Task 1.1

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

            The graph below shows radio and television audiences throughout the day in 1992.

Write a report for a university lecturer describing the information shown below.

Write at least 150 words.

           

            The line graph presented the proportion of the British watched TV and listened to the radio in different time frames between October and December in 1992. As an overall trend, there were substantial differences in proportion of radio and television audiences throughout the day.

            The first thing to note is that the proportion of radio audiences was the same as television audiences between 2am and 6am. Nevertheless, after that, the percentage of radio audiences was higher than (the rate of ) television viewers from 6am to 1pm. The percentage of radio audiences rose quickly and reached a peach at 25%, while the rate of the television viewers just increased slowly from 6am to 8am. After that, from 8am to 1pm, the rate of radio audiences decreased rapidly, however, still higher than (the rate of) the television viewers. At 1pm, both percentages were at about 15%. From 1pm to 1am, the percentage of television audiences was always higher. This percentage soared to a new peak at approximately 45% at 9pm, then collapsed and finally ended at about 6% at 1am. Meanwhile, the percentage of radio audiences went down gradually to near 4% at 1am.

Words: 192

               

             

Model answer 1:

            The graph shows the percentage of audiences over 4 yes old of UK follows the radio and television throughout the day during the period October-December 1992. It has been observed from the graph that less than 10% audiences follows the radio at 6:00 am and the percentage raised to a pick around 30% at 8′AM and decline gradually to around 10% during the period 2′00 to 4′00 Pm and again raised a bit to around 12% between 4′00 to 6′00 PM. It then again dropped to below 10% at around 10′PM. The rate again raised to a bit between 10′00 PM to 12′00 PM and then dropped slowly by 4′00 AM. On the other hand, the rate of television audiences raises 0-10% during the period 6′00 to 8′00 am and remain steady up to 1 0′AM and then gradually goes down by 12′00 noon. The percentage raised dramatically to around 15% by 2′00 noon. The percentage raised dramatically goes down by 12′00 noon. The percentage raised dramatically to around 15% by 2′00 PM which again raised to a pick above 40% between 6′00-8′00 PM and then gradually dropped between the period 12′00 PM to 4′00 AM.

(197 words)

EXAMINER’S EXPLANATION

Band 6

            “The answer has an appropriate introduction which the candidate has attempted to express in his/her own words. There is good coverage of the data and a brief reference to contrasting trends. The answer can be followed although it is rather repetitive and cohesive devices are overused. In order to gain a higher mark for content, the candidate would be expected to select the salient features of the graph and comment primarily on these. Sentences are long but lack complexity. There are some errors in tense, verb form and spelling which interfere slightly with the flow of the answer.”

Model answer 2:

            The blue graph shows the television audiences throughout the day. It shows that the percentage of audiences is three percent in early morning, but it gradually rises unto ten percent at 8:00 am and maintains the same for the next two hours. There is a slight fall in percentage in next two hours. However, after that it raises sharp unto twenty percent within the next two hours. After this, the graph rises very fast and attains its peak at 10 pm, which is about forty-five percent. The graph gradually falls down and at 2:00 am, it is at five percent. The red graph shows the percentage for radio audiences. Unlike the television one the peak percentage of the radio audiences is at 8:00 am, which is about 30 percent. Then it gradually falls and it corresponds with the television one at two pm. After that it gradually falls but with a small increase in percentage, at 4:30 to 6:00 pm. The percentage of audience then gradually goes down and at four AM, it is the lowest which is near 2 percent. These graphs prove the progressive popularity of television.

(191 words)

EXAMINER’S EXPLANATION

Band 7

            “The answer deals well with both the individual media trends and the overall comparison of these trends. The opening could be more fully developed with the inclusion of information relating to the groups studied and the period of time during which the study took place. There is a good variety of cohesive devices and the message can be followed quite easily although the expression is sometimes a little clumsy. Structures are complex and vocabulary is varied but there are errors in word forms, tense and voice though these do not impede communication.”