The bar chart compares twelve countries in terms of the overall number of medals that they
have won at the Olympic Games.
It is clear that the USA is by far the most successful Olympic medal winning nation. It
is also noticeable that the figures for gold, silver and bronze medals won by any
particular country tend to be fairly similar.
The USA has won a total of around 2,300 Olympic medals, including approximately 900
gold medals, 750 silver and 650 bronze. In second place on the all-time medals chart is the
Soviet Union, with just over 1,000medals. Again, the number of gold medals won by this
country is slightly higher than the number of silver or bronze medals.
Only four other countries – the UK, France, Germany and Italy – have won more than 500
Olympic medals, all with similar proportions of each medal colour. Apart from the USA
and the Soviet Union, China is the only other country with a noticeably higher proportion
of gold medals (about 200) compared to silver and bronze (about 100 each).
(178 words)
Estimated IELTS Band Score: 7.5 – 8.0
- Task Achievement (7.5)
Describes the main features well and makes relevant comparisons. Could highlight smaller details more explicitly. - Coherence & Cohesion (8.0)
Logical structure with clear paragraphs and transitions. - Lexical Resource (7.5)
Uses a good range of vocabulary; might incorporate more variety in synonyms. - Grammar & Accuracy (7.5)
Generally accurate grammar and punctuation; minor refinements in complex sentences.
Band 8
The bar chart compares twelve countries by the total number of Olympic medals they have won, categorized by gold, silver, and bronze.
Overall, the USA leads with a significant margin, having won around 2,300 medals in total. The Soviet Union ranks second with just over 1,000, while the remaining nations have lower totals. Each country tends to have a slightly higher number of gold medals compared to silver or bronze.
The USA’s medal tally includes roughly 900 golds, 750 silvers, and 650 bronzes. In second place, the Soviet Union has just over 1,000 medals in total, with a slightly larger share of golds than the other two types. Only four other countries—the UK, France, Germany, and Italy—have won more than 500 medals each, with relatively similar proportions of gold, silver, and bronze.
Apart from the USA and the Soviet Union, China also shows a notably higher gold count of about 200 compared to around 100 each for silver and bronze. Most other nations, such as Sweden, Australia, Hungary, East Germany, and Japan, have fewer than 500 medals in total.
Word Count: 168
Band 9
The bar chart illustrates the overall number of Olympic medals—gold, silver, and bronze—earned by twelve countries. Overall, the United States stands out with the highest medal count, followed by the Soviet Union, while other nations lag significantly behind.
The United States has amassed roughly 2,300 medals, comprising about 900 gold, 750 silver, and 650 bronze. In second place is the Soviet Union, with just over 1,000 medals in total. In both cases, the tally of gold medals is slightly higher than that of silver or bronze.
Four other nations—the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Italy—have each secured more than 500 medals, displaying fairly balanced distributions across the three medal types. Among the remaining countries, only China shows a distinctly larger proportion of gold medals (approximately 200) compared to silver and bronze (around 100 each). By contrast, countries such as Sweden, Australia, Hungary, East Germany, and Japan have all garnered fewer than 500 medals, with similar proportions of each medal color.
In summary, while the USA and Soviet Union dominate the medal counts, a handful of European nations surpass 500 medals, and most others remain below this threshold.
Word Count: 182
Comparison Table
| Aspect | Band 7-8 Version | Band 9 Version |
|---|---|---|
| Vocabulary | Clear terms (“significant margin,” “slightly higher”) | More precise/academic (“dominates,” “distinctions in distribution”) |
| Sentence Structure | Mostly direct with some complex sentences | More varied, incorporating subordinate clauses and smooth transitions |
| Data Presentation | Covers main figures, references top countries well | Provides sharper contrasts, mentions specific medal counts across multiple nations |
| Clarity & Cohesion | Well-organized, good paragraphing | More concise transitions and concluding statements |
Examples from Essays
| Aspect | Band 7-8 Example | Band 9 Example |
|---|---|---|
| Sentence Structure | “The USA leads with a significant margin, having won around 2,300 medals in total.” | “The United States has amassed roughly 2,300 medals, comprising about 900 gold, 750 silver, and 650 bronze.” |
| Data Presentation | “Only four other countries—the UK, France, Germany, and Italy—have won more than 500 medals.” | “Four other nations—the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Italy—have each secured more than 500 medals.” |
| Clarity & Cohesion | “Apart from the USA and the Soviet Union, China also shows a notably higher gold count.” | “Among the remaining countries, only China shows a distinctly larger proportion of gold medals.” |
Grammar Mistakes
- Original: “The USA is by far the most successful Olympic medal winning nation.”
Correction: “The USA is by far the most successful nation in terms of Olympic medal wins.” (Smoother phrasing.) - Original: “In second place on the all-time medals chart is the Soviet Union, with just over 1,000medals.”
Correction: “In second place on the all-time medals chart is the Soviet Union, with just over 1,000 medals.” (Spacing/typo fix.) - Original: “Again, the number of gold medals won by this country is slightly higher than the number of silver or bronze medals.”
Correction: “Similarly, its gold medal count is slightly higher than its silver or bronze tallies.” (More concise and varied word choice.)
Vocabulary Repetition
| Repeated Word | Suggested Alternatives |
|---|---|
| “Medals” | Wins, Achievements, Podium finishes (contextual) |
| “Highest” | Largest, Greatest, Largest tally |
| “Slightly” | Marginally, Somewhat, A bit |
IELTS Writing Task 1 Exercises with Answers
Fill in the blanks using the words below:
(dominate, marginally, proportion, achieved, surpass, comparatively)
- The bar chart shows the total number of Olympic medals _______ by twelve countries.
Answer: achieved - The USA’s medal count is _______ higher than 2,300, making it the clear leader.
Answer: marginally - Meanwhile, the Soviet Union is in second place, with just over 1,000 medals, a _______ large total compared to other nations.
Answer: comparatively - China is the only country besides the USA and Soviet Union to _______ 200 gold medals, though its _______ of silver and bronze is around 100 each.
Answer: surpass, proportion - Overall, the USA and Soviet Union _______ the chart, while a handful of European nations have moderate totals.
Answer: dominate
The bar chart provides a clear comparison of Olympic medal counts across twelve nations, highlighting the dominance of the USA. The Soviet Union follows in second place, but the gap is substantial. China stands out with a notable emphasis on gold medals compared to its silver and bronze counts. Other countries, like the UK, France, Germany, and Italy, show a more balanced distribution across medal types. What factors contribute to such a significant disparity in medal totals between the top two countries and the rest?