Assessing Academic Writing Task 1

52 ANI SUSANA, 2012 Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia | repository.upi.edu The introduction should describe the purpose of the report and say what overall trends seen. For example, if the trend in the graph is rising or falling, it should be mentioned. Candidates need to remember that they are describing a graph to someone who does not see it, so their words must draw the picture. It includes telling what the graph is about, its dates and location. The body should describe the most important trends, while all information is summarized to avoid unnecessary details. For example, if there is a graph that has two peaks, they should be depicted clearly; when those peaks appear and what the peak values are. How many distinctive features the diagram has should be noticed and the information is divided into paragraphs; one paragraph for one feature or a group of similar features. Paragraphs should be linked by sentences that logically connect them to one another. The last, the conclusion, should sum up the global trends shown and compare them if possible. It means selecting what is important, organizing it, then comparing or contrasting it. Candidates’ opinions should not appear anywhere in the report. They should not include other information that does not appear in the graph because that kind of writing can be and probably will be penalized.

1.9.3 Assessing Academic Writing Task 1

It will be very important to know how the way of assessment. Here is the example of how a writing is assessed Terry and Wilson: 2005: 155-156: You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. 53 ANI SUSANA, 2012 Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia | repository.upi.edu The chart below gives information about the percentage of the adult population who were overweight in four different countries in 1980, 1990 and 2000. Figures are given for the year, or the nearest year available. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and makea comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words. SAMPLE ANSWER A The chart gives information about the percentage of the adult population who were overweight in Japan, Australia and the US in 1980, 1990 and 2000. In 1980 Japan had 2 overweight, Finland had 7, Australia about 8 and the US 15. In 1990 Japan was still 2, Finland 8, Australia had about 11 and the USA 24. In 2000 maybe all the countries had more fast food because Japan was 3, Finland 11, Australia 21 and USA 31. 79 words 54 ANI SUSANA, 2012 Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia | repository.upi.edu Assessment: Although this answer does not have any grammar or vocabulary mistakes it would get a low IELTS band because: • it is significantly underlength it would lose a lot of marks for this • the introduction is copied from the rubric with only slight changes • it is not clear what the figures relate to • there is no focus on trends, the figures are just listed • there is no comparison between the figures • there is little organisation: no paragraphs, no signals, no linking • the candidate tries to explain the information in the last sentence • there is no summarising statement • the range of grammar and vocabulary is extremely limited’ • there is a lot of repetition SAMPLE ANSWER B This chart shows changes in the proportion of overweight people in the adult population of countries in four different regions in 1980, 1990 and 2000. First of all we can see that Japan had the lowest proprortion of overweight adults in all three given years. It also showed the smallest change across the period, rising only 1 to reach 3 by 2000. Both Finland and Australia had over 5 of adults overweight in 1980, but the increase in figures for Australia was much greater in the following decades, rising to 11 in 1990 and almost doubling Finland at 21 in 2000. 55 ANI SUSANA, 2012 Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia | repository.upi.edu However, the highest proportion of overweight adults in each of the given year was in the USA. The percentage rose from 15 in 1980 to a dramatic 31 in 2000. Overall, the chart shows that the proportion of overweight adults is rising in all four countries, but the scale of the problrm is greater and the rate of increase much higher in Australia and the US. 167 words Assessment: This answer would get a high IELTS band because: • it is over the minimum word length • it has a praphrased introduction • it is clear what the figures refer to • it focuses on the main trends and supports these with figures • it groups and compares the main sets of data • the answer is clearly organised using paragraphs, signals, linkers • there is a clear summarising statement • the answer describes the information rather than trying to explain it • a good range of vocabulary and grammar is used • there is no repetition 56 ANI SUSANA, 2012 Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia | repository.upi.edu

2.9.4 IELTS Task 1 Writing Band Descriptors Public Version