IELTS Writing Task 1: Diagram with Sample

Answer
 July 23, 2012 (http://ielts-academic.com/2012/07/23/ielts-writing-task-1-diagram-with-sample-answer/) 
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IELTS Writing Task 1: Question

This IELTS Task 1 diagram is a great chance to practice your comparing skills. How many
differences can you spot and which differences are most significant?
 The diagram shows the skeletal systems of two ancestors of modern
human beings.

Write a 150-word report for a university lecturer describing the diagram

and making comparisons where relevant.

IELTS Writing Task 1: Model Answer

Variations in the skeletal systems of two early types of human are illustrated in this diagram.
Overall, we can see that australopithecus afarensis had a heavier body and much longer
arms, while homo erectus was slimmer and had more developed joints.

To begin with the upper half of the body, australopithecus afarensis had a much broader
chest and waist than homo erectus, giving it a rounder appearance. The former had much
longer arms and larger hands, which would have been useful for climbing trees.

As for the lower half of the body, we can see that homo erectus had proportionately longer
legs and larger hip, knee and ankle joints. The feet of homo erectus were also smaller and
more arched, with shorter toes. These differences meant that homo erectus was better
suited to long-distance running.
In conclusion, we can see significant changes in the development of early humans from the
diagram. Homo erectus is more similar to contemporary human beings with its long legs and
arched feet. The physical differences are clearly related to differences in the lifestyles of tree
climbers and endurance runners.

(183 words, IELTS 9.0)

Why does this Task 1 answer get an IELTS Band 9 score?

Task achievement: The model answer selects only the most important information from the
Task 1 diagram and uses this to make several direct comparisons. The model answer also
explains the link between the creatures’ respective lifestyles and their physical
differences. The model answer is more than 150 words.

Coherence and cohesion: The model answer is divided into clear paragraphs with a logical
separation between the body paragraphs. There is a general overview in paragraph 1 and a
summary in paragraph 4. A reference link, the former, is used to avoid over-repetition of
complex scientific names.

Lexical resource: The model answer adds more vocabulary not in the diagram such as
lifestyle, proportionately, suited, appearance and contemporary. There are many examples
of paraphrasing including wide > broad and endurance > long-distance.

Grammatical range and accuracy: The model answer uses a range of comparative
structures accurately. The model answer also uses a range of grammatical forms to produce
complex sentences. These include clauses beginning with with, which and -ing forms.

Teacher’s Notes
You might panic when you see this IELTS Writing Task 1 diagram
due to the number of words. However, it isn’t necessary to describe
every feature. Instead, highlight only the most interesting points for
comparison. In this example, we would definitely want to mention
the width of the body and the length of the legs. A high-scoring
answer will also include some kind of overview or general
statement. In this case, the physical differences between our ancestors are clearer
connected to their different lifestyles, as mentioned in the headings.

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based on the official scoring criteria? My online IELTS Writing Practice Test
(http://ielts-academic.com/product/ielts-writing-practice-test-online/) will show you