Band 9 model answer
A model answer written to illustrate a Band 9 response to this question, with the rubric breakdown and what carries it. Written by us as a teaching example, not a verified exam script.
“The line graph shows GDP per capita (purchasing power parity) in four countries from 1990 to 2020.”9
Overall
8.5
Task response
9
Coherence & cohesion
8.5
Lexical resource
9
Grammar
The line graph shows GDP per capita measured in constant international dollars for the USA, China, Brazil and India between 1990 and 2020.
Overall, the USA maintained the highest GDP per capita throughout, while China recorded by far the steepest growth, rising from the lowest position in 1990 to second place by 2020. Brazil showed modest growth followed by a slight decline, whereas India expanded steadily but remained the lowest throughout.
The USA began at 44,378 dollars in 1990 and climbed consistently to 67,342 dollars by 2020, a rise of more than 50% over the period. Brazil started at 12,633 dollars, grew to 18,357 dollars by 2015, then dipped slightly to 17,328 dollars in 2020, making it the only country to record a fall in the final interval.
China's growth was the most striking. From just 1,667 dollars in 1990, the figure surged to 10,476 dollars by 2010 and then to 19,215 dollars in 2020, more than eleven times the starting value, overtaking Brazil in the process. India followed a broadly similar upward path but on a smaller scale, rising from 2,203 dollars to 7,400 dollars, nearly tripling over the span.
- •Overview correctly identifies the USA's sustained lead, China's exceptional trajectory and the crossover with Brazil.
- •Start and end values are accurate throughout, with the key multiplication ratios clearly stated.
- •Appropriate trend language: 'surged', 'climbed consistently', 'dipped slightly', 'broadly similar path'.
- •Brazil's 2015-2020 decline is specifically noted, distinguishing it from the other three upward trends.
- •One intermediate data point for China (e.g., the 2000 figure) would better illustrate the acceleration in its growth rate.
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