Energy Use by Country (2010-2020)
A complete IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 question with a model answer of 191 words, plus a breakdown of the sentence structures, cohesive devices and vocabulary that answer uses. Write your own version first, then compare.
Written by Manish Sharma · CELTA and DELTA qualified · 8 years teaching IELTS
Score my answer to this questionThe question
You have 20 minutes. Write at least 150 words.
The line graph below shows the average annual energy consumption per person (in megawatt-hours) in four countries — the United States, Germany, China, and India — between 2010 and 2020. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words. [Chart Data] Year | USA (MWh) | Germany (MWh) | China (MWh) | India (MWh) 2010 | 13.4 | 7.2 | 3.0 | 0.7 2012 | 13.1 | 7.0 | 3.5 | 0.8 2014 | 12.9 | 6.8 | 4.1 | 0.9 2016 | 12.5 | 6.6 | 4.5 | 1.0 2018 | 12.3 | 6.4 | 4.9 | 1.1 2020 | 11.8 | 6.1 | 5.2 | 1.2
How to approach it
- 01Paraphrase the question in your introduction rather than copying it
- 02Group countries by trend (rising vs falling) instead of describing each one separately
- 03Use a range of trend vocabulary: 'climbed steadily', 'fell modestly', 'surged'
- 04Include specific figures sparingly to support the trends you describe
- 05Highlight any crossover or convergence in your overview paragraph
- 06Use comparative structures: 'nearly double', 'roughly 12 percent lower'
Model answer
191 words in 5 paragraphs. Read it after you have written your own, not before: the point of a model answer is to show you what you missed, and you cannot miss anything you have not attempted.
The line graph illustrates per capita energy consumption in the United States, Germany, China, and India over an eleven-year period from 2010 to 2020, measured in megawatt-hours.
Overall, the two developed nations — the USA and Germany — showed a consistent downward trend, whereas China and India experienced steady growth in energy use per person. Despite these contrasting trajectories, the USA remained the largest per capita consumer throughout the period.
The United States started at 13.4 MWh per person in 2010, the highest of the four countries, and gradually declined to 11.8 MWh by 2020, a fall of roughly 12 percent. Germany followed a similar pattern, dropping modestly from 7.2 MWh to 6.1 MWh over the same period.
In contrast, China's consumption rose sharply from 3.0 MWh in 2010 to 5.2 MWh by 2020, an increase of approximately 73 percent. By the end of the period, China had nearly caught up with Germany. India also climbed steadily but from a much lower base, almost doubling from 0.7 MWh to 1.2 MWh per person.
The data suggests a clear convergence trend, with developing economies expanding their energy use while industrialised nations gradually reduce theirs.
What this answer actually does
Measured from the text above, and compared against the other 38 answers of the same type in this library. These are counts, not band scores: they describe what the writing does, which is the part you can copy.
16.5 fewer than the median answer for this task type
13 words at the shortest, 31 at the longest
the same as the median answer for this task type
carry a subordinate or relative clause
Sentence rhythm
Sentences average 21.2 words and vary by 5.6 words either side of that, running from 13 words to 31. Variation is the point. Grammatical Range and Accuracy rewards a mix of simple and complex sentences, and an answer where every sentence is the same length reads as flat no matter how correct it is. 2 of the 9 sentences here carry a subordinate or relative clause.
The cohesive devices it uses
5 in total, spread across 2 different functions. Range matters more than count: an answer that opens every paragraph with a sequencer signals its structure but never signals a relationship between ideas, and Coherence and Cohesion is marked on both.
in contrast, whereas, despite, while
overall
Vocabulary and repetition
Ignoring grammar words, 71 per cent of the content words in this answer are distinct, and 55 per cent appear exactly once. Lexical Resource is where repetition costs the most marks, and the usual cause is not a small vocabulary but reaching for the same noun every time the topic is named.
The longest run of words copied straight from the question is 7 words. Examiners discount wording lifted from the question, so a short run here is the right outcome: the answer restates the topic in its own words rather than borrowing the question's.
What you are marked on
All four criteria carry equal weight, and your Writing band is their average rounded to the nearest half band.
Task Achievement
Cover all key trends across the four countries, include an overview, and make meaningful comparisons.
Coherence & Cohesion
Organise the response by trend or country grouping with clear paragraphs and linking devices.
Lexical Resource
Use a variety of vocabulary for describing change over time and avoid repetition.
Grammatical Range & Accuracy
Demonstrate accurate use of past tenses, comparatives, and complex sentences.
You have read one model answer. Now get one marked.
Paste your own attempt at this question and get a band for each criterion, with the exact sentences costing you marks.
Score my answer