Band 8 model answer
A model answer written to illustrate a Band 8 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 the percentage of the population using the internet in four countries from 2000 to 2020.”8
Overall
8
Task response
8
Coherence & cohesion
8
Lexical resource
8
Grammar
The line graph shows the percentage of the population using the internet in the USA, Brazil, China and India between 2000 and 2020.
Overall, all four countries recorded substantial growth over the period, with the USA maintaining the highest rate throughout. India started lowest and remained so in 2020, though it grew dramatically in the final decade. Brazil and China rose steeply from near-zero bases to over 70% by the end.
In 2000 the USA already stood at 43.1%, far ahead of the other three, and continued climbing to 90.9% by 2020. Brazil and China began at just 2.9% and 1.8% respectively and expanded at a striking pace, reaching 81.3% and 70.6% by 2020. India started at a mere 0.5% in 2000 and grew slowly to 7.5% by 2010, before accelerating sharply to 43.4% in 2020, nearly six times its 2010 figure.
Brazil's growth outpaced China's in absolute terms, leaving it with the second-highest rate at 81.3% in 2020, compared with China's 70.6% and India's 43.4%. Despite its rapid late acceleration, India still trailed the other three considerably at the close of the period.
- •Overview captures the universal growth, the USA's sustained lead, and India's persisting last-place position.
- •Brazil's eventual overtaking of China is correctly identified and quantified.
- •India's sharp acceleration in the final decade is distinguished from its earlier stagnation.
- •Strong range of descriptive language: 'dramatic', 'striking pace', 'near-zero bases', 'accelerating considerably'.
- •The 2005 and 2015 interim values for the USA are not mentioned; including one would enrich the description of its growth arc.
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