What examiners reward at Band 7 and Band 8+
| Criterion | Band 7 | Band 8+ |
|---|---|---|
| Task Achievement (Academic) | A clear overview; key features highlighted, though not always fully illustrated | A clear overview of the most significant features; key features well chosen, grouped and backed with accurate data |
| Task Achievement (General Training) | Purpose clear; every bullet covered, some thinly; tone mostly consistent | Purpose unmistakable; every bullet developed with specific detail; tone right for the reader throughout |
| Coherence and Cohesion | Logical paragraphs; some linkers mechanical or over-used | Data or ideas grouped logically; referencing (this figure, the latter) accurate and natural |
| Lexical Resource | Some variety in trend, comparison or functional language | Precise, varied language with natural collocation (rose steadily, a marginal decline, I would be grateful if) |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | Frequent error-free sentences | Most sentences error-free, including comparatives, passives and complex clauses |
Academic reports
The 20-minute routine
- Minutes 0–3: analyse. Read the title, axes, units and time frame. Mark the highest and lowest values, the overall direction of each item, and any crossover or exception. Choose two overview features and a grouping for your two body paragraphs.
- Minutes 3–17: write. Introduction (1 sentence), overview (2 sentences), body paragraph 1, body paragraph 2.
- Minutes 17–20: check. Compare every figure and unit with the visual, then check tenses, articles, plurals and the word count.
The four-paragraph structure
| Paragraph | Content | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction | Paraphrase what the visual shows, where and when. No figures, no opinions | 1 sentence, 20–30 words |
| Overview | The 2 most significant features: main trends, biggest contrasts, or the number of stages | 2 sentences, 30–45 words |
| Body 1 | First group of key features, with selected figures | 55–70 words |
| Body 2 | Second group, with comparisons | 55–70 words |
By visual type
| Visual | Group the data by | Overview names | Language to control |
|---|---|---|---|
| Line graph | Rising versus falling series, or highest versus lowest | Overall direction and the leading series | rose steadily, peaked at, levelled off, fluctuated around |
| Bar chart | Largest versus smallest categories, or categories that changed versus those that did not | The biggest category and the biggest change | Comparatives, twice as many as, a third of |
| Pie charts | Dominant shares versus minor shares | The largest share and any major shift between charts | accounted for, made up, the remainder |
| Table | The extremes and the exceptions; never every cell | The highest, the lowest and the general pattern | by contrast, whereas, similarly |
| Process | The first half and the second half of the stages | The number of stages, where it starts and what it produces | Passive voice, once, after which, finally |
| Maps | Changes to buildings versus changes to land, roads or facilities | The overall transformation (more residential, less green space) | Location language; past simple or present perfect |
| Mixed visuals | One paragraph per visual, with one linking sentence | The main point from each visual | Linking: this is reflected in, which corresponds to |
Reporting data accurately
- Select figures, don’t list them. Two or three figures per body paragraph, chosen to prove your overview.
- Approximate honestly. 32% is just under a third; 48% is nearly half. An inaccurate approximation is a data error.
- Match the tense to the time. Use the past for past data and is expected to or is projected to for projections.
- Never explain causes. If the chart doesn’t show why cycling rose, you mustn’t say why.
General Training letters
Reading the prompt
The prompt gives you a situation, a reader and three bullet points. It also tells you how to begin (Dear Sir or Madam, or Dear Sam,), and you don’t need to write any addresses. Before writing, decide three things: the purpose (complain, request, apologise, explain, invite), the reader (and therefore the tone), and one specific invented detail for each bullet.
Tone by reader
| Tone | Typical reader | Opening | Closing | Style |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Formal | Company, manager you don’t know, official | Dear Sir or Madam, or Dear Ms Okafor, | Yours faithfully, (no name) or Yours sincerely, (name) | No contractions or slang; precise requests |
| Semi-formal | Colleague, landlord, neighbour, teacher | Dear Mr Hale, or Dear Priya, | Kind regards, or Best wishes, | Polite and warm; some contractions are fine |
| Informal | Friend or relative | Dear Sam, or Hi Sam, | Love, Take care, or See you soon, | Natural phrasal verbs and contractions, still accurate |
The 20-minute routine
- Minutes 0–3: purpose, reader, tone, and one concrete detail for each bullet (a date, an amount, a product, a reason).
- Minutes 3–17: an opening paragraph that states the purpose in the first sentence; one paragraph per bullet, each with 2–3 developed sentences; a closing line that states the action you expect.
- Minutes 17–20: check that all three bullets are covered, the tone is consistent from greeting to sign-off, and the word count is 160–200.
Common traps
Quick recap
- Academic: introduction, overview (no numbers), two grouped body paragraphs with selected figures, 170–190 words.
- Group by trend, size, stage or type of change, and report figures accurately without explaining causes.
- General Training: clear purpose in the first sentence, three developed bullets, one consistent tone, 160–200 words.
- Follow the opening the prompt gives you and close to match the reader.
- 3 minutes to plan, 14 to write, 3 to check, then move on.