IELTS Writing Task 1: grammar mistakes

Can you find the mistakes in the following sentences?

1. The first table shows us the rate of marriage and divorce between 1970 - 2000.
2. While the divorce rate increased from 1 million to 1.5 million during the same period.
3. As from 1990 to 2000 marriage rate has decreased relatively from 2.5 to 2 million.
4. As shown in table 1 that the total number of marriages were high in 1970.
5. Finally few people got divorced in 1970 than 2000.

Comments

[Tracy]

1. The first table shows the rate of marriage and divorce between 1970 - 2000.

2. While the divorce rate increased from 1 million to 1.5 million during the same period,

3.From 1990 to 2000 marriage rate has decreased relatively from 2.5 to 2 million.

4.As shown in table 1, the total number of marriages were high in 1970.

5.Finally fewer people got divorced in 1970 than 2000.

[Tom]

I think mistakes in the sentences are:
1- drop "us" or add "that" after "us"
2- during --> in
3- has decreased --> decreased
4- high --> large (big)
5- few --> fewer

[Christina]

1.The first table shows us the marriage and divorce rates between 1970 - 2000.
(the rate of marriage and divorce sounds strange to me. If you type it into Google, these is no such expression as the rate of marriage and divorce)

2. i dont think you can use rate with cardinal numbers. rate is reserved for percentages.
2.While the number of divorces increased from 1 million to 1.5 million during the same period.

3.From 1990 to 2000 the number of marriages decreased relatively from 2.5 million to 2 million.

4.As shown in table 1 the total number of marriages was high in 1970.

5.Finally fewer people had divorces in 1970 than in 2000.
(got divorced sounds really odd to me)

[wio]

Hi Simon
How I could increase my abilities in just 1 month?
What is the best plan?
I took part in exam about 2months ago and gain 5.5.
I want to have at least 6.5. My problem is in the listening and speaking section which I got 5!
I tried to study in previous month but have you any special guidance?

[gwapo]

1.The first table shows us the rate of marriages and divorces between 1970 and 2000.
2.The divorce rate increased from 1 million to 1.5 million during the same period.
3.As from 1990 to 2000, marriage rate has decreased relatively from 2.5 to 2 million.
4.As shown in table 1, the total number of marriages were high in 1970.
5.Finally, few people got divorced in 1970 than 2000.

[gwapo]

1.The first table shows us the rate of marriages and divorces between 1970 and 2000.
2.The divorce rate increased from 1 million to 1.5 million during the same period.
3.As from 1990 to 2000, marriage rate has decreased relatively from 2.5 to 2 million.
4.As shown in table 1, the total number of marriages was high in 1970.
5.Finally, few people got divorced in 1970 than 2000.

[Gwang-eun]

1. The first table shows us marriage and divorce rates between 1970 and 2000.
2. While the number of divorces increased from 1 million to 1.5 million during the same period.
3. From 1990 to 2000, the number of marriages decreased significantly from 2.5 to 2 million.
4. As shown in table 1, the total number of marriages was high in 1970.
5. Finally, fewer people got divorced in 1970 than 2000.

[UT]

Hi Simon,

Here is my answer:
1. lacking of verb.
2. ... from 1 million to 1.5 million "people"
3. ... "the" marriage rate...
4. ... the number of..."was" high...
5. Finally "fewer" people... than 2000.

Thank you for your exercise.

[ki]

1. The first table shows us the rate of marriage and divorce between 1970 AND 2000.
2. The divorce rate increased from 1 million to 1.5 million during the same period.
3.From 1990 to 2000, marriage rate has decreased relatively from 2.5 to 2 million.
4. As shown in table 1 , the total number of marriages were high in 1970.
5. Finally few people got divorced in 1970 than IN 2000.

[rinky]

1.The first table shows us the rates of marriage and divorce between 1970 and 2000.
2.While the divorce rate has increased from 1 million to 1.5 million during the same period.
3.As from 1990 to 2000 marriage rate has decreased relatively from 2.5 million to 2 million.
4.As shown in table 1, the total number of couplles getting married was high in 1970.
5.Finally few people got divorced in 1970 than in 2000.

[rinky]

1.The first table shows us the rates of marriages and divorces between 1970 and 2000.
2.While the divorce rate has increased from 1 million to 1.5 million during the same period.
3.As from 1990 to 2000 marriage rate has decreased relatively from 2.5 million to 2 million.
4.As shown in table 1, the total number of couples getting married was high in 1970.
5.Finally feweER people got divorced in 1970 than in 2000.

[Aika]

1. The first table shows us the rate of marriage and divorce between 1970 AND 2000.
2. ....,while divorce rate increased from 1 million to 1.5 million during the same period.
3. As from 1990 to 2000 marriage rate has decreased from 2.5 to 2 million.
4. As shown in table 1, the total number of marriages WAS high in 1970.
5 Finally, fewer people got divorced in 1970 than IN 2000.

[Patty]

Hi Simon,

My answer are in the following way,
1. delete "us"
2. change "during" into "in"
3. delete "as" and put , after 2000
4. change "that" into ,
5. change "got divorced" into "got more divorced"

Thanks a lot for exercise to improve skills.

[sevda]

hi simon I want to thank you so much because your web site really helped me and I could improve my IELTS skills with your advise.
my result is:
overall 7
listening 7.5
reading 7.5
writing 6.5
speaking 6
thank you :)))))))))))

[Rony]

HI Simon,
I got a writting task 2 topic. I hope you will find its interesting.
The topic is .." THESE DAYS PEOPLE PAY MORE ATTENTION TO ARTISTS (WRITTERS, PAINTERS AND SO ON) AND GIVE LESS IMPORTANCE TO SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY.
TO WHAT EXTENT DO YOU AGREE AND DISAGREE? WHAT IS YOUR OPINION?"
This topic was aksed in Australia Jan 12.

Thanks ....

[chris]

1. The first table showed the rates of marriages and divorces between 1970 - 2000.
2. While the divorce rate increased from 1 million to 1.5 million on the same period.
3. As from 1990 to 2000 marriage rate has decreased gradually from 2.5 to 2 million.
4. As shown in table 1, the total number of marriages was high in 1970.
5. Finally few people divorced more in 1970 than 2000.

[DD]

hi simon

I am very upset with my reading....

i appeared four times this exam and cant mover more than 5 band in rading last times i got

l=7
w=6.5
s=7
r=5

[BB]

1.The first table shows the rate of marriage and divorce between 1970 and 2000.
2.While the divorce rate increased from 1 million to 1.5 million in the same period.
3.As from 1990 to 2000 marriage rate decreased relatively from 2.5 to 2 million.
4.As shown in table 1 that the total number of marriages was high in 1970.
5.Finally fewer people got divorced in 1970 than 2000.

[Phuongloan]

1. The first table shows that the rate of the marriage and the divorce between 1970 and 2000.
2. While the divorce rate was increased from 1 million to 1.5 million during the same period,
3. From 1990 to 2000 the marriage rate has decreased from 2.5 million to 2 million.
4. As shown in table 1 that the total number of the marriage was high in 1970.
5. Finally, few people got divorced in 1970 than 2000.

[SUMATI]

1.The first table shows us the rate of marriages and divorces between 1970 AND 2000.
2. While the divorce rate increased from 1 million to 1.5 million IN the same period.
3. As from 1990 to 2000 marriage rate decreased relatively from 2.5 to 2 million.
4. As shown in table 1 that the total number of marriages WAS high in 1970.
5. Finally few people got divorced in 1970 than IN 2000.

[daniel luo]

1. The first table shows the percentage of marriage and divorce between 1970 and 2000.
2. While the number of divorce increased from 1 to 1.5 million during the same period.
3.From 1990 to 2000, the number of marriage decreased relatively from 2.5 to 2 million.
4. As shown in table 1, the total number of marriage was high in 1970.
5. Finally there were fewer people divorced in 1970 than in 2000.

[daniel luo]

2. While the number of divorce increased from 1 to 1.5 million at the same period.

[Anh]

Hi Simon, I have done many practice tests, but the results have not been higher after each test. The average score I obtained was:

L: 29/40
R: 19/40
How can I improve Reading skill and writing task 2? Could you advise me some useful books?

[maiha]

The first table shows us the rate of marriage and divorce between 1970 and 2000.

The divorce rate increased from 1 million to 1.5 million in the same period.

From 1990 to 2000 marriage rate decreased relatively from 2.5 to 2 million.

As shown in table 1, the total number of marriages were highest in 1970.

Finally few people got divorced in 1970 than 2000.

[james]

hi i dont know wt to write and giving opinion in below topic

capital punishment should be given or not??

[Simon]

CORRECT ANSWERS FROM SIMON:

1. The first table shows us the rate of marriage and divorce between 1970 - 2000.

- delete 'us'
- make 'marriage' and 'divorce' plural
- write '1970 and 2000'

2. While the divorce rate increased from 1 million to 1.5 million during the same period.

- delete 'while' because there is no contrast in this sentence

3. As from 1990 to 2000 marriage rate has decreased relatively from 2.5 to 2 million.

- delete 'as'
- write 'the marriage rate'
- use the past simple 'decreased', not 'has decreased'
- delete 'relatively'

4. As shown in table 1 that the total number of marriages were high in 1970.

- write 'the first table shows that' instead of 'as shown in table 1 that'
- 'was' instead of 'were' because 'the total number' is singular
- I think the student means 'highest' instead of 'high'

5. Finally few people got divorced in 1970 than 2000.

- put a comma after 'Finally'
- 'fewer' instead of 'few' because this is a comparison

[dio]

Dear Simon;
Could you please write its answer?

[Simon]

Hi wio,

There's no special advice I'm afraid. Just keep practising and working hard. If you have a specific difficulty, it might be a good idea to take some classes with a (private) teacher.

...

Congratulations Sevda!

Those are great scores. I'm really happy that my lessons helped you.

...

Hi Rony,

Thanks for sharing. A few people have asked me about that question, so I might do a lesson about it soon. Good luck!

...

Hi DD,

The 2 lessons below contain some of my best advice for reading:

http://ielts-simon.com/ielts-help-and-english-pr/2012/02/ielts-advice-a-useful-question.html

http://ielts-simon.com/ielts-help-and-english-pr/2010/12/ielts-reading-advice.html

...

Hi Anh,

The links I gave to DD (above) sum up my advice about the reading test. For the writing test, there is too much for me to explain here. Work through as many lessons as you can - all of the advice and examples are useful.

If you feel stuck, it might be time to invest in some lessons with a (private) teacher. Maybe you need someone who can analyse what you are doing wrong.

...

Hi James,

My advice is to think about your opinions in your own language first. Try to think what the arguments for and against capital punishment could be. Then you could do some research - if you Google 'capital punishment' I'm sure you'll find plenty of information.

PS. There's also a chapter about that topic in my ebook.

[Simon]

Hi Dio,

My answers are above your question.

[umesh chanchlani]

Hi Simon,

With regard to your grammar answer (no.3),will it be correct if I use past perfect tense i.e ,If my answer is :

"From 1990 to 2000 the marriage rate had decreased from 2.5 to 2 million."

Regards,
Umesh Chanchlani

[hanashahi]

Hi Simon,

I am preparing my writing task1 in General Module. Do you have any suggested site or any advices to due with the task ?
I not sure it is the right room to post my question, so sorry if there is any inconvenience.

Thank in advance.

[Simon]

Hi Umesh,

No, not really. The past perfect is used to express something that happened BEFORE another past time e.g. "before 1990, the marriage rate had not decreased".

...

Hi Hanashahi,

I'm afraid I don't teach GT students, so I never make any materials for that test. You'll have to search on Google to see what you can find. Sorry I can't help.

[saad]

hi simon
i want develop my over skilss
please

[Phuong Nguyen]

Hi Simon,

I respect your decision on your "comments" in comments area, but I have just seen a Writing Task 1 lesson in which a bar chart presented containing a lot of information on Thursday, July 28, 2011.

You often advise us to write Task 1 in 4 paragraphs (1-introduction, 2-summary and 3+4-Description in more detail).

Why did you divide your essay in many small paragraphs (4 paragraphs for description in more detail in stead of 2 details paragraph as usual) in that lesson. In which case should we present the Task 1 essay like that?

Thank you so much for your brilliant work!

Best wishes,
Phuong

[Simon]

Hi Phuong,

Those were just example sentences. It wasn't supposed to be an essay. If I did the full essay, I'd do it as 4 paragraphs as normal.

[Richard Ma]

1. Table 1 shows the rate of marriage and the rate of divorce between 1970 to 2000.
2. While the number of divorce increased from 1 million to 1.5. million in the same period.
3. From 1990 to 2000, the number of marriages has decreased from 2.5 millions to 2 millions.
4. The table 1 shows that the number of marriages was relatively high in 1970.
5. Fewer people got divorced in 1970 compared with the number in 2000.

The first table shows us the rate of marriage and divorce between 1970 - 2000.
While the divorce rate increased from 1 million to 1.5 million during the same period.
As from 1990 to 2000 marriage rate has decreased relatively from 2.5 to 2 million.
As shown in table 1 that the total number of marriages were high in 1970.
Finally few people got divorced in 1970 than 2000.

[chris]

hi simon,

do i need to use past tense in writing the essay part or should it be in present tense? Thanks

[Phạm Quỳnh Hoa]

Hi Simon,

Can I write: the marriage numbers instead of the number of marriages and this is singular or plural ?

"The marriage numbers in 2000 were lower than 1970."

Thanks

[Simon]

Hi Chris,

It depends on the years shown on the chart. Have a look through my lessons to see examples.

...

Hi Pham,

Yes, that's fine.

[BB]

1. The first table shows us the numberS of marriageS and divorceS between 1970 - 2000.
2. ,while the divorces numbers increased from 1 millon to 1.5 million during the same period.
3. As from 1990s and 2000s marriages numbers have decreased by 2.5 million and 2 million relatively.
4. As shown in table 1, the total numbers of marriages were very high in 1970.
5. Finally, there are fewer numbers OF people get divorced in 1970 than 2000. (????)

My revise as above.
Thank you Simon.

BB

[cherry]

Hi Simon
I just got confused by the "single or plural
" ！
Can I write “the rates of marriages and divorces” ？

[Simon]

Yes, that's fine Cherry.

[cherry]

thank u！！！

[dr kazi]

HI Simon,i am planning to attempt the ielts test next month.Though I have given few attempts in the past but coulnt get through.I always find myself to have a great difficulty in achieving a score in writing however I am uptodate with rest of the modules.I have found your website and really foud it very helpful specially with the writing tips and guidance.Desperately hoping to get the desired score this time.thank you soo very much for your great help.

[Eric]

Hi Simon
I have a question. In most of the examples, can I use "number or figure" instead of "rate" as rate should be used in the case when there is a specific definition. For instance, the rate of divorce accounts for 1 million per year or 500 cases every 1 million couples.
Thank you.