You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
The charts below show the performance of a bus company in terms of punctuality, both actual and target (what actually happened compared to what the company was trying to achieve), and the number of complaints and passengers.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.
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Sample Report 1
The bar charts compare the punctuality of a bus company's service against its targets and track the frequency of customer complaints over five years, from 1999 to 2003.
Overall, the company's actual punctuality fell short of its goals annually until 2003, when it slightly surpassed its aim. Meanwhile, customer grievances showed an upward trend throughout the period, peaking in 2003 despite the improvement in service punctuality.
Initially, in 1999, the company aspired for an 86% punctuality rate, which marginally declined to 85% in reality. The subsequent year witnessed a more significant drop, with only 82% of buses arriving on time against the unchanged target. By 2001, the target was adjusted to 85%, yet the actual punctuality remained consistently below by about 1% for both 2001 and 2002. In a positive turn, 2003 saw the actual performance slightly exceed the target by approximately 0.5%, the target having been adjusted to 84.5%.
On the complaints front, figures started at roughly 70 per thousand passenger journeys in 1999 and, despite a slight decrease in 2001, escalated to around 120 by 2003. Notably, the year the company achieved its punctuality target also coincided with the highest frequency of customer complaints registered, indicating that factors other than punctuality influenced passenger satisfaction.
Sample Report 2
The provided bar charts offer a detailed overview of the performance of a bus company, specifically comparing its actual punctuality record with set targets over a span of five years, from 1999 to 2003. Additionally, the data outlines the trend in customer complaints within the same timeframe.
Overall, there is a noticeable discrepancy between the company’s punctuality targets and its actual performance, with targets consistently unmet until a turnaround in 2003. Conversely, the customer complaint rate rose steadily over the years, hitting its peak concurrently with the year the punctuality target was finally achieved.
In 1999, the performance of a bus company was expected to reach an 86% on-time arrival rate, yet it achieved only 85%. The following year saw a further decline, with just 82% of buses on time, falling short of the unchanged target. The company lowered its expectation to 85% in 2001, but the actual performance continued to lag by roughly 1% for both 2001 and 2002. 2003 marked a significant milestone as the bus company’s performance slightly outstripped the target, set at 84.5%, with a recorded punctuality of 85%.
Regarding customer feedback, complaints initiated at approximately 70 per thousand passenger journeys in 1999 and, despite a minor dip in 2001, escalated to around 120 by 2003. Intriguingly, the year that saw the company’s performance meet its punctuality aspirations also recorded the apex of customer complaints, suggesting additional factors were at play in user satisfaction.
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