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Banana Prices in Four Countries from 1994 to 2004

The graph below gives information about the price of bananas in four countries between 1994 and 2004.

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

1 sample answer, estimated Band 7.0. Your turn?

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Sample answer (1) Key features (6) Vocabulary (1) Sentence patterns (2)

From essays on this question

Key features: Banana Prices in Four Countries from 1994 to 2004

WhyThis is aLine graph — it asks you to report the main trends and changes over time.

SoWe split the points intoOverview(the main trends over the period)andKey features(figures and comparisons worth reporting).

Overview

1 point

Key features

5 points

Same question · Different responses

Sample responses and feedback

Response 01

Must fixSuggested

Answer · 215 words · 4 paragraphs · 8 comments

Score details

Response 01
Estimated band7.0/ 9

Overall assessment

The response covers all four countries with a clear overview, logical paragraphing and mostly fluent language. Its main limitation is the description of Germany: the overview exaggerates its fluctuations, and the final paragraph overstates its similarity to France and misses its later plateau. More explicit dates would clarify the Japanese turning point and the sustained stability in US prices.

TA

Task Achievement

The response covers all four countries with an overview and relevant comparisons. However, it overstates Germany’s fluctuations and similarity to France, and describes a gradual fall through 2004 where the graph shows stability from 2002. Several turning points would be clearer with explicit dates; nearby approximate values are not substantive contradictions.

7.0
CC

Coherence and Cohesion

Progression is logical with clear paragraphing by country and effective linking devices, though occasional referencing such as with it becoming is slightly awkward.

7.0
LR

Lexical Resource

Vocabulary is flexible, with useful trend language such as rebounding and leveling off. However, wild fluctuations overstates Germany’s movements, and almost exactly mirrored exaggerates its similarity to France. More measured trend descriptions would improve precision.

7.0
GRA

Grammatical Range and Accuracy

The response uses a range of relative and participial clauses with generally good control. The past perfect in “after which it had risen” does not fit the chronological sequence; simple past is appropriate. The French stability sentence could also express its subject more directly.

7.0

What to work on next

Distinguish Germany’s modest changes from the larger movements in Japan and France, and report its plateau from 2002 to 2004. Add dates for Japan’s low and the start of the US plateau.

From essays on this question

Useful vocabulary: Banana Prices in Four Countries from 1994 to 2004

From essays on this question

Sentence patterns: Banana Prices in Four Countries from 1994 to 2004

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Part 1

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. Write at least 150 words.

Words: 020:00 starts on first word