarly, transport and retail saw moderate increases, reaching approximately $55,000 and $45,000 by 2010.

By contrast, tourism was the only sector to record a decline, with average earnings falling slightly from around $20,000 in 2000 to about $15,000 in 2010. Despite these differences, the overall trend indicates a general improvement in earnings over the period.

Examiner feedback

This is a model Band 9 response. It displays a clear understanding of the data, organizes it logically, and uses sophisticated, accurate language to describe trends and comparisons without any noticeable errors.

Task Achievement - 9

The response fully satisfies all requirements of the task. - It provides a comprehensive overview that highlights the general upward trend and identifies the highest-earning sector. - All six sectors from the bar chart are clearly mentioned with accurate data comparisons. - The information from the table is integrated effectively into the overview, providing a holistic summary of the data.

Coherence & Cohesion - 9

The message is followed effortlessly with logical sequencing of information. - Paragraphing is skillfully managed, separating the overview, growth sectors, and the declining sector. - Cohesive devices (e.g., 'respectively', 'by contrast', 'similarly') are used naturally and facilitate a smooth progression of ideas.

Lexical Resource - 9

The candidate uses a wide range of vocabulary with precision and natural control. - Variations for 'earnings' (wages, salary, figures) and 'increase' (climbed, experienced growth, moderate increases) are used appropriately. - The use of approximation language ('approximately', 'roughly', 'around') is sophisticated and necessary for interpreting bar charts.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy - 9

A wide range of structures is used with full flexibility and accuracy. - Complex sentence forms, such as those using 'while' and participial phrases ('rising from... to...'), are handled perfectly. - Punctuation and grammar are error-free throughout the response.

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