The pie charts below show the proportion of clothing imported from different countries by the US and Japan in 1995 and 2000.

Proportion Clothing Imported Different Countries US Japan 1995 2000 - 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 8 · 295 words.

The given pie charts depict the proportion of clothing imported from different countries -- China, Bangladesh, South Korea, Indonesia and others -- by the US and Japan throughout a 5-year period, from 1995 to 2000.

Overall, China held the largest share of imports both in the USA and Japan over the years, while Indonesia consistently had the smallest share in the USA, but for Japan it was Bangladesh in 1995 and South Korea by 2000. The proportion of imports from China both in the USA and Japan, Indonesia and Bangladesh in Japan increased, whereas South Korea and Others saw declines in both countries. Notably, Indonesia and Bangladesh's proportions remained unchanged in the USA throughout the provided timeframe.

In 1995, China was the most prominent exporter, at 55% for Japan and 35% for the USA. Others ranked second in the USA and Japan , accounting for one-quarter of the total share (25%) and 17% respectively. These were followed by South Korea in both countries, hovering at approximately 17%. Imports from Bangladesh and Indonesia to the USA accounted for the lowest proportions, comprising 12% for the former and 10% for the latter. Conversely, Indonesia had a higher proportion than Bangladesh's share in the Japanese market, accounting for only 8% and 5% respectively.

By 2000, China surged in both countries, to 42% for the USA and 60% for Japan, maintaining its dominance. The Others category held second position in the USA and Japan, recording a small drop to 21% and 14% respectively. While Indonesia and Bangladesh remained unchanged in the USA, the situation in Japan differed, Bangladesh's figure doubled (10%), which was similar to the proportion of Indonesia. In contrast, South Korea saw a marginal decline in both countries, to 12% (in the USA) and 8% (in Japan).

Examiner feedback

This is a very strong response that comfortably reaches a Band 8 level. It features a clear overview, logical organization, and a wide range of precise vocabulary and complex grammatical structures.

Task Achievement - 8

- All key features and trends are identified and illustrated with accurate data. - A clear overview is provided, highlighting the dominance of China and general trends. - Comparisons between the US and Japan are consistently and effectively made.

Coherence & Cohesion - 8

- Information is logically organized by country and then by year. - Cohesive devices are used effectively (e.g., 'Conversely', 'In contrast', 'Notably') to signal comparisons. - Paragraphing is clear and appropriate for the data set.

Lexical Resource - 8

- Range of vocabulary is sophisticated and precise (e.g., 'depict', 'prominent exporter', 'dominance', 'marginal decline'). - Skillful use of synonyms for imports and proportions. - Very natural control of lexical features.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy - 8

- A wide variety of complex structures is used with high accuracy (e.g., 'hovering at', 'comprising', 'by 2000'). - The majority of sentences are error-free. - Punctuation is well-managed, though a small spacing error exists in one sentence.

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