Graph Writing # 20 - Figures for imprisonment in five countries

IELTS Academic Writing Task 1/ Graph Writing - Column Graph:

» You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

The table below shows the figures for imprisonment in five countries between 1930 and 1980.

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

» You should write at least 150 words.

Figures (in thousand) for imprisonment in five countries between 1930 and 1980.

Table - the figures for imprisonment in five countries

Sample Answer 1:
The bar graph shows the number of imprisonment in five countries - Britain, Australia, New Zealand, the US and Canada, between 1930 and 1980.

Overall, Canada had the highest number of prisoners in 1930 while Great Britain had the least. But after 50 years, the figure for incarceration decreased in Canada and the United States had the highest number of prisoners.

Initially, in 1930, Canada had 120 thousand prisoners and that was the highest number of inmates among the five countries. There were 100 thousand prisoners both in the US and New Zealand. Again, Australia had around 70 thousand prisoners and Great Britain had only 30 thousand prisoners and that was the lowest. After a decade, the prisoners’ number in Britain remained almost the same while the number decreased in Australia, New Zealand and Canada. But this year the total number of prisoners increased in the US by 30 thousand and reached 130 thousand. In 1950, the prisoners’ number increased in Britain and slightly decreased in Australia and New Zealand. On the other hand, the prisoner in Canada increased and got highest among the five countries and decreased in the US. A similar trend in terms of prisoner numbers in these countries could be observed after a decade. Finally, in 1980, the prisoners’ number in these countries increased except in Australia. The US had the highest number of prisoners this year and Great Britain, Canada and New Zealand had more than 80 thousand prisoners this year.
 

Sample Answer 2:
The graph presents data on the figures for imprisonment in five countries from 1930 to 1980.

Overall, the data shows considerable fluctuations in the figures for imprisonments in those countries while showing no solid pattern.

In Great Britain, the number of prisoners steadily increased from 30 thousand to over 80 thousand in five decades. It is interesting to note that Great Britain had the lowest imprisonment in 1930, but it was Australia who stood at that position in 1980. On the other hand, the figures in Australia and New Zealand remarkably declined except in 1970. Australia, despite having an imprisonment number of over 70 thousand in 1930, managed to reduce it by 20 thousand in 1980. New Zealand managed to reduce their imprisonment number from 100 thousand in 1930 to half of it in just two decades but again witnessed a steady rise afterwards. The United States had 130 thousand imprisonment number in 1940 and it was slightly higher in 1980. Finally, the imprisonment number in Canada was 120 thousand in 1930, the highest among the given countries, and with some major fluctuations, stayed at 90 thousand in 1980.
 

Sample Answer 3:
The chart compares the numbers of prisoners from 1930 to 1980 in five different countries, namely Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand, the United States and Canada. 

At a glance, the imprisonment figure in the USA and UK climbed over the period and in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, it actually declined. 

It is clearly seen that the United States had the highest number of inmates. Also, Britain had the lowest figure in 4 out of 6 years. In 1930, the number of prisoners in the United States was the highest, with 120 thousand prisoners, then this number increased significantly to reach a peak of 140 thousand in 1980. By contrast, Britain had the lowest figure for prisoners until 1970, then the figure jumped suddenly to reach 90 thousand.

Canada had the highest number of imprisonment in 1930 and 1960 with nearly 140 thousand people each year. In 1970 the number of prisoners in Great Britain, New Zealand and Australia was the same, about 70 thousand people. In 1980, 50 thousand people in New Zealand were put in prison which was the lowest figure this year.

( Written by  - Safa Ahmed )

 

Sample Answer 4:
The bar chart depicts the number of prisoners in thousands, in five different countries, namely Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand, the United States and Canada during a period of 50 years commencing from 1930.

Overall, the graph gives an impression that the incarceration rate in the USA and UK escalated over time while in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, it actually decreased.

As is evident in the presentation, Great Britain had the lowest number of imprisonment throughout the initial 40 years till 1980. Interestingly, Britain had witnessed a steady growth in figures, which started from around 30000 in the year 1930 and reached around 70000 in the year 1970. By contrast, the United States had the maximum number of criminals throughout the entire span of years except in the first decade, which is 1930. Moreover, in the year 1980, the United States had to imprison the highest number of citizens in the entire period, which accounted for around 130000.

It is apparent from the graph that the crime rate in Canada had fallen gradually and steadily, from 120000 people in 1930 to a significantly less 90000 people in 1980. However, except for the years, 1930 and 1980, Australia had considerably less number of jailing and New Zealand had always positioned as the top three consistently just behind Canada and the United States.

( Written by  - Anoop Asokan )

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rating 3.90 (42 Votes)

Anindita Sarker
The provided bar graph shows the figures for incarceration in five countries between 1930 and 19080 with an interval of 10 years. The five countries are Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand, the United States, and Canada.

It is conspicuous that the United States had the highest number of prisoners followed by Canada.

According to the bar graph, Canada had a blunt decrease in the figures for its imprisonment from the year 1940 to 1980. Cumulative imprisonment change in Canada decreased from 105,000 to 95,000. From the year 1970 to 1980, the United States had a steep increase in the figure for imprisonment. The country’s figure changed from 95,000 to 140,000 in 10 years only. During the same time, Australia experience a decline in total confinement - from 80,000 to 55,000. Although Great Britain had the lowest figure for imprisonment in the concurrent years, the country’s figure changes distinctively from 30,000 to 80,000 in 50 years. The most rapid change is experienced by New Zealand between 1930 and 1940- where the figure fall from 100,000 to 55,000.

M Jd
Dear all, please correct me:

What is being compared in the given data source is the number of prisoners in 5 English spoken countries during a period of 50 years commencing from 1930. Overall, that imprisonment figure in the USA and UK increased over the period given. In contrast, in Canada, Australia and New Zealand it decreased.

As is evident, in both the US and the UK the number of prisoners increased, there were about 30 thousand prisoners in the UK in 1930 and 1940, since then the figure constantly rose and in 1980 the number of prisoners was more than 80 thousand. The number of prisoners was 100,000 in 1930 for the USA, one decade later the number climbed to 125 thousand and after some fluctuations, it reached to 140 thousand in 1980 which is the highest among the given countries.

According to the table, the imprisonment rate in Canada, Australia and New Zealand had fallen gradually and steadily, in 1930 the numbers of prisoners were 120,000, 70,000 and 100,000 respectively. In 1980, the numbers decreased to 90,000, 50,000 and 80,000.

Akshay G
Figures of imprisonment can be highly different from the number of prisoners or inmates there were 50000 inmates in Canada in 1950. There might be 80000 people imprisoned but 30000 got out on bail. So it wouldn't be 80000 inmates in 1950, would it?
Keat Sopovthyda
No need to show specific data.
lmao
Siddharth Trivedi said :
Dear Mentor, here in question - it's mentioned "BETWEEN 1930 AND 1980", which means 50 years or 5 decades but in the given table, 6 BAR CHARTS were shown. So which one is correct or what to follow?
Its time to wake up.

Marky Al Detoure
The diagram depicts the number of detainees in thousand from the year 1930 up to 1980 in five different nations. As is observed from the bar graph, the United States had been the leading country that had the largest number of convicted felons while Great Britain had the least among the given countries.

In the United States in the year 1930, the number of convicted prisoners was just 100,000 and it started to fluctuate until it reaches the highest point of around 135,000 in the year 1980. Meanwhile, the opposite trend could be observed in Great Britain, where the figure just started at about 25,000 in the year 1930 and levelled off in 1940. the number of felons in the UK then started to increase moderately with an upward tendency up to the year 1970 which contained more than two folds of that 1930, and suddenly dropped to around 45,000 in 1980. Moreover, New Zealand and Australia had an almost similar pattern of trends when it came to their convicted prisoners, in which they vary only in 1980, with constituents of around 45,000 and about 85,000 prisoners respectively. Finally, in the case of Canada, in 1930 there were 120,000 prisoners and it continued to fluctuate up to 1960 with 100,000 and slightly decreased to around 85,000 and remained steady until 1980.

Arko
Usually, you do not need to repeat all the time but write a few times so that the examiner can recall what number you are talking about.
IELTS Mentor
It is better to show comparison and contrast, where relevant and presenting main data of the chart.
Rojan
I want to ask a question. In the first sample, it does not show full data and only makes comparisons. Is it necessary to show full data?
Siddharth Trivedi
Dear Mentor, here in question - it's mentioned "BETWEEN 1930 AND 1980", which means 50 years or 5 decades but in the given table, 6 BAR CHARTS were shown. So which one is correct or what to follow?
IELTS Mentor
Both would be correct. We would advise you not to repeat the same word over and over again and using numbers.
Philomina
The bar chart compares the number of prisoners in five different countries namely Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand, United States and Canada during five decades commencing from 1930. The figure of imprisonment is given in thousand and Canada and the US had far more prisoners in this given period than other countries. In 1930, the highest number of prisoners was in Canada, while the lowest was in Great Britain. By 1980 the highest numbers of imprisoned people were in the United States. However, the least number of prisoners were in Australia in this year. In 1930 the number of people behind bars in Great Britain was around only 30,000 and it increased during the fifty years to reach approximately 83,000. On the other hand, Australia and New Zealand had about 70,000 and 100,000 prisoners respectively in 1930 and by 1980 and the number of prisoners declined to around 50,000 and 85,000 consecutively. Furthermore, in 1970, the number of prisoners was the same, roughly 65 thousand prisoners in Great Britain, Australia and New Zealand, whereas, the United States and Canada, represented the highest number of sentenced people during the five decades.
Philomina
Dear mentor, I'd like to ask which one is correct? - to repeat each time prisoner or whatever, or I can right the numbers only.
Rajinder Singh
The supplied bar graph compares the number of detainees in five different countries, namely - Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand, United States and Canada in 5 decades.As in presented in the illustration, initially Canada had higher number of offenders than that of other countries but after 1960, the highest prisoners were in the USA. First of all, Canada had 120 thousand prisoners in 1930 while Australia and the United States each had 100 thousand. In the Great Britain, there were the lowest number of convicted criminals and this number was only around 30 thousand. In Australia, it was just around 70 thousand. However, in 1940, the United States had a higher count of detainees while Canada had the second largest count of prisoners. Moreover, Canada had a greater influx of prisoners, which was 116 thousand, than other countries in 1950. In addition, the United States had approximately 120 thousand prisoners in 1960 while Canada had about 100 prisoners which indicated a decrease in Canada. Interestingly from 1940 to 1960, prisoners' numbers in the rest of the countries were almost half of that in the Canada. Almost an equivalent number of prisoners were in Great Britain, Australia and New Zealand in 1970. Besides, the huge disparity was noticed in the number of prisoners between the United States and Australia in 1980. The data also shows that Australia had the lowest number of prisoners in 1980, which indicates the improvement in law and order.