Examiner Comments
- The report delivers a clear and accurate summary of both the table and pie charts, covering the sources of police funding as well as how the budget was spent in 2017 and 2018.
- The introduction paraphrases the task appropriately, and the overview identifies the main trends: the dominance of national government funding, the minimal contribution of other sources, and the contrast between salaries and technology in expenditure.
- Key data from both years is selected and reported accurately, with precise reference to figures such as the increase in local tax revenue and the sharp rise in technology spending.
- The writer avoids speculation and focuses strictly on the information provided, fully meeting the requirements of the task.
- The response is logically organised, following the recommended structure with the overview placed after the introduction.
- Information from the table and the charts is sensibly grouped into two separate detail paragraphs, helping the reader follow the description easily.
- Cohesive devices are used effectively to show relationships between data points, including “similarly,” “in contrast,” and “however.”
- Paragraphing is clear and consistent, contributing to strong overall coherence.
- The report uses an appropriate and varied range of vocabulary for describing quantitative data, with precise terms such as “contributed the least,” “grew considerably,” and “remained stable.”
- The writer paraphrases key ideas flexibly, reducing repetition of phrases like “funding” and “spending.”
- Word choice is formal and well-suited to an academic description.
- A wide range of grammatical structures is used accurately, including complex sentences with subordinate clauses and a variety of comparative forms.
- Figures and percentages are reported correctly, and verb tenses are used consistently to describe past data.
- Grammatical control is maintained throughout, allowing the information to be conveyed fluently and precisely.
Useful Vocabulary
Officially given or distributed for a particular purpose.
The table outlines the sources of income, while the charts indicate how the money was allocated.
Accounted for the largest portion or percentage of the total.
Overall, national government funding made up the biggest share of the budget in both years.
Introduces a contrast between two facts.
Overall, national government funding made up the biggest share of the budget in both years, whereas other sources contributed the least.
The part or share of a whole.
Most spending went on salaries, while technology received the smallest proportion, although this category grew considerably in 2018.
In contrast, the proportion allocated to technology almost doubled, climbing from 8% to 14%.
Introduces a statement that shows how two things differ or relate to each other.
In comparison with 2017, national government funding rose slightly in 2018, increasing from £175.5 million to £177.8 million.
Indicates that the next idea corresponds to or matches the previous one.
Similarly, revenue from local taxes also grew, rising by just over £11 million to £102.3 million.
A little more than a particular amount.
Similarly, revenue from local taxes also grew, rising by just over £11 million to £102.3 million.
Introduces an opposite or very different situation. In contrast can also be used to highlight a clear difference between two situations.
By contrast, contributions from other sources showed almost no movement, edging up from £38 million to £38.5 million.
In contrast, the proportion allocated to technology almost doubled, climbing from 8% to 14%.
Changed by only a very small amount.
By contrast, contributions from other sources showed almost no movement, edging up from £38 million to £38.5 million.
Became close to twice as large as before.
In contrast, the proportion allocated to technology almost doubled, climbing from 8% to 14%.
