IELTS Writing Task 1: how to describe bar charts and pie charts
With bar charts and pie charts the key skill is comparison: pick out the largest and smallest categories and the biggest differences, rather than describing each bar or slice in turn. Group similar items together and support each comparison with a figure.
Overview first
Before writing, ask: what is the biggest category? The smallest? Which change or difference stands out? Two sentences answering these make your overview, and it goes straight after the introduction.
Bar charts
- If the bars show years, describe changes over time as with a line graph.
- If they show categories (countries, age groups), compare them: "Spending on transport in Canada was almost twice that in Japan."
- Group bars that behave the same way into one sentence.
Pie charts
Pie charts show parts of a whole, so use the language of proportions:
| Percentage | Words |
|---|---|
| 75% | three quarters |
| 50% | half |
| 33% | a third |
| 25% | a quarter |
| 10-15% | a small proportion, just over a tenth |
| 52% | just over half, the majority |
When there are two pie charts (for example two years), compare the same slice across both: "The share of energy from coal fell from 40% to 25%."
Useful comparison language
- "X was the most popular, followed by Y."
- "X was three times higher than Y."
- "X and Y were similar, at around 20% each."
- "By contrast, only 5% chose Z."
Avoid
- Writing every number in the chart.
- Giving reasons that the chart doesn't show.
- Mixing up "percentage" (the number) and "proportion" (the share).