The chart below shows information about changes in average house prices in five different cities between 1990 and 2002 compared with the average house prices in 1989.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
This essay question is from Cambridge IELTS 7 Test 3 Writing Task 1.
Percentage change in average house prices in five cities 1990–2002 compared with 1989
Sample Essay
The bar graph shows average house prices in five cities between 1990 and 2002 as compared to the average prices in 1989.
Overall, only Madrid’s and Frankfurt’s home prices increased between 1990 and 1995 over the 1989 price levels. However, between 1996 and 2002, all the cities saw price gains over the 1989 prices, except Tokyo, and increases were strongest (“Strongest” is correct. “The” is unnecessary.) in London.
Average home values in Madrid and Frankfurt were approximately 2% and 3% higher between 1990 and 1995 than in 1989. In comparison, house prices in the other three cities all dropped below the 1989 levels, by 5% in New York City, and roughly 7% in both Tokyo and London.
However, between 1996 and 2002, only Tokyo had a lower average house price than it had in 1989, with a drop of 5%. London showed the greatest price growth over the 1989 level, at about 12%, whereas Frankfurt showed the smallest, at about 2%. Home values in New York City and Madrid went up by around 5% and 4% respectively.