IELTS Writing
Task 1: pie charts
Pie charts show how a whole is divided. Describe the biggest and smallest shares, and, when there are two or more pies, how the shares changed or differ between them.
Vary how you give the numbers: 'just over a quarter', 'almost half', 'the largest share, at 38%'. Approximate figures are fine when the meaning is clear.
A simple structure
- Introduction (1 sentence): paraphrase what the visual shows, with the time period and units.
- Overview (2 sentences): the two or three most important features. No figures needed here; this is what examiners look for first.
- Body paragraph 1: the first group of key features, with figures and comparisons.
- Body paragraph 2: the second group, again with figures. No conclusion or opinion needed.
Example question
The charts below show how a town council spent its budget in 2005 and 2025. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.
Roads and transportSchoolsParks and leisureSocial careOther
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How to answer
Reading Pie Charts
- Compare the percentages or slice sizes to find the largest and smallest proportions.
- The largest proportion is the biggest share of the whole; the smallest is the least.
- Use phrases such as “the largest share” and “the smallest proportion” to describe the extremes.
- Name the category and its percentage so the comparison is clear.
Example: A pie chart showing how a household budget is divided. Food accounted for the largest share, at 42%, while transport had the smallest proportion, at 12%.
Comparing Proportions Precisely
- A proportion shows a part relative to its whole; an absolute amount is the raw count.
- Check the total behind each percentage before comparing counts across groups or years.
- Subtract percentages to find a difference in percentage points, not a percentage change.
- A share can fall while its count rises if the total grows enough.
Example: Task 1 data: households using a service in two years. In 2010, 40% of 500 households used the service, or 200 households. By 2020, the share had fallen to 30%, but the total had doubled to 1,000, so the number of users rose to 300. The proportion fell by 10 percentage points, while the absolute number increased by 100.
Using Approximate Figures
- Round figures to a level that keeps the main meaning clear, such as 2,483,000 to about 2.5 million.
- Use “about”, “around” or “roughly” to show that a figure is approximate.
- Keep the unit clear when rounding, such as “about 48%” or “roughly 2.5 million people”.
- Do not round so much that the figure becomes misleading. Use a similar level of precision for figures you compare.
Example: Task 1: a bar chart shows a value of 19.6% in 2005 and 41.3% in 2015. The proportion increased from about 20% in 2005 to roughly 41% in 2015.
Practise
Short items from the ielts.coach lessons. Answer them, then check to see why each answer is right.
1A pie chart shows leisure at 35%, bills at 30%, food at 20% and savings at 15%. Which category has the largest proportion?
2A chart shows equipment at 40%, rent at 25%, travel at 20% and printing at 15%. Which sentence identifies both extremes correctly?
3In Year 1, 25% of 800 households used a service. In Year 2, 20% of 1,200 households did so. Which statement is accurate?
4Group A has 18% of 500 people in a category; Group B has 12% of 1,000. Which comparison is correct?
5A chart gives a total of 2,483,000. Which is a clear approximation?
6A chart shows 31.6% in one year and 39.8% in another. Which sentence rounds both figures to the nearest whole percentage?
Test hacks
Paraphrase the prompt, don't copy it
Rewrite the question in your own words in the introduction. Copied words don't show your vocabulary range.
Why it works: Examiners look for your own language, not the prompt's.
Task 1 needs an overview
Write a sentence that sums up the main trends or the biggest differences, without numbers. Many writers skip it.
Why it works: An overview is essential for a high Task Achievement score.
Answer every part of Task 2
Underline each question in the prompt. A two-part question needs two clear answers.
Why it works: Missing part of the task limits your Task Response score, however good your English is.
Practise with feedback on every answer
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