The chart below shows different methods of waste disposal in a European country from 2005 to 2008.

Waste Disposal Methods European Country 2005-2008 Bar 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 8.5 · 201 words.

The chart illustrates the different methods of waste disposal in a European country between 2005 and 2008.

Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that landfill was the dominant method at the beginning of the period but declined significantly over time, while burning increased steadily and became the most common method. In contrast, dumping at sea remained relatively stable with only slight fluctuations.

To begin with, landfill accounted for by far the largest amount of waste in 2005, at around 1,800 million tonnes. However, this figure fell sharply over the following years, dropping to approximately 1,200 in 2006 and then to about 900 in 2007, before reaching just 600 million tonnes in 2008. Meanwhile, burning showed a consistent upward trend, rising from 500 million tonnes in 2005 to 600 in 2006 and 700 in 2007, eventually peaking at around 900 million tonnes in 2008, making it the leading disposal method.

Turning to dumping at sea, the figures were comparatively stable throughout the period. It stood at roughly 600 million tonnes in 2005 and 2006, before experiencing a slight decline to around 550 in 2008. Overall, while landfill usage decreased markedly, burning gained prominence, and sea dumping showed minimal change.

Examiner feedback

This is an exceptional response that demonstrates a high level of control over both language and data analysis. The trends are identified clearly, and the comparison between the declining use of landfills and the rising popularity of burning is well-articulated. The only minor area for improvement is avoiding the repetition of the overview at the very end of the essay, which is unnecessary in Task 1.

Task Achievement - 9

- The response fully satisfies all requirements of the task, providing a comprehensive overview of the trends for all three disposal methods. - Key features are skillfully selected; the writer correctly identifies the intersection where burning overtakes landfill as the primary method. - All data points are accurate and the comparisons between the different categories are clearly highlighted.

Coherence & Cohesion - 9

- Information is logically organized with a clear progression from the introduction/overview to specific data analysis. - Cohesive devices (e.g., 'To begin with,' 'Meanwhile,' 'Turning to') are used naturally and effectively to guide the reader. - Paragraphing is used skillfully to separate the dominant trends from the stable ones.

Lexical Resource - 8

- A wide range of vocabulary is used fluently to convey precise meanings (e.g., 'dominant method,' 'slight fluctuations,' 'gained prominence'). - There is skillful use of uncommon items and varied ways to express approximation (around, approximately, roughly, about). - To reach a Band 9, the writer could use even more sophisticated synthesis of data rather than reporting figures in a slightly mechanical sequence in the middle section.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy - 9

- A wide range of structures is used with full flexibility and control. - The response is error-free, utilizing complex sentences and participial phrases (e.g., 'dropping to...', 'making it...') accurately. - Punctuation is used correctly throughout, enhancing the clarity of the comparisons.

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