IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 – Sample Test10 (Line Graph)

Task Question

The line graph below illustrates the percentage of electricity generated from three renewable energy sources (solar, wind, and hydropower) in the USA, Germany, and China between 2000 and 2020.

Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

IELTS Writing Task 1 line graph question – renewable electricity share in USA, Germany and China, 2000–2020

Figure: Share of electricity from solar, wind and hydropower (2000–2020)

Sample Answer (Band 7.5–8)

The line graph compares the share of electricity generated from solar, wind, and hydropower in the USA, Germany, and China between 2000 and 2020. Overall, renewable penetration rose markedly in all three countries, yet each followed a distinct trajectory: Germany shifted aggressively toward solar and wind, the USA progressed steadily across all sources, and China remained anchored by hydropower.

At the start of the period, renewables accounted for under five percent in each nation. Germany then experienced rapid solar expansion—especially after 2005—reaching roughly a quarter of total generation by 2020, while wind advanced to about one fifth. The USA recorded a more gradual but persistent rise, with wind approaching 15% and solar near 12% at the end. By contrast, China’s solar and wind increased more modestly, ending at around 6% and 8% respectively.

Hydropower displays the clearest divergence. China consistently led this category, climbing from roughly 20% in 2000 to just above 30% by 2020. Meanwhile, hydropower in the USA and Germany remained comparatively low and stable, fluctuating around the 5–10% range. In short, while Germany pivoted strongly to variable renewables and the USA advanced evenly on all fronts, China’s mix was dominated by hydropower throughout the two decades.

Analytical Review – IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 (Test 10)

Overall Verdict

Indicative band: 7.5–8.0

  • Task Achievement: Clear overview with key trends (Germany: solar/wind surge; China: hydropower dominance; USA: steady growth).
  • Coherence & Cohesion: Logical macro-structure (overview → details by country/source). Cohesive devices mostly accurate.
  • Lexical Resource: Topic-appropriate lexis (“penetration,” “trajectory,” “dominated”) with some repetition that can be pruned.
  • Grammar: Wide range with accurate tense control and passive/nominal style; occasional density and heavy noun phrases.

Key Weaknesses

  • Number discipline: “roughly,” “about,” “near” used well, but some claims could use tighter quantification (e.g., “just above 30%” repeated; add contrasts with exact spread or delta).
  • Repetition: Phrases like “at the end,” “throughout the period,” and “remained” recur; vary them or compress.
  • Paragraph density: Some long sentences pile multiple contrasts → risk of reader fatigue. Split or use semi-colons judiciously.
  • Comparative precision: USA vs Germany wind/solar could show explicit gaps (e.g., “Germany outpaced the USA in wind by ~5pp in 2020”).

Actionable Improvements (High-Impact)

  1. Add quantified contrasts: Report small, high-value deltas (± percentage points). Example: “Germany’s wind share (~20%) exceeded the USA’s (~15%) by ~5 percentage points in 2020.”
  2. Vary linkers & verbs: Replace repeats (“remained,” “rose”) with sharper verbs (see lists below).
  3. Tighten sentences: Split long strings into 2 sentences or use em dashes for clarity.
  4. Minimize vague adverbs: Swap “more modestly” with quantified phrasing: “China’s solar advanced from ~0.5% to ~6% (+5.5pp).”
  5. Signal structure: Use meta-discourse sparingly but precisely (“By contrast,” “In numeric terms,” “In relative terms”).

Stronger Synonyms (Topic-Fit)

  • increase → climb edge up tick up expand
  • decrease → dip ease off contract retrench
  • remain stable → plateau hold steady stay broadly flat
  • dominate → lead decisively command account for the lion’s share
  • rise quickly → surge accelerate gain traction
  • show differences → diverge part company display marked dispersion

Linking Devices (Cohesion)

  • Contrast: however, by contrast, whereas, while, in contrast
  • Addition: moreover, in addition, likewise, similarly
  • Result: consequently, therefore, as a result
  • Time/Sequence: initially, subsequently, thereafter, by 2020
  • Emphasis: notably, critically, in particular
  • Quantitative cues: in numeric terms, in relative terms, by ~Xpp

High-Value Collocations (Renewables & Charts)

  • renewable penetration rate
  • share of generation
  • capacity expansion
  • hydropower dominance
  • variable renewables (solar/wind)
  • long-run trajectory
  • cross-country dispersion
  • percentage-point (pp) change
  • steady upward drift
  • structural shift towards X

Rewrite Upgrades (Band-8 polish)

  • Original: “Overall, renewable penetration rose markedly in all three countries…”
    Upgrade: “Overall, all three countries registered a clear upswing in renewables, albeit along divergent paths: Germany pivoted towards solar and wind, the USA advanced steadily, and China retained a hydropower-led mix.”
  • Original: “Hydropower displays the clearest divergence…”
    Upgrade: “Hydropower constitutes the sharpest point of divergence: China commanded just over 30% by 2020, whereas the USA and Germany held broadly flat at 5–10%.”
  • Original: “Germany then experienced rapid solar expansion…”
    Upgrade: “Germany’s solar share accelerated after 2005, reaching ~25% by 2020, while wind consolidated near 20%, outpacing the USA by ~5pp.”

Model Sentences (Precise Quantification)

  • “By 2020, China’s hydropower share exceeded Germany’s by ~22–25pp, underscoring its long-standing reliance on this source.”
  • “Germany outstripped the USA in wind by approximately 5pp at the end of the period.”
  • “Solar in the USA expanded by ~11pp (≈1% → ≈12%) over two decades, reflecting a gradual but persistent transition.”

Grammar Targets

  • Passive nominals: “the share was driven by…”, “growth was concentrated after 2005.”
  • Comparatives: “X was roughly twice Y,” “A outpaced B by ~5pp.”
  • Range in brackets: “held at ~5–10%,” “rose to ~12%.”
  • Clause trimming: prefer concise relative clauses: “China, which consistently led in hydropower, …”

Quick Checklist (Before Submit)

  • Overview states overall trends + contrasts (not data-dump).
  • Each paragraph has a clear focus (by country or source).
  • At least 3 quantified contrasts (pp gaps or growth magnitudes).
  • Repetition trimmed; linkers varied; sentences not over-long.
  • Numbers approximate but consistent (use “~”, “about”, “just over”).

تحلیل دوزبانه – IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 (Test 10)

ارزیابی کلی

نمره تقریبی: بین 7.5 تا 8

  • پوشش خوب ویژگی‌های اصلی نمودار
  • پاراگراف‌بندی منظم و منطقی
  • واژگان مناسب موضوع، با اندکی تکرار
  • دقت گرامری بالا با جمله‌های نسبتاً سنگین

Overall Verdict

Indicative band: 7.5–8.0

  • Task Achievement: Clear overview with key trends (Germany: solar/wind surge; China: hydropower dominance; USA: steady growth).
  • Coherence & Cohesion: Logical structure with appropriate sequencing and cohesive devices.
  • Lexical Resource: Topic-appropriate lexis with minor repetition.
  • Grammar: Wide range, accurate tense control, occasional heavy noun phrases.

نقاط ضعف

  • برخی جمله‌ها طولانی و خسته‌کننده هستند
  • تکرار واژه‌هایی مثل «remained» یا «at the end»
  • عدم اشاره دقیق به تفاوت‌های عددی بین کشورها

Weaknesses

  • Sentence density: some strings too long → harder to follow.
  • Repetition: “remained,” “at the end” appear often.
  • Comparisons sometimes vague; more quantified contrasts needed.

پیشنهادهای بهبود

  1. تأکید بیشتر روی تفاوت‌های عددی (مثلاً ۵ درصد اختلاف بین آلمان و آمریکا در سال ۲۰۲۰)
  2. جایگزینی افعال و حروف ربط متنوع‌تر برای جلوگیری از تکرار
  3. تقسیم جمله‌های طولانی به جمله‌های کوتاه‌تر و خواناتر

Improvements

  1. Add quantified contrasts: show percentage point (pp) gaps explicitly.
  2. Vary verbs & linkers: replace repeats with sharper alternatives.
  3. Simplify structure: split dense sentences for readability.

مترادف‌های قوی

برای افزایش نمره واژگان، مترادف‌های دقیق و موضوعی استفاده کنید:

  • افزایش → surge, climb, accelerate
  • ثابت ماندن → plateau, hold steady
  • غلبه کردن → dominate, command, account for the lion’s share

Strong Synonyms

  • increase → surge, climb, accelerate
  • remain stable → plateau, hold steady
  • dominate → command, account for the lion’s share

حروف ربط پیشنهادی

  • تضاد: whereas, in contrast, while
  • اضافه: moreover, likewise, similarly
  • نتیجه: consequently, therefore

Linking Devices

  • Contrast: whereas, in contrast, while
  • Addition: moreover, likewise, similarly
  • Result: consequently, therefore