Mejorado

The line graph illustrates the consumption of potatoes,rice and pasta for 30
years in a European country.

In an overview, the usage of pasta has reasonably increased within the

specified duration whereas, the intake of potatoes has fallen dramatically
despite an early fluctuation.The usage of rice dipped in the early years,followed
by a sudden incline in the last decade.

More specifically, the consumption of potatoes had a variation between the

years 1976 and 1986 where, there was an overall increase of about 50 grams
per person per week.However,the intake of potatoes has witnessed a steep
downward tendency after 1986.It can also be seen that the dependence on
pasta has overtook potatoes immediately after 1986 and rice in the late 1970s.

The usage of rice fell gradually from just above 300 in 1976 to a half of it by
2000, after which there was a sharp rise.Moreover, it surpassed the
consumption of potato by about 2003.Also, the usage of pasta remained
stagnant after 1996.
Examiner’s comments

Task 1b
This response is generally satisfactory. The writer
highlights key points, and makes suitable comparisons.
However, these points could be developed more fully.
The writer makes a satisfactory comparison of pasta
with potatoes. Then the writer gives information about
rice. However, the writer fails to compare information
relating to rice with the other foods.

In the answer, the writer uses data to support the

description of the graph. However, the writer’s
description is not always accurate. The first sentence of
the second paragraph is not correct. Pasta was not the
most widely used food until 1986. In addition, the
consumption of rice was at its peak at 300gr at the start
of the period, 1976. It reached its lowest point (not peak)
in 2000.

The answer is organised in a logical way with an

introduction, main body and conclusion. The second
paragraph contains all the main points but some of the
sentences are quite long. The first sentence of the
introductory paragraph would be easier to follow if it was
divided into two sentences. There are some signal
words such as ‘in conclusion’. However, there could be
more linking words, especially when the writer moves
from discussing one food to another.

The writer has a wide enough knowledge of vocabulary

to respond to the task. However, at one point the writer
does not use his or her own words: the words ‘potatoes,
pasta and rice eaten by a European country between
1976 and 2006’ have been taken directly from the
question.

There are occasional spelling mistakes and the

handwriting sometimes presents difficulties for the
reader – ‘pasta was peutin? popular’. However, on the
whole the spelling mistakes do not prevent
communication.

The writer shows a range of vocabulary to describe

trends and patterns, but there are some errors in the
writing. The phrase ‘the trend in grams’ is not accurate.
The trend has to be defined – in this case it is trends in
consumption. Other words and phrases that are
inaccurately used include ‘it used to be erratic’. This
should be ‘it fluctuated’. ‘Peak’ has been used in the
wrong context – peak is a high point rather than a low
point. ‘Returned to rise’ should be ‘rose again’.

In this response, the writer shows a varied range of

grammatical structures and a mix of tenses. Although
there are occasional errors these do not prevent
communication.

One error in use of tenses is in the use of the present

perfect tense to describe a period in the past (1976–
2006). The writer uses the present perfect tense
incorrectly. ‘Has fell’ is incorrectly formed – the past
participle should be ‘fallen’ and in any case the simple
past tense ‘fell’ should be used. Similarly ‘doubled’
should be used instead of ‘has doubled’.

The contracted form ‘it’s’, has been used (‘it’s clear’, and
‘it’s possible’) However, these words should be written in
full in a formal piece of writing.
The verb ‘used to’ (‘used to be erratic’) is used
incorrectly. It should be ‘was erratic’.

Generally, however, in this answer sentence structure is

well controlled and the message can be understood
without difficulty.

Overall band score: 6