Band 8
A real candidate answer at Band 8, with every examiner correction marked on it. 7 corrections.
Band 8 answers are accurate and well organised. The few corrections marked here are mostly about naturalness rather than error.
Very few candidates need to reach Band 8, but seeing one is useful because it shows how little separates it from a good Band 7.
Click any highlighted word to see the correction. The commentary at the foot of the page explains what holds the answer at this band overall.
The task
The chart this describes is noted below.
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
The bar chart shows the number of children in two different age groups in an average class in different countries.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
You should write at least 150 words.
The original chart for this task is not currently shown. The answer below describes the data in full, so the report still reads correctly without it.
The answer
Reproduced exactly as written, errors included.
The bar chart compares the average number of pupils per class in four different countries: Japan, Hong Kong, Russia and the United States. The vertical axis shows the students per class from 0 to 40 and the two coloured columns present the children's ages, 9 and 13.
As can be seen in the graph, It is followed by the United States (slightly more than ) and by Japan with a number of around 30 pupils. In Hong Kong, there are about 35 students in a class. The number of students per class in all countries, except Russia, reaches or exceeds the global average (22).
The number of students in Japan and Hong Kong are inverse 9 with 13. In other words, Japanese classes are the biggest (35) and are succeeded by Hong Kong (marginally over 30 students).
The Russian (about 10) and American (17) figures are the global average (18).
Overall, just Japan and Hong Kong are above, Russia is below and America with the global average.
(192 words)
Examiner comments
The overall verdict, criterion by criterion.
The introduction is excellent, but the presentation of data in parenthesis (brackets) is not ideal.
There are one or two areas where the vocabulary could be improved, but in general this is very well written with only minor points to change to achieve a top score.
Full membership
Reading a corrected answer shows you what the errors look like. Finding them in your own writing is the harder skill, and it is the one that moves a band.
IELTStestONLINE assesses your writing and speaking against the four IELTS criteria, instantly and as often as you like, using a system built by a former IELTS examiner and examiner trainer. It keeps every score in one place with an estimated band, and it carries no advertising.
See what membership includesQuick question, 10 seconds
Where do you want to study or move to?
When are you planning to go?
How far along are you?
Want free IELTS practice sent to you?
Optional. Leave it blank and your answers are still counted.
Thanks. That helps.
Back to your practice.