IELTS Writing Task 1: Average Monthly Rainfall in Three Cities

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Writing Prompt

The bar chart below shows the average monthly rainfall, measured in millimetres, in three cities during four selected months of the year. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

The vertical axis shows rainfall in millimetres from 0 to 200, and the horizontal axis groups the months of January, April, July and October, each with a bar for the cities of Greenport, Hillton and Marisa. Greenport was wettest in January at about 180 millimetres and driest in July at only 20. Hillton showed the opposite pattern, with its lowest rainfall of 30 millimetres in January and its highest of 160 in July. Marisa remained the most consistent throughout, with figures between 90 and 110 millimetres in every month shown.

Show Band 8–9 model answer

The bar chart compares average monthly rainfall in the cities of Greenport, Hillton and Marisa in January, April, July and October.

Overall, Greenport and Hillton experience opposite seasonal patterns, while Marisa’s rainfall is relatively stable and consistently moderate.

Greenport records its highest rainfall in January, at around 180 millimetres, making it the wettest figure for any city in any month shown. After this peak, rainfall appears to drop steadily, reaching a low of only 20 millimetres in July. Although October is not as wet as January, Greenport’s rainfall in this month is still significantly higher than in mid-summer.

By contrast, Hillton is driest in January, with approximately 30 millimetres of rain. Its precipitation then rises, culminating in a July high of about 160 millimetres, only slightly below Greenport’s January level. This indicates that Hillton’s wettest period coincides with Greenport’s driest.

Marisa displays a very different pattern. Rainfall there remains within a narrow band of 90 to 110 millimetres across all four months, suggesting a relatively uniform climate without pronounced wet or dry seasons. Throughout the period shown, Marisa’s figures are lower than Greenport’s January peak and Hillton’s July maximum, but they exceed the driest months in both of the other cities.

Why this response works

This response would be rated highly because it provides a clear overview of the main trends, highlighting contrasting seasonal patterns and Marisa’s stability. Data are accurately reported and compared, with appropriate approximations and no invented figures. The organisation is logical and cohesive, using clear paragraphing and a range of linking devices. Lexical resource is strong, with varied vocabulary such as “culminating,” “narrow band,” and “pronounced wet or dry seasons.” Grammatical structures are varied and largely error-free, featuring complex sentences and accurate tense and agreement throughout.