IELTS Writing Task 1: common mistakes

Many students make the same mistakes when describing numbers. You must express numbers correctly if you want to get a high score.

Look at the graph below (thanks to Magi for sending it to me).

What is wrong with these sentences?

1. In 1985, Canada was about 19 million tonnes.
2. Australia was lower, at 15 million tonnes of wheat exports.
3. In 1988, Canada increased by about 5 million tonnes of wheat exports.
4. Australia exported about 11 millions of tonnes of wheat in 1990.

What big mistake in the first 3 sentences has not been made in the 4th sentence?

Comments

[Marita]

Hallo Simon
I'm not sure, but I guess it Should be like this:

1. in 1985, Canada exported about 19 million tonnes of wheat.
2. Australia had fewer wheat exports, at 15 million tonnes.
3. In 1988, Canadian wheat exports increased by about 5 million tonnes.
4. Australia exported about 11 million tonnes of wheat in 1990.

[Pete01]

1. In 1985, Canada's exports was about 19 million tonnes
2. The level of exports in Australia was lower, at 15 million tonnes of wheat.
3. In 1988, the level of wheat exports in Canada increased by about 5 million tonnes.

I'm not sure! But I've tried!

[Salih]

Very interesting lesson Simon.
Thanks to you once again.

Correct sentences would be:

1- In1985, Canada's (wheat exports were) about 19 million tonnes.

2- Australia's (wheat exports were) lower, at 15 million tonnes.

3- In 1988, Canada's (wheat exports) increased by about 5 tonnes.

4- Australia exported about 11 (million) of tonnes of wheat in 1990.

What big mistake in the first 3 sentences has not been made in the 4th sentence?

The number in the fourth sentence was used in reference to the tonnes of wheat exports, while in the first 3 sentences numbers were mistakenly used in references to countries.

[Salih]

Correction:
4- Australia exported about 11 (million) tonnes of wheat in 1990.

[rabia]

HIA SIMON CAN U PLZ POST FULL REPORT.I AM A BIG FAN OF UR SITE.

[Kenneth]

Hi there,

Maybe,

1.In 1985, Canada exported about 19 million tonnes.
2.Australia's export was the lowest,at 15 million tonnes.
3.In 1988, Canada's export increased by about 5 million tonnes, peaking at 25 million tonnes of wheat.
4.Australia exported about 11 million tonnes of wheat in 1990.

Thanks.

Regards,
Kenneth

[sulaiman]

1. In 1985, Canada was just under 19 million tonnes.
2. Australia was fewer at 15 million tonnes of wheat exports.
3. In 1988, Canada increased by over 5 million tonnes of wheat exports.
4. Australia exported just over 11 millions of tonnes of wheat in 1990.

[ana]

1)In 1985,canada exported about 19 millon tonnes of wheat.
2)Australia's wheat exports were lowest,at 15 million tonnes.
3)In 1988,the exports of wheat in canada increased by about 5 million tonnes.
4)Australia exported about 11 millon tonnes of wheat in 1990.
thanks

[Gemstone]

I have just discovered this website. I found that it is very interesting. Thanks to Simon so much!

I think the correct sentences should be:

1.In 1985, the amount of export wheat in Canada was about 19 million tonnes.
2.Australia saw the lower amount of wheat exported in comparison with Canada, at 15 million tonnes.
3.In 1988, Canada exported the largest amount of wheat, at 25 million tonnes which increased by about 5 million tonnes compared to 1985.
4.Australia exported about 11 million tonnes of wheat in 1990.

The big mistake in the first three sentences is using wrong subjects.

[Nguyen]

1/ In 1985, Canada's wheat exports was about 19 million tonnes.

2/ Australia was lower than Canada at 15 million tonnes of wheat exports.

3/ In 1988, Canada increased sharply by about 5 million tonnes of wheat exports compared to 1985.

4/ Australia exported about 11 millions of tonnes of wheat in 1990, decreased considerably by almost 5 million tonnes in comparison to 1985

Dear Simon, Can i write sentence 2 like this ?

=> Australia decreased by nearly 5 million tonnes as wheat exports as Canada

Thanks.

[Maya]

Hello Simon,

My answers are:

1)In 1985,Canada exported about 20 million tonnes of wheat.

2)Only 15 million tons of wheat was exported by Australia.

3)In 1988,wheat exports rate was increased roughly by 5 million tonnes.

4)Australia exported approximately 11 million tonnes of wheat in 1990.

The big mistake is that,Australia and Canada did not increase/decrease,instead,the goods they sold to other countries has increased/decreased.

Simon, can I use just below instead of about in 1) and approximately in 4) above, or is it better to use about,does it make any difference?

Thank-x

[Jams]

Hello Simon,
Here is my answer. Is it okay to write Australian? Thank you.
1. In 1985, Canada’s wheat export was about 19 million tonnes.
2. Australian export was lower, at 15 million tonnes of wheat exports.
3. In 1988, Canada had increased its export by about 6 million tonnes of wheat exports.

[Run]

hello Simon,
I have grammar problems that you correct for me

is this sentence good for IELTS writing?
2. The amount of wheat which was exported from Australia Australia had a decline, at 15 million tonnes.

Both sentences have the same meaning? And are they correct?
In 1999, the proportion of people using the Internet in the USA reached about 20%.
In 1999, the proportion of people who used the Internet in the USA reached about 20%.

Thank you for your help ^^

[Simon]

CORRECT ANSWERS FROM SIMON:

1. In 1985, Canada exported about 19 million tonnes of wheat.
2. Australia exported less wheat, at 15 million tonnes.
3. In 1988, Canadian wheat exports increased by about 5 million tonnes.
4. Australia exported about 11 million tonnes of wheat in 1990.

NOTE 1:
You can't say "Canada was 19 million tonnes" or "Australia was lower" or "Canada increased" - the country didn't increase, the wheat exports increased.

NOTE 2:
The verb use was the big mistake in the first 3 sentences (e.g. 'Canada was' - see note 1). The 4th sentence is better because the verb 'exported' is used. However, we don't say "11 millions of tonnes", we say "11 million tonnes".

[Simon]

Hi Nguyen,

No, I wouldn't write a sentence like that.

...

Hi Maya,

Yes, you can - it might be nice to have some variety.

...

Hi Run,

Don't write "had a decline... at". You can say "... declined to...".

Yes, both sentences are fine and mean the same thing.

[pooja]

hi
can we write like this?
1. in 1985, canada was exporting about 19 million tonnes of wheat.
2. whereas australias' exports were lower then canada with 15 million tonnes.
3. there was an increase in canadian wheat exports by 5 million tonnes in 1988.
4. in 1990 there was a decline in australian wheat exports and it reached at 11 million tonnes.

[Simon]

Hi Pooja,

Yes, that looks fine.

[pooja]

thank you sir

[TheIELTSSolution]

Hi,

This is a very interesting piece. I guess the mistake that was done in the first three sentences is that they don't express a complete thought and the statements weren't clear enough. Unlike in the 4th sentence, it uses the correct subject and has been stated clearly.

Thank you

[maiko]

Hi simon,

Please allow to post what is not relevant to the subject.
But I would like to know how to respond to
following Task 2 question.
It is highly appreciated it if you can advise ideal strucutre (body) and ideas briefly. Thank you.

Families who do not send their children to public schools should not be required to pay taxes that support universal education.
To what extend do you agree or disagree with this statement? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

[Simon]

Hi IELTSSolution,

Yes, the subject and verb are the key thing to get right.

...

Hi Maiko,

I'll try to do a lesson about your question soon.

[Harry]

1. In 1985, Canada was about 19 million tonnes.
-->In 1985, Canada's wheat export topped at 19 million tonnes.
2. Australia was lower, at 15 million tonnes of wheat exports.
--> Australia's wheat export stayed lowest, at 15 million tonnes.
3. In 1988, Canada increased by about 5 million tonnes of wheat exports.
--> After a dip in 1986, Canada export surged to its peak, with 6 tonnes of wheat more than that of the first year in the graph.
4. Australia exported about 11 millions of tonnes of wheat in 1990.
--> Australia reached its bottom low in 1990, with 11 tonnes of wheat export.

[Simon]

Hi Harry,

You have found the main mistakes, but there are one or two small mistakes in your sentences. I'm afraid I don't correct students' work here, but if you have a teacher, he or she could check your sentences and help you improve them.

[Ngan]

Hi Simon,
I followed your advice about how to write comparisons in 1 year and i wrote some sentences:
" In 2000, the sales of CDs was approximately 35 billion dollars. Global sales was about 15 billion dollars lower than this among DVD or video, while the figure for those of games software was the lowest, just over 10 billion dollars "

is that ok to write LOWER THAN THIS AMONG DVD OR VIDEO???

[Simon]

Hi Ngan,

I'd write "lower than this FOR".

Also, be careful to write "sales... WERE", not "sales WAS".

[Ngan]

Thanks
Your advice is always helpful.

[Tung]

Hi Simon, my answer is

1, In 1985, Canada exported just under 20 million tonnes of wheat ( units )
2, Starting at approximately 15 units in 1985, Australia was the country which had the lowest number of wheat exports
3, After decreasing slightly by 2 units, Canada exported reached to new peak of 25 units, starting from practically 17 units

Could you fix it for me ?

[Simon]

Hi Tung,

The units are given (tonnes), so it's best to write "by 2 million tonnes" rather than "by 2 units".

[kb]

can we write like this
in 1985, wheat exported from Canada was about 19 million tonnes.

[Simon]

Hi kb,

It would be better to write "the amount of wheat..."

[Goli]

HI Simon
In my real exam, the graph showed a perid from 1960 to 2040.how we must describ that graph for 2011 onward?
thanks
goli

[Simon]

Hi Goli,

Look at the 7th bullet point in this lesson:

http://ielts-simon.com/ielts-help-and-english-pr/2011/09/ielts-writing-task-1-line-graphs.html

[Goli]

Hi Simon
For the future years i used , will be predicted in the first sentence and other sentence i used present. for task 1 i hadn't enought time. i hurried so much. For tense ,how my score change?
I worry about it
Thanks so much

[Simon]

Hi Goli,

It's impossible to say what effect your use of tenses will have - I would need to see the full essay.

Try not to worry. Forget about it and just wait for the result. Good luck!

[Kai]

Hi Simon,

I am trying your method for the comparision but here it sound like three distinct patern, therefore, I wonder how you would describe this graph of wheat exports.
1. Three graphs separate in three paragraphs, but still use the languange of comparsision like- In Australia.... first paragraph.
in complete contrast, in European region....2nd paragraph
while in Canada.....
or
2. compare three regions in 1985, 19863rd paragraph,
overall trend and end of the period in 4th paragrapgh.

[Simon]

Hi Kai,

I prefer the second suggestion - the examiner will prefer it if you compare/contrast the 3 lines.

[Kai]

Thanks