Average house prices: IELTS Task 1 answer #11, band 5.0

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.

196 words. Marked by Axiom on 5 July 2025. Estimated by AI. It isn’t an official IELTS score.

The line graph this answer describes

Values in thousand dollars. Values approximate: read from the original chart, not printed on it.

Show the data

Average house prices (IELTS Task 1 line graph) (thousand dollars)
	Country A	Country B	Country C
1997	150	125	100
1998	175	200	125
1999	200	225	125
2000	200	250	150
2001	300	275	150
2002	400	300	150
2003	550	300	175
2004	500	325	175
2005	475	375	200
2006	450	300	200
2007	500	275	225
2008	550	275	150
2009	600	375	250
2010	600	475	275
2011	600	500	275
2012	625	525	300
2013	600	500	300
2014	625	500	275

Academic Task 1196 words

The graph below shows the average house prices in three countries between the years 1997 and 2014. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparison where

The line graph illustrates the average accommodation costs in three different countries from 1997 to 2014. Overall, while Country A had higher housing costs over the period, Country C had always remained at the bottom, despite a slight increase.

Focusing on the biggest figures first, Country A experienced a significant growth over time. In 1997, the housing costs were low, at $220.000. But it grew to $550.000 in 2004 but fell back to $500.000 and ending at the same price in 2014. By contrast, Country B saw an increase with a few fluctuations. The prices started at $210.000 in 1997. It continued rising slightly to $300.000 till 2004 and from that year, it dropped to $250.000. How, it witnessed a gradual rise in 2008, reaching $500.000 and ended at around $490.000 in 2014.

Coherence & cohesion
Close revision note
RevisedTo begin with, let's focus on the country with the highest figures, Country A, which experienced a significant growth over time.
This revision provides a smoother transition to the first point of focus and clarifies the instruction to focus on the biggest figures.
Grammar & accuracy
Close revision note
RevisedHowever, it grew to $550.000 in 2004, fell back to $500.000, and ended the period at the same price in 2014.
The revision corrects the grammatical errors and provides a more natural sentence structure.
Grammar & accuracy
Close revision note
RevisedThe initial price was $210.000 in 1997.
The revision provides a more natural and precise expression of the idea.
Grammar & accuracy
Close revision note
RevisedIt continued to rise slightly to $300.000 by 2004, after which the price dropped to $250.000.
The revision provides a more natural and precise expression of the idea.
Coherence & cohesion
Close revision note
RevisedHowever, it witnessed a gradual rise in 2008, reaching $500.000, and then ended the period at around $490.000 in 2014.
The revision corrects the typographical error and improves the clarity of the sentence.

On the other hand, Country C remained the lowest all over the years. Starting at about $120.000, the house prices in this country increased slightly to $250.000 in 2007. The next year, it saw a fall, becoming at the same price as in thr started year. From 2009, it rose to $270.000 in 2013 before dropping back to the previous cost - $250.000.

Coherence & cohesion
Close revision note
RevisedIn contrast, Country C maintained the lowest housing costs throughout the period.
The revision improves the clarity and formality of the sentence.
Lexical resource
Close revision note
RevisedThe following year, it experienced a decrease, returning to the same price as the beginning of the period.
The revision corrects the typographical error and provides a more natural and precise expression of the idea.
Lexical resource
Close revision note
RevisedStarting in 2009, it rose to $270.000 in 2013 before falling back to the cost from 2001 - $250.000.
The revision provides a more natural and precise expression of the idea.

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 5.0/ 9

The essay is logically organized and the information is clearly and coherently presented. However, there are some issues with the flow of information and the use of cohesive devices.

Suggestions

Use a variety of cohesive devices to improve the flow of information.
Ensure that each paragraph has a clear central topic and that all the information in the paragraph is relevant to that topic.

Sentence revisions 3

RevisedTo begin with, let's focus on the country with the highest figures, Country A, which experienced a significant growth over time.
This revision provides a smoother transition to the first point of focus and clarifies the instruction to focus on the biggest figures.
RevisedIn contrast, Country C maintained the lowest housing costs throughout the period.
The revision improves the clarity and formality of the sentence.
RevisedHowever, it witnessed a gradual rise in 2008, reaching $500.000, and then ended the period at around $490.000 in 2014.
The revision corrects the typographical error and improves the clarity of the sentence.

Grammar & accuracy

Band 5.0/ 9

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms and there is some evidence of a range of grammatical structures. However, there are a few grammatical errors and some sentences are awkwardly constructed.

Sentence revisions 3

RevisedHowever, it grew to $550.000 in 2004, fell back to $500.000, and ended the period at the same price in 2014.
The revision corrects the grammatical errors and provides a more natural sentence structure.
RevisedThe initial price was $210.000 in 1997.
The revision provides a more natural and precise expression of the idea.
RevisedIt continued to rise slightly to $300.000 by 2004, after which the price dropped to $250.000.
The revision provides a more natural and precise expression of the idea.

Lexical resource

Band 5.0/ 9

The essay uses a range of vocabulary and there is some evidence of less common and idiomatic language. However, there are a few instances of awkward or incorrect word choice.

Sentence revisions 3

RevisedHowever, it experienced a gradual increase in 2008, reaching $500.000, before settling at around $490.000 in 2014.
The revision provides a more natural and precise expression of the idea.
RevisedThe following year, it experienced a decrease, returning to the same price as the beginning of the period.
The revision corrects the typographical error and provides a more natural and precise expression of the idea.
RevisedStarting in 2009, it rose to $270.000 in 2013 before falling back to the cost from 2001 - $250.000.
The revision provides a more natural and precise expression of the idea.

Task achievement

Band 5.0/ 9

The essay provides a clear overview of the main trends, differences, and similarities in the data. The information is accurately and appropriately selected and well supported with relevant details. However, the essay could be improved by providing a more detailed comparison of the data and by including a more comprehensive summary of the main trends.

Suggestions

Provide a more detailed comparison of the data, especially when describing the trends for each country.
Include a more comprehensive summary of the main trends in the data.

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