Australian exports to four countries: IELTS Task 1 answer #59, band 6.5

A student’s answer to this repeated IELTS question, shared without their name and marked by Axiom on the four criteria. Select a highlighted passage to see how it could be revised, and why.

234 words. Marked by Axiom on 28 May 2026. Estimated by AI. It isn’t an official IELTS score.

The line graph this answer describes

Values in % of Australian exports. Values approximate: read from the original chart, not printed on it.

Show the data

Australian exports to four countries (IELTS Task 1 line graph) (% of Australian exports)
	Japan	US	China	India
1990	26	11	2	1
1995	20	8	3	1
2000	18	11	5	1
2005	18	8	11	5
2010	17	5	25	7
2012	17	7	28	5

Academic Task 1234 words

The graph below shows the percentage of Australian exports to four countries from 1990 to 2012. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

The line graph illustrates the percentage of the exports from Australia to Japan, US, China, and India in the given period of 22 years between 1990 and 2012.

Overall, export shares for China increased steadily over the period, while the percentage for Japan and US saw fluctuations before ending up lower than the starting point. India, unlike China, saw a gradual increase followed by a slight decrease in the end.

Australian exports to China, standing at under 5 percent in 1990, witnessed a gradual growth until nearly the middle of the first decade of 21st century where it suddenly started to soar and mark roughly 27% in 2012. India, standing just under China in 1990, also saw an increase in imports from Australia over the 22 years, yet got outpaced by China, marking roughly 5% in 2012.

Coherence & cohesion
Close revision note
RevisedAustralian exports to China stood at under 5 percent in 1990. This figure grew gradually until the mid-2000s, after which it soared, reaching roughly 27% in 2012.
Breaking up the sentence improves clarity and flow.
Coherence & cohesion
Close revision note
RevisedIndia, which started just below China in 1990, also experienced an increase in Australian exports over the 22 years. However, it was outpaced by China and reached only about 5% in 2012.
Splitting the sentence and clarifying the comparison enhances coherence.

On the other hand, exports to Japan, standing at roughly 25% as the highest of 4 in 1990, fell regularly until about 2002 when it started to rise but started decreasing again in 2007 and became stable just before 2010 until 2012 marking above 15%. Likewise, exports to US had downfall from above 10% in 1990 to just above 5% in 2012, but saw more fluctuations than Japan, first falling until 1997, then rising until just before 2000s and hitting the highest point of just above the starting point, and again began decreasing regularly until the end.

Coherence & cohesion
Close revision note
RevisedExports to Japan, which were the highest at roughly 25% in 1990, declined steadily until around 2002. They then rose slightly before decreasing again after 2007, stabilizing above 15% by 2012.
Shorter sentences and clearer sequencing improve cohesion.
Grammar & accuracy
Close revision note
RevisedExports to the US declined from over 10% in 1990 to just above 5% in 2012. The trend was more volatile than Japan's, with a fall until 1997, a rise before 2000, a brief peak, and then a steady decline until 2012.
Splits a run-on sentence and corrects verb forms for clarity.

Select a highlighted passage to see its suggested revision.

Estimated by AI. It isn’t an official IELTS score.

What Axiom wrote for each criterion: why the answer earned its band, and what to work on next.

Coherence & cohesion

Band 7.0/ 9

The essay is logically organized, with clear paragraphs and a good overall structure. There is a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs that group information sensibly. Some sentences are long and complex, which occasionally affects clarity, but overall cohesion is maintained.

Suggestions

Use more linking words to clarify comparisons.
Break up long sentences for better readability.
Ensure each paragraph has a clear focus.

Sentence revisions 3

RevisedAustralian exports to China stood at under 5 percent in 1990. This figure grew gradually until the mid-2000s, after which it soared, reaching roughly 27% in 2012.
Breaking up the sentence improves clarity and flow.
RevisedIndia, which started just below China in 1990, also experienced an increase in Australian exports over the 22 years. However, it was outpaced by China and reached only about 5% in 2012.
Splitting the sentence and clarifying the comparison enhances coherence.
RevisedExports to Japan, which were the highest at roughly 25% in 1990, declined steadily until around 2002. They then rose slightly before decreasing again after 2007, stabilizing above 15% by 2012.
Shorter sentences and clearer sequencing improve cohesion.

Grammar & accuracy

Band 6.0/ 9

The essay demonstrates a range of sentence structures, but there are several grammatical errors and awkward constructions. Some sentences are overly long and complex, which can lead to confusion.

Sentence revisions 3

RevisedIndia, which started just below China in 1990, also saw an increase in exports from Australia over the 22 years. However, it was outpaced by China and reached about 5% in 2012.
Corrects awkward phrasing and clarifies the subject.
RevisedExports to the US declined from over 10% in 1990 to just above 5% in 2012. The trend was more volatile than Japan's, with a fall until 1997, a rise before 2000, a brief peak, and then a steady decline until 2012.
Splits a run-on sentence and corrects verb forms for clarity.
Revised...marking above 15%. Likewise, exports to the US decreased from over 10% in 1990 to just above 5% in 2012, with several fluctuations throughout the period.
Simplifies and corrects the sentence structure for accuracy.

Lexical resource

Band 7.0/ 9

The vocabulary is generally appropriate and varied, with some good use of descriptive language (e.g., 'soar', 'outpaced'). However, there are minor inaccuracies and occasional awkward phrasing.

Sentence revisions 3

Revisedexperienced gradual growth until the mid-2000s, after which it rose sharply
'Experienced' is more natural than 'witnessed' for describing data, and 'rose sharply' is more precise than 'suddenly started to soar.'
Revisedreaching approximately 27% in 2012
'Reaching approximately' is more formal and accurate for IELTS writing.
Revisedexports to the US declined from over 10% in 1990 to just above 5% in 2012, but experienced more fluctuations than those to Japan
'Declined' is more precise than 'had downfall,' and 'experienced' is a better verb for describing trends.

Task achievement

Band 7.0/ 9

The essay provides a clear summary of the main trends and makes relevant comparisons. Most key features are covered, but some details (such as specific years or more precise figures) could be more clearly stated. There is some minor confusion in describing India's trend at the end, as the graph shows a decrease after a peak, not just a slight decrease.

Suggestions

Be more precise with figures and years.
Clarify the description of India's trend at the end.
Ensure all main features are summarized succinctly.

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