how to write pie chart essay ielts

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How To Write an IELTS Pie Chart Essay

Using this 5 steps process to plan and write IELTS pie chart essays will help you to achieve high marks in Task 1:

1)  Analyse the question

2)  Identify the main features

3)  Write an introduction

4)  Write an overview

5)  Write the details paragraphs

In this lesson, we’re going to work thorough each step as we answer a practice question and I want to start by highlighting the importance of steps 1 and 2. It is essential that you learn how to do this planning stage properly if you hope to write a high-scoring essay.

Before we begin, here’s a model essay structure that you can use as a guideline for all IELTS Academic Task 1 questions.

Ideally, your essay should have 4 paragraphs:

Paragraph 1  – Introduction

Paragraph 2  – Overview

Paragraph 3  – 1 st  main feature

Paragraph 4  – 2 nd  main feature

We now have everything we need to begin planning and writing our IELTS pie chart essay.

Here’s our practice question:

The chart below shows the reasons why people travel to work by bicycle or by car. 

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Write at least 150 words.

Source: Official website  IELTS Essentials

Step 1 –  Analyse the question

The format of every Academic Task 1 question is the same. Here is our practice question again with the words that will be included in all questions highlighted .

The chart below shows the reasons why people travel to work by bicycle or by car.

Every question consists of:

• Sentence 1 – A brief description of the graphic
• Sentence 2 – The instructions
• The graphic – chart, graph, table, etc.

Sentence 2 tells you what you have to do.

You must do 3 things:

1.     Select the main features.

2.     Write about the main features.

3.     Compare the main features.

All three tasks refer to the ‘ main features ’ of the graphic. You  do not  have to write about everything. Just pick out 2 or 3 key features and you’ll have plenty to write about.

Step 2 – Identify the Main Features

The graphic in IELTS pie chart questions should not be difficult to interpret. Each question has been created to  test your language skills, not your mathematics ability.

Pie charts always show percentages or proportions. Apart from that, they are essentially the same as bar charts and line graphs in that they are a way of presenting data visually.

All you are looking for are the main features. These will usually be the easiest things to spot. There will be lots of information in the graphic to help you identify them.

Here are some useful questions to ask?

• What are the units of measurements?
• What are the time periods?
• What can you learn from the title and any labels?
• What is the most obvious trend?
• Are there any notable similarities?

(I give more detail on how to use these questions, plus downloadable checklists for identifying the main features of all 7 different types of IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 questions, in the lesson on  How To Understand & Analyse Task 1 Questions .)

Pie charts generally have titles and labels or sometimes a key instead of segment labels as in our practice question. The key explains what each segment of the pie chart represents.

So, what information is contained in the two pie charts?

Here's our IELTS pie chart again.

They show two different methods of travelling to work and illustrate the reason why people choose these types of transport.

What main features stand out?

There are 2 main features in these IELTS pie charts:

Main feature 1:  The largest proportion of people who cycle do so for health and environmental reasons.

Main feature 2:  The highest percentage of people who drive do so because it’s comfortable.

Another notable feature is that the only reason included in both pie charts – that the method is faster – shares almost the same proportion for both modes of transport.

We may not have space to cover this final feature but we’ll note it just in case we need it to make up the words.

The key features you select will be the starting point for your essay. You will then go on to add more detail. However, with just 20 minutes allowed for Task 1, and a requirement of only 150 words, you won't be able to include many details.

We’re now ready to begin writing our essay. Here’s a reminder of the 4 part structure we’re going to use.

Step 3 – Write an Introduction 

In the introduction, you should simply paraphrase the question, that is, say the same thing in a different way. You can do this by using synonyms and changing the sentence structure. For example:

Introduction (Paragraph 1): 

The two pie charts display the key reasons why people choose to either cycle or drive to work by percentage. 

This is all you need to do for the introduction.

Step 4 – Write an Overview (Paragraph 2)

In the second paragraph, you should report the main features you can see in the pie charts, giving only general information. The detail comes later in the essay. You should also make any clear comparisons you spot.

Here are the ones we picked out above. I’ve added the additional feature as it will fit well in the overview.

Main feature 3:  For an almost equal proportion of people, their chosen method is the fastest.

Now form these ideas into two or three sentences with a total of around 40 words. State the information simply, using synonyms where possible. No elaborate vocabulary or grammar structures are required, just the appropriate words and correct verb tenses.

For example:

Overview  (Paragraph 2): 

The largest proportion of people who cycle, have made this choice for health and environmental reasons whilst the prime advantage of driving to work is considered to be the comfort of travelling by car. Notably, for an almost equal proportion of people, their chosen method is the fastest.

Step 5  – Write the 1st Detail Paragraph

Paragraphs 3 and 4 of your IELTS pie chart essay are where you include more detailed information about the data in the graphic. In paragraph 3, you should give evidence to support your first key feature. Don’t forget to make comparisons where relevant.

Here is our first main feature again:

Main feature 1:   The largest proportion of people who cycle do so for health and environmental reasons.

And this is an example of what you could write:

Paragraph 3 :

T aken together, health and fitness and less pollution are reasons given by over half of all people who prefer travelling by bike. Each represents a 30% portion which is double the next most popular reason which is a lack of parking issues at 15%.

Step 6  – Write the 2nd Detail Paragraph

For the fourth and final paragraph, you do the same thing for your second key feature. 

I’ve added the third main feature again as it will round off the essay well. In an exam situation, I would include it if I had time.

Here’s an example of what you could write:

Paragraph 4 :

A different set of concerns has affected the decision of those who choose to commute by car. Comfort is by far the most significant factor at 40% of people, but distance to work is a more important concern for just over a fifth of drivers. For 14% of people, a faster journey time is the key factor compared to a figure of 12% of cyclists who find their means of transport quicker.

I just want to say a quick word about verb tense in this sample essay. Since there is no time frame given in the question, you could use either the present simple tense or the past simple tense. I've used the present simple tense. Whichever tense you choose, remember to be consistent throughout your whole essay.

Here are the four paragraphs brought together to create our finished essay.

Finished IELTS Pie Chart Essay

This sample IELTS pie chart essay is over the minimum word limit so you can see that you don’t have space to include very much detail at all. That’s why it is essential to select just a couple of main features to write about.

Now use what you’ve learnt in this lesson to practice answering other IELTS  pie chart questions. Start slowly at first and keep practicing until you can plan and write a complete essay in around 20 minutes.

Want  to watch and listen to this lesson on how to write an IELTS Pie Chart essay?

Click on this video.

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Ielts academic writing task 1 – all lessons.

IELTS Academic Writing  –  A summary of the test including important facts, test format & assessment.

Academic Writing Task 1  – The format, the 7 question types & sample questions, assessment & marking criteria.  All the key information you need to know.

Understanding Task 1 Questions  – How to quickly and easily analyse and understand IELTS Writing Task 2 questions.

How To Plan a Task 1 Essay  –  Discover  3 reasons why you must plan, the 4 simple steps of essay planning and learn a simple 4 part essay structure.

Vocabulary for Task 1 Essays  –  Learn key vocabulary for a high-scoring essay. Word lists & a downloadable PDF.

Grammar for Task 1 Essays   – Essential grammar for Task 1 Academic essays including, verb tenses, key sentence structures, articles & prepositions.

The 7 Question Types:

Click the links below for a step-by-step lesson on each type of Task 1 question.

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How to Tackle Pie Charts IELTS Writing Task 1 Questions & Practicing Pie Charts IELTS questions

In this article, you are going to learn how to analyze and write about pie charts in the IELTS Academic Writing Task 1. You will also see a list of common pie charts IELTS writing questions. If you want to prepare for the IELTS Writing Test, these IELTS writing questions are a must-study.

Table Of Contents

The essay structure for pie charts ielts questions.

• How to Analyze and Write about Pie Charts IELTS Questions - Scenario 1
• How to Analyze and Write about Pie Charts IELTS Questions - Scenario 2
• IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 - Pie charts Questions List

IELTS Academic Writing task 1 uses the same structure for all tasks regardless if it is a pie chart, line graph, table, bar graph, or a mix of multiple charts. The structure is as follows:

• Introduction: Paraphrase the question
• Overview: Describe the overall trend or write a general overview of the main groupings
• Body paragraph 1: Write in detail about the first grouping in a logical way
• Body paragraph 2: Write in detail about the second grouping in a logical way

So the steps to write the report for this task is very simple:

• Analyse the chart(s) and plan how to group the information
• Write an essay using the recommended essay structure
• Proofread essay

One important point to remember is that we have to write facts and compare data in task 1, no opinion is given here and no conclusion is needed .

How to Analyze and Write About Pie Charts IELTS Questions - Scenario 1

Okay! Now let’s look at pie charts specifically.

You need to know that in an IELTS writing pie chart question, you might see two pie charts or one pie chart . If you see two pie charts in a question, you will have to compare them in your writing. However, if there is only one pie chart, you will need to discuss the information you observe. As you can see, the strategies are quite different, so it’s important you are prepared for both question types.

Now let’s get started! We will first look at an example question where one pie chart is provided.

Step 1: Analyse the chart(s) and plan how to group the information

Typically, a single pie chart question is straightforward and relatively easy to group the information; We just need to look at each segment and figure out how much of a percentage each segment makes up. This is really simple and after that, you’ll notice there is one segment that is the largest and one that is the smallest. These two segments are a good starting point, which you’ll see in the analysis table below.

Now, we need to see if there is a trend. As you can see, the general trend is that the older a person was in 2018 in Jamestown, the less likely they were to use social media . This observation would make a very good addition to your piece of writing, because it summarises what the chart is really all about.

Step 2: Write an essay using the recommended essay structure

Now that you’ve analyzed the task and figured out how to group the information, let’s write the essay. We recommend you stop here and actually write an essay using the language we’ve taught in previous lessons! Come back to this lesson to check the model essay and analysis.

Model Essay

The chart below gives the percentage of social media users by age in Jamestown in 2018. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features. Write at least 150 words.

Introduction

The given pie chart provides information about the proportion of people using digital networking according to age group for Jamestown for the year 2018.

Overall, the general trend of Jamestown’s social media users during 2018 was that the older a person was, the less likely they were to use digital networking.

Body paragraph 1

In terms of the most significant feature of the chart, the largest category of digital communicators was the group aged 13 to 25, which accounted for 40% of the total users. In addition, the next important segment of the population using social media, was those aged between 26 and 35. This group’s contribution was slightly lower at 35%. Moreover, added together, these two categories made up more than half of all those who used social media platforms in 2018, in Jamestown. They accounted for the vast majority of users, at 75%.

Body paragraph 2

In stark contrast, the category with the lowest percentage of users, people older than 55, comprised a tiny 2% of all users. Furthermore, those between 46 and 55 years of age contributed 10% and people aged 36 to 45 made up 18 per cent.

How to Analyze and Write About Pie Charts IELTS Questions - Scenario 2

Step 1: Analyse the charts and plan how to group the information

Here is a top tip for you. One of the most common mistakes that people make when they write about two pie charts is that they don’t compare and contrast them . They write about each pie chart in a separate paragraph. If you do this, you’ll lose marks. The examiner has given you two pie charts on purpose, because they want to see if you can analyse how they fit together. So, you must compare and contrast the two pie charts in your report. Let’s see how to do that.

Here is one way you can group the information, and at the same time, compare and contrast them.

The first grouping

Choose 2-3 segments that account for higher percentages of the first pie chart, and then write about how these segments change from the first pie chart to the second pie chart.

The second grouping

Choose 2-3 segments that account for lower percentages of the first pie chart, and then write about how these segments change from the first pie chart to the second pie chart.

Alright! Next you need to figure out if there are any trends when comparing the two pie charts.

You can see that human walking and cycling became more popular and cars and buses less popular between the years 2008 and 2018

Some students might add the following in their essay:

This trend can be explained by the increased focus on the environment in cities. People no longer want to use transport that causes pollution, so instead they choose to walk or cycle.

DO NOT DO THIS!

You don’t need to give a reason for the trend. You just need to correctly mention it exists based on the pie charts information.

The charts below provide information on popular modes of transport in the city of Cambridge for the years 2008 and 2018. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.

The pie charts compare the popularity of various methods of transportation used in Cambridge in 2008 and 2018.

Overall , after a decade, the general trend was that Cambridge’s population had moved away from using motorised vehicles , preferred by the majority in 2008, in favour of human propulsion , by 2018.

The “past perfect” tense is used to describe how things had changed.

Past perfect: subject + had + past participle + by + year

In terms of vehicle transport , in 2008, cars were the most popular choice, preferred by 42% of people. This was followed by bus usage at 30%. Moreover , 72% of people used either of these forms of transportation. In contrast, over the next decade personal motor vehicle use declined significantly and by 2018 it was the least popular transport form. On the other hand , the popularity of buses dropped only slightly by 5%.

However , human propulsion , represented by the cycling and pedestrian categories, was unpopular in 2008. Bicycle transport was only chosen by 17% of people and travelling on foot was the least popular choice at 11%. Nevertheless , by 2018, cycling and walking had both experienced a 23% increase in popularity. Their use had more than doubled in popularity.

This section presents a list of common IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 - Pie Chart questions. If you want to prepare for the IELTS Writing Test, these questions are a must study.

The pie chart below shows the percentage of ad spending by different kinds of media in India from 2012 to 2017.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.  

Write at least 150 words.

The pie chart below shows the native languages spoken by students at Bakersfield Senior College in two separate years.

The pie chart below illustrates the different types of smartphones used by attorneys in the U.S. in one year.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant

The pie chart below depicts energy generation by fuel type in the UK in two years.

The pie charts below show the proportion of freshwater withdrawals made by various economy sectors in three countries in a given year.

The pie charts below show the results of a customer satisfaction survey comparing the performance of York Telecom and a competitor in April.

The pie graph depicts the main reasons for the productivity loss of agricultural land worldwide.  The table shows how these causes influenced three world regions during the 2000s.

The charts below show the percentage of Irish students at one university who spoke an additional language to English from 2000 to 2010.

The charts below give information on the ages of the populations of Yemen and Italy in 2000 and projections for 2050. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. 

The pie charts below show units of electricity production by fuel source in Australia and France in 1980 and 2000. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. 

The charts below show the percentage of water used for different purposes in six areas of the world. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. 

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How to Describe Pie Charts [IELTS Writing Task 1]

Posted by David S. Wills | Apr 12, 2021 | IELTS Tips , Writing | 0

In task 1 of the IELTS writing test, you may be given one or several pie charts to describe. You will be required to write at least 150 words discussing those pie charts and (sometimes) how they relate to tables or other types of data. In this lesson, I will show you how to describe pie charts by giving you tips on vocabulary, grammar, and content.

If you want to boost your IELTS writing score quickly and effectively, you might be interested in my writing correction service .

How to Describe Pie Charts for IELTS Writing Task 1

First of all, we need to understand what the purpose of IELTS writing task 1 is. Basically, for this part of the test, you are required to describe some sort of data. This could be any of the following:

• Process diagram

The whole purpose is to test your ability at writing concise and accurate descriptions. This is very different from task 2, where you need to write an essay that discusses or argues something.

The three main aspects of task 1 are:

• Understanding the data
• Describing it accurately
• Grouping it effectively

This means that when you are given a pie chart (or several), then you will need to interpret it correctly and then write a short report in precise English that can be easily understood by the examiner.

That’s all there is to it. There are no tricks or tips or magical things you can do.

Now let’s look in a little more detail at how to do this properly.

Understanding Pie Charts for Task 1

A task 1 pie chart will more than likely be presented in two forms. Either you will be given one pie chart and some other form of data (line graph, table, etc) or you will be given several pie charts. The reason is that IELTS writing task 1 requires comparing and contrasting data. If you just had one single pie chart, there really would not be much to say about it.

Let’s look at some examples:

Here, you can see that we have two pie charts to compare. The important thing here would be to compare the differences over time.

Here again we have two pie charts, but this time we are not looking at differences over time. Instead, we are comparing two different countries. This requires different grammatical skills.

Now there are four pie charts! This sort of task would take more thought in the beginning, but actually it is not much harder to answer.

Finally, we have a mixture of a table and two pie charts. Actually, it is probably more common to say a table and one pie chart, but in this case there are two.

Pie Chart Vocabulary

There is really no special language that you need to know in order to describe pie charts. There are no unique features that require unusual vocabulary. Instead, you need a good knowledge of language that would also help you for line graphs, tables, and so on.

Perhaps the two most important words are “percentage” and “proportion.” This is because pie charts do not show a specific amount (dollars, kilograms, etc) but instead they show the proportion of something.

Thus, in descriptions of pie charts, you will frequently see the phrases:

• the percentage of…
• the proportion of…

Because pie charts contain this sort of data, they will invariably have many numbers for you to talk about. You should avoid using too many numbers (see this article for more information about describing numbers) and instead you should vary your language:

If you can do this effectively, you can avoid including too many numbers. This can make your essay look and sound better.

Some more advanced phrases:

Remember that you can also make your language more specific with adjectives, saying “a very small proportion” or “a tiny percentage of…”

Grammar for Pie Charts

Of course, it is not just vocabulary that is important when it comes to IELTS writing. In fact, grammar is far more important in many respects. When it comes to IELTS writing task 1, people really overlook the significance of accurate grammar.

First of all, you need to assess when the data took place or was gathered. Presumably it was in the past, but that is not always the case. Sometimes a pie chart will contain speculative data about the future. You need to choose the right verb form for an accurate description.

Many times, past simple will be the correct tense to use. You can say things like:

• In 1994, a quarter of people said that…
• In the first year, nearly half of shops made a profit…

However, we need to be aware that pie charts can show changes over time. This is true if there are two or three pie charts:

• In 1998, that number had dropped by six percent…
• Four years later, the proportion of bankrupt businesses had soared to…

In these cases, we have used past perfect because this accurately reflects changes between points of time in the past. We can pick one time and look further into the past from then.

Grouping Data for Pie Charts

Some people find that it is really difficult to group data effectively in IELTS. Sometimes it is hard because of a particular question but sometimes it can be much easier. You just need to think logically and make some choices.

To be honest, in most cases I would divide the data chronologically, which means “by time.” If you have a pie chart from 1991 and another from 2001, I would devote one paragraph to the first year and one to the second year. You can give a description of the first year and then in the next paragraph give some comparative details.

However, that is not the only way to approach it. You might also find it useful to break down the data by category if that is appropriate.

If there is a pie chart and a table, it might also be appropriate to deal with the pie chart in one paragraph and the table in another. It totally depends on the context.

You can read more about structuring task 1 essays here .

Sample Answers

Ok, now let’s explore further by looking at some sample band 9 answers.

Sample Answer #1 – online retail sales

There are two pie charts showing data about online shopping in Canada in two different years, 2005 and 2010. The data is divided between the various types of goods sold online, with four retail sectors represented, and there were some notable changes during the five-year period.

In 2005, electronics and appliances were the most commonly sold items, making up a third of Canadian online sales. Home furnishings came next with a quarter of the total, and this was followed by food and beverage and then video games, each with roughly a fifth of the total online sales.

By 2010, this had all changed. Food and beverages were now the highest selling items online, while electronics and appliances had slipped into second place, having dropped by five percent. Home furnishings had dropped from second to last place, and video games sales had increased so that they now made up 23% of all online shopping.

First of all, let’s point out that I have changed the formatting of the labels on this task. That’s really important! Many people just copy them into their essays, but actually one of the challenges of IELTS is changing labels or titles into proper grammar.

Next, notice that my introduction is in the present tenses and my body paragraphs use appropriate past tenses. This is because the first paragraph looks at the pie charts on the piece of paper in front of me whilst the next paragraphs examine the data that comes from the past.

How many numbers have I used here? Just one! I only say “23%” in the final line. Prior to that, I used phrases like “a third” and “second place.” This shows off my English rather than just repeating numbers, which tells the examiner nothing.

Sample Answer #2 – pie charts about education

These two pie charts give information about the highest levels of education attained by people in two different countries, with data drawn from people aged over twenty-one. In both nations, secondary school was the highest level of qualification achieved by the largest number of people.

In country A, 45% of people had secondary school as their highest level of education, compared to 35% in country B. Notably, both nations had exactly 30% of people giving vocational or technical school as their highest educational qualification. In this respect, the two countries were quite similar.

However, in country B, a quarter of the population had attended university, compared to just 5% in country A. Conversely, in country A it was much more likely that people had attended primary school as their highest level of education. In both nations, just 5% of the population had not gotten any form of education at all.

This essay uses more numbers but not too many. The grammar here is accurate but it is based upon an assumption that I have made – that the data is from the past. Of course, it could not be from the future and it is unlikely to reflect the present. However, you could theoretically describe this with the present simple tense.

Notice my structure: I have discussed both countries within each body paragraph. I did this in order to highlight differences more effectively. I thought that if I described one pie chart and then another, it would not be so obvious how they differed.

Sample Answer #3 – four pie charts about electricity

There are four pie charts that give information about the generation of electricity in France and Germany in the year 2009. One set of charts looks at the total generation of electricity, while the other looks at how renewable forms of energy were produced. The two countries had roughly similar amounts of renewable energy, but these came from totally different sources.

Almost six tenths of German electricity came from conventional thermal sources, with almost a quarter coming from nuclear power. In France, however, about three quarters came from nuclear power and just a tenth came from conventional thermal. Both countries had similar figures for renewable sources – 17.4% for Germany and 13.7% for France.

In terms of different renewable energy sources, Germany relied primarily upon biomass, with forty percent of its renewable energy from that source, compared to less than a tenth for France. More than eighty percent of French renewables came from hydropower, compared to less than a fifth in Germany. About a third of German renewable energy came from wind, while the figure was just a tenth in France, and both countries produced very little solar power.

Here we have four pie charts. It is important first of all to divide them into two different countries and then to understand that the pie charts on the right are subsets of the pie charts on the left. If you failed to realise this, your description would not be accurate.

Notice again that I have avoided an over reliance upon numbers by converting these into fractions like this: “Almost six tenths of German electricity…”

I have devoted one paragraph to the first set of pie charts (overall energy) and the next paragraph to the renewable section. This allows me to effectively compare and contrast the two countries.

Sample Answer #4 – tables and pie charts together

There is a table that gives the numbers of visitors to a museum before and after its renovation, as well as two pie charts that show details about visitor satisfaction. After refurbishment, the museum received many more visitors and they were much more satisfied with their visits.

In the year before the museum was renovated, there were 74,000 visitors, and in the year after that number soared to 92,000. Prior to this work being done, a half of all visitors were unhappy with the museum. According to the survey, forty percent of them were dissatisfied and a tenth were very dissatisfied. Only 45% seemed to have enjoyed their visit.

In the year following the museum’s refurbishment, visitors reported much more positive feelings towards their visits. The number of people who were unhappy with their museum visit dropped by a half, with those who were very dissatisfied falling to just 5% and only 15% of them now claiming to be dissatisfied. Three quarters of all visitors were at least satisfied.

In each survey, 5% of people gave no response.

This essay may look a little odd at first glance. The final paragraph is extremely short and normally I would advise against that, but in this instance it was fine because the data was relevant enough to include but not really connected to anything else, so it would have been strange within another paragraph. I also had to consider how to incorporate the data from the table, which certainly did not warrant a paragraph of its own. You can see that I slotted it into the second paragraph.

In order to describe this data effectively, I have combined some categories. The pie chart categorised people as “very satisfied” and “satisfied” but for the sake of simplicity I have put them together. This is ok as long as it is clear to your reader what you are doing. In this case, I achieved that by saying things like “Three quarters of all visitors were at least satisfied.”

If you want to learn more about pie charts, you can read the Wikipedia page for some ideas. This might help you to pick up some new language or see how different types of pie charts look.

About The Author

David S. Wills

David S. Wills is the author of Scientologist! William S. Burroughs and the 'Weird Cult' and the founder/editor of Beatdom literary journal. He lives and works in rural Cambodia and loves to travel. He has worked as an IELTS tutor since 2010, has completed both TEFL and CELTA courses, and has a certificate from Cambridge for Teaching Writing. David has worked in many different countries, and for several years designed a writing course for the University of Worcester. In 2018, he wrote the popular IELTS handbook, Grammar for IELTS Writing and he has since written two other books about IELTS. His other IELTS website is called IELTS Teaching.

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• Academic Task 1

IELTS Pie Chart for Academic Writing Task 1

• Task 1 Guide
• Table & Bar
• Bar & Pie
• Table & Pie
• Compare Contrast
• Identifying Trends

This Academic IELTS guide covers everything you need to know about IELTS pie charts with sample questions designed to understand how to achieve full marks in the IELTS Academic writing task 1 .

Table of Contents

1.1 objective, 1.2 skills used.

• 2.1 Pie Charts in the Same Year

2.2 Pie Charts in Different Years

3.1 introduction, 3.2 overview, 3.3 main body paragraphs.

• IELTS Writing Task 1 Band Descriptors Explained

5.1 Vocabulary for Ratios

5.2 percentages, 5.3 expressing percentages with similar phrases, 6.1 tenses for ielts pie charts, 7.1 sample answer commentary.

• 8.1 Problem 1
• 8.2 Problem 2
• Quiz- Check Your Understanding

1. IELTS Pie Chart Overview

A pie chart is a circular graph that is divided into sectors. Each sector represents a portion of the whole, usually using percentages. In IELTS writing task 1 , you may be given two pie charts from either the same year or different years.

The objective of this writing task question type is to produce a report that summarises and compares the key features of the given pie charts.

You should only spend 20 minutes on this task and your report should be at least 150 words (here is our guide on IELTS report length for writing task 1-  suggested Academic Writing Task 1 word length

As with all IELTS writing task 1 questions, including Bar Graph , Line Graph , Table and Flow Chart, you are being tested on your ability to select and summarise the main features of the given charts. With IELTS pie charts, you should always compare the data in both charts where appropriate.

An IELTS report should always be written using a formal register. This means that you should not use informal language and you must not include your opinion … stick to the facts (you will be asked to give your opinion in IELTS writing task 2 ).

2. IELTS Task 1 Pie Chart Questions

Here are some examples of the types of pie chart questions you might be given:

The pie charts show the main reasons for migration to and from the USA in 2018

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant.

Write at least 150 words

The pie charts provide data about the 10 most popular university subjects at a New York university in 2000 and 2010.

Summarise the charts by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant.

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3. Structure for IELTS Pie Chart Questions

As with all other writing task 1 questions (bar charts; line graphs; process diagrams; maps) your report for IELTS pie charts should always include an introduction , an overview and two main body paragraphs .

The next three sections of this guide will go into more detail of what you should include in each paragraph.

All you need to do in your introduction for an IELTS pie chart question is to paraphrase the IELTS statement and anything else the charts show, such as the units given ( e.g. ‘Units are given in pound sterling).

Paraphrasing means that you put the statement in your own words whilst keeping the meaning the same. You can do this in many ways, such as by using synonyms or similar expressions , by changing the word class (e.g. a verb to a noun), or by changing the sentence structure in some way  so that the sentence is still grammatically correct (e.g. changing the sentence from the active to the passive voice). You do not have to change every word to paraphrase successfully.

These are some possible ways you could start the introduction of a pie chart:

• The pie chart shows…
• The pie charts give information about…
• The pie charts illustrate…

And here is an example of a paraphrased statement:

Original statement: The pie charts show a breakdown of the top ten industries in which female and male graduates gained employment in the USA in 2020.

Paraphrased statement: The pie charts illustrate what percentage of men and women that graduated from an American university in 2020 and found a job in a related industry.

These are the main changes that have been made:

• The pie charts show…
• …which female and male graduates…
• …what percentage of men and women…
• …gained employment…
• …found a job in a related industry…

Your overview paragraph of a sample IELTS report is very important as this is where you summarise the main trends (you are looking for about two or three trends ) shown in the pie charts. Your overview should be about two or three sentences.

You should not go into detail just yet, you only need to summarise information that shows the highest/lowest proportions in the charts, or biggest changes in the data . There might also be some exceptions to the main trends that stand out.

To make it clear to the examiner that this is your overview, start your first sentence with one of the following:

• Overall ,…
• Broadly, it can be seen that ..

You may also use “In Summary” or “To summarise” but these are not very common.

To identify the main trends in the charts, consider asking yourself the following questions:

• Which sector was the largest in the given years?
• Which sector was the smallest?
• Did each sector change a lot or a little in the given years?
• Did any sectors increase or decrease over time?

Your two main body paragraphs will go into detail about the key features you highlighted in your overview. You need to refer to the data accurately – always include the units given in the charts (e.g. %). You should also include the years for each sector you are describing.

Organise your main body paragraphs logically. For instance, one paragraph could focus on the first chart, and the second paragraph on the second chart. Make sure to include some comparisons between the charts.

It is also important that you use the correct tense, for example :

• Pie chart in the past : The proportion of energy produced by solar was 20% in 2010.
• Pie chart in the future : The proportion of energy produced by solar will increase by 50% by 2050.

4. IELTS Writing Task 1 Band Descriptors Explained

Our section on  IELTS Writing Band descriptors gives you all the information you need for IELTS Academic writing task 1.

5. Vocabulary for IELTS Pie Charts

You can use a range of languages to rank the largest and smallest percentages. Here are some examples:

The following phrases are useful when writing about percentages of a certain sector (football is the example sector here):

• Football made up 55% of sports chosen by men in 2010.
• Football accounted for 55% of sports chosen.
• Football comprised 55% of all chosen sports.

To avoid repetition, you can express percentages from the pie charts using different phrases whilst maintaining the same meaning.

See the examples below :

6. Grammar for IELTS Writing Task 1 Pie Chart

You need to determine the date(s) of your pie charts so that you use the correct tense. To do this, follow the tips below:

• Identify if the given year is before the present year (2022 at the time of writing)
• If the year is before the present (e.g. 2000), you need to use the past tense throughout your report
• If the year is after the present year (e.g. 2050), you need to use the future tense
• If there is no year , you should use the present simple tense

Whatever the year, you can still start your body paragraph with the present simple tense and then switch to the past or future, for example:

The data shows that between 2000 and 2010, there was a significant drop in the number of graduates.

It is evident that in 2050 there will be a huge rise in the number of graduates.

7. IELTS Writing Task 1 Pie Chart Sample Answer

The pie charts show information about the percentage of people who studied ten selected university subjects at a university in New York between 2000 and 2010.

Overall , what stands out from the pie charts is that the most popular subject in both 2000 and 2010 was economics. Another interesting point is that the biggest change was relating to English, which fell dramatically over the decade.

If we look at 2000 , economics was considerably more popular than science, with figures of 24% and 20% respectively . Engineering and English were equally popular at 15% . Twice as many people studied mathematics as accounting, with the former being 10% and the latter 5%. Finally, a slightly larger percentage of people studied art and design (2%) than Mandarin (1%).

Regarding the changes in 2010, economics went up slightly from 24% to 30%. By contrast , the number of science students dropped slightly from 20% to 16% in 2010. Mathematics stayed the same percentage in both years at 10% . Finally , in 2000, 15% of students studied English; but by 2010 the figure fell dramatically to just 2%.

The report above would receive an estimated 9.0 overall in the IELTS writing task 1 Academic paper.

It has been organised into four logical paragraphs that are clearly divided into an introduction, overview, and two separate body paragraphs. The minimum 150 word count has been exceeded. The report is written in a formal style (the writer has not included their opinion and has not used informal language). All the figures have been referred to accurately.

The overview paragraph has been clearly signposted using ‘overall’ and the introductory phrase ‘what stands out from the pie charts is that…’ The overview describes the main trends of the line charts and does not include any specific figures. It generally describes the biggest and most dramatic change.

The dates of the pie charts have been referred to accurately and the past tense has been used correctly throughout the report.

Language to describe ratios and percentages has been used throughout the report e.g.,’ Engineering and English were equally popular at 15%’.

Comparisons between both years have been made in the second main body paragraph ‘Mathematics stayed the same percentage in both years at 10%’.

Linking phrases have been used appropriately, e.g. ‘if we look at’ and ‘finally. Words such as ‘former’ ‘latter’ and ‘respectively’ have been used to refer to the data accurately.

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8. Common Errors and How to Avoid Them

Problem 1 Using the past tense when the future tense is required.

Solution 1 Since it is not common to have a chart with predicted future data, candidates often use the incorrect tense. If a pie chart is from a date in the future (after the time of writing) e.g. 2050, then you will need to use future forms to summarise the data. For example, In 2050, it is predicted that 15% of students will study Art and Design.

Problem 2 Including detailed facts and figures in the overview

Solution 2 You do not need to include facts and figures in your overview. You should instead use general descriptions of the most noticeable figures (the biggest/smallest/largest difference) and save the detail for your main body paragraphs.

9. Quiz- Check Your Understanding

Take this short quiz to test your understanding of writing task 1 and pie charts:

• Introduction Answer: A.Introduction Exp × This phrase is suitable to start your pie chart introduction before you paraphrase the given statement.
• Main body paragraph
• The pie charts illustrate what percentage of people graduated from university.

Explanation: A. does not give enough detail, it omits factors like the year, categories and country.

Explanation: You should save the detail for your main body paragraphs.

• least popular
• the highest percentage Answer: B. the highest percentage
• ranked second
• came top Answer: A. came top
• To summarise, …

Explanation: The preposition ‘for’ is missing. The correct sentence is ‘Football accounted for 55% of the sports surveyed’.

• A tenth Answer: B
• A quarter Answer: C
• 66% Answer: A. 66%
• 75% Answer: C. 75%

One thought on “IELTS Pie Chart for Academic Writing Task 1”

Dear Liz thanks for this essential website. it is really useful to read and learn about the IELTS test. I have one suggestion. could you please add more practice tests to the website so that candidates can practice more and get benefits out of it?

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How to describe Pie charts for IELTS

Home  »  IELTS Academic Task 1  »  Pie chart for IELTS

 In this  IELTS Writing Task 1  tutorial, you’ll learn different ways to structure and  describe a   pie chart for IELTS .

We will talk about the best language to use and teach you how to structure your writing task to get the best results in your  IELTS exam .

How to structure your writing task for academic task 1 – pie chart IELTS

To help with your  IELTS preparation  we will give you a step by step guide on how to structure your  pie charts description  to receive great results on your writing task 1 exam.

Remember that in IELTS writing task 1, your task is to summarise the main features and make comparisons where relevant. There are several tricks to help you do this.

Step 1 – Prepare

• Let’s start with selecting and reporting the main features of the pie chart. What does the pie chart show? Can you quickly think of any synonyms? Write these words under the IELTS pie chart diagram.
• Look for the biggest and smallest sections of your pie charts – What do they represent? What is the percentage?
• Make a quick analysis – note down the period of time, dates and measurements.
• See the big picture, avoid getting lost in the details. After all, this is a summarizing task.
• When you are confident you have selected the main features, carry on to step 2.

Step 2 – Organise your findings into two groups

When organising the information into two separate groups focus on these topics for your pie charts:

• Major trends
• Major groups
• Group information
• Other similar ideas

Note – you do not have to find examples for all these. The point is that by organising information into groups, you are doing two things at once; reporting the main features (two main trends) and you can also make comparisons where relevant (one group is bigger than the other).  

A trend could be that over time, students at the University of Cambridge always spent the most money while students at the British Council spent the least. Another trend could be that one category started out the least popular and became the 2nd most popular by the end of the period studied.

Step 3 – How to organise your paragraphs

Structure everything into this four-paragraph model

Here we have focused on the language we need when we see 2 or more pie charts to compare. The other issue is organization, how to structure and sequence our answer. Here are a couple of ideas:

How many  paragraphs  do we need – one paragraph is never enough. In fact, we are encouraged to write in paragraphs. Decide on a  simple paragraph structure  – there’s only 20 minutes for this. The best is the traditional “introduction”, summary “body”, structure with the main “body” part divided into two or three body paragraphs. Overall, you must write at least 150 words.

• Paragraph 1: In your essay introduction, write one sentence explaining what the graphs show. You can paraphrase the title. Example: Pie Chart title:   Holiday destinations chosen by Welsh people 1955-2005. Your first sentence:  The pie chart shows the vacation preferences of Welsh people over a fifty-year period starting in 1955 and finishing in 2005.
• Paragraph 2: In paragraph 2, you should talk about the information that you identified in step 2. This paragraph should focus on the first group. However, it’s good to include half a sentence if you can compare the first group to other data. For example; Consumers in Sweden, who spent more than twice as much in total than any other country…. follow with more detail about Sweden.
• Paragraph 3: Talk about the information that you have separated in step 2. This paragraph should focus on the second group. For example; In contrast, Belgian shoppers, who spent the least of any group… follow with more detail about Belgian shoppers.
• Paragraph 4: Two sentences summarising your description. (What are the major overall trends, changes, etc.)

Tips for interpreting pie charts in IELTS

We will begin by giving you some general tips for interpreting a pie chart in your IELTS academic writing task.

These tips are good to keep in mind from the moment you take the first look at the pie charts given to you, to the moment you finish your writing task 1:

• If you cannot compare the information on your pie charts, don’t panic. In such a case giving a summary of each picture is fine. Make comparisons where relevant. Take a look at our tutorial on how to compare pie charts  here .
• Avoid giving personal opinions at all costs.  ( E.g . If the graph shows rising prices and you know it’s because of a war in the Middle East, do not say anything. Your personal opinion must not be mentioned.)
• Always pay attention to the time frame of your pie charts and use the appropriate tense (past, present or future).
• Focus on getting all of the  appropriate  data from the pie charts/graphs into your writing.
• These are quick tips, if you are still struggling you should consider  enrolling in an online course  to prepare for IELTS.
• For pie chart interpretation examples and model essays, click  here .

Vocabulary for IELTS Pie Charts

Now that you have an understanding of how to structure your description of pie charts and graphs for IELTS writing task 1, let’s talk about the language you should use.

One of the EASIEST WAYS to make sure you ‘make comparisons where relevant’ is to use superlatives: the biggest, the smallest, the largest, the most expensive, the least expensive.

Every superlative you use is an automatic comparison.

Using referencing (which, it, that) helps you summarise the information and if you think carefully you can also include a superlative – potatoes, which were the most expensive type of root vegetable in 2019…

Here are a few  examples  of good wording for the largest section of your pie charts:

• It is clear that ____represents the largest portion of _____, whereas _____ is undoubtedly the smallest.
• Sales of _____ stood at __% in 1925, which is the majority of_____.
• (If the percentage is around 60%) – Nearly a third…
• (If the percentage is around 52%) – Over a half of all respondents…

Here are a few  examples  of good wording for the  smallest  section of your pie chart:

• A small fraction…
• Exactly 30% of students…
• (If the percentage is around 25%) Roughly a quarter of respondents
• … whereas sales for  _____  were just 10% .
• In 1955 approximately three quarters were ____, whereas in 1960 this had fallen to just under a fifth.

Written forms of percentages and fractions look like this:

• a half, 50%, 1/2,
• a third, 33%, 1/3,
• two thirds, 66%, 2/3,
• three quarters, 75%, 3/4,
• a quarter, 25%, 1/4

Which tense should you use to describe pie charts in IELTS?

These are the two basic rules you should follow:

Check the graph title, and the pie chart subtitles, look for dates! 

– if the year is before the present year (i.e. 2020), use the past tense – if the year is after the present year (i.e 2025), use the future tense – if there is no year, use the present simple tense.

Check you don’t accidentally switch the tense halfway through.

Sometimes you will get charts and graphs that will require you to use more than one tense, but do this deliberately and with caution.

For a more in-depth tutorial about tenses check out this page:  126 IELTS academic task 1 – What tense?!

A great tip to improve your answer when you are writing about past tense pie charts is to START your body paragraphs with fixed expressions in the present tense then switch to the past tense. For example:

The data shows that between 2000 and 2003, there was a significant decrease in the number of…

In contrast, it is evident that in the following year, sales of bread plummeted….

Model Answer for a Pie Chart

This pie chart shows the shares of total world food consumption held by each of seven different food types in 2014.

Meat is consumed the most, at 31.4 per cent. Fish has the second-highest consumption levels, at 27.9 per cent. Cereals consumption represents 11.7 per cent of the total. Fruits’ share of consumption is 10.6 per cent, followed closely by vegetables at 10.5 per cent, and then bread at 5.5 per cent. The smallest food group in terms of world consumption is rice, at 2.4 per cent.

The graphs show that overall global consumption is widely dispersed among food types; no one type has a majority share. Animal-based foods (meat and fish) do make up the majority of consumption when added together. It is important to note, however, that based on the information in this pie chart no conclusions can be drawn about the dietary diversity of an individual person.

How to compare two pie charts

The language to compare two pie charts

Summarising two pie charts for an  IELTS academic task 1  needs careful preparation. Here, I am going to focus on deciding the language we need because if we use the correct language, then we have a good chance to obtain a high band score .

Now we need to handle the language of percentages and proportions and, of course, the language we need will vary according to the topic and content of the pie charts. That is one reason why it is vital to study the title and any sub-headings of the charts.

Pie chart review

Take this example and decide what type of language we will need to describe it.

Naturally, we need in the first place  language to describe proportions . Some keywords are:

• per cent (correctly spelt as two words)

At the same time, we must be able to use  the language of comparison  – to say which country had the largest and smallest share etc. Some keywords here are:

• largest/smallest
• greater/smaller

Two pie charts: related topics, one-time frame  (pie chart comparison)

For two pie charts on a different topic and the same time frame you need to use the language of proportion and comparison

Usually, task 1 will not be just one pie chart to describe but two or maybe more. This might involve two pie charts related in terms of “opposition” but static in the sense that both refer to the same time frame, normally a year. Look at the following which presents for the year 2018 the principal European Union trade partners in terms of food and drink: the first chart concerns export partners and the second, import.

In this case, what kind of language do we need?

Of course, we still need the same  language of proportion and pie chart comparison.

The major difference is the need to  compare two pie charts, comparing  exports with imports, making the task more complex.

Two pie charts: one topic only at different times

For two pie charts on a related topic and in a different time frame, you need to use the language of proportion and comparison and change

Now, look at these pie charts. There are of course similarities with the first set. We will always need language to describe proportions and to compare items.

This set refers to agricultural exports from the USA to Cuba in 2005 and then in 2014. In other words, we have just one topic shown over time.

Therefore, we need to use language describing change and trends.

This may be more complex because we have to handle all of the following:

• proportion language – to describe percentages
• comparison language – to describe the biggest and the smallest
• trend language – to describe what changes over time

VIDEO: IELTS Writing Academic Task 1 – How to Describe a Pie Chart

Some final practical advice

• Do not start writing before giving yourself enough time to think. First, decide the language you will need in your answer. Give yourself 5 minutes to look, think and plan.
• Study the charts carefully: the titles for example to check if they deal with the same or connected topics.
• Check the time frames very carefully in the charts and plan how time differences will affect your choice of verb tenses.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How to write a pie chart in ielts task 1.

Try to divide the information into two groups. Focus on trends and exceptions for an easy way to do this. Think of synonyms for the keywords and most important numbers – for example, 20% is a fifth.

How do you describe a pie chart vocabulary?

Superlatives (the most, the largest, the smallest) combine description with the comparison which is crucial for a good score. Referencing (which, that, it) is a good way to paraphrase and demonstrate that you can write complex sentences.

How do you write a report on a pie chart?

Follow the 4 paragraph model. First, summarize the question. Second, talk about the first group of data. Third, the other group of data. Fourth, write a summary with the overall trends and patterns. Be sure to use the correct tense.

More useful IELTS Academic Task 1 lessons

• Academic Task 1 Sample Essays
• IELTS Writing Task 1 Vocabulary List With Examples
• Bar Chart IELTS
• How to describe a map
• Describe an image 
• Describe a natural process
• How to describe a table
• How to paraphrase
• Line graph sample answer
• Marking criteria for Task 1
• Map vocabulary for IELTS Task 1
• How to describe a flow chart
• Essential skills for Task 1
• How to get band 9 for academic task 1
• How to describe a process diagram
• Academic task 1: sentences and grammar to describe a chart
• IELTS Task 1 Sample Answer 2 Double Graph Pie Chart and Bar Chart

IELTS Writing Task 1: Pie Charts Guide

Do you have an idea what a pie chart is? Are you taking the IELTS test soon?

If your answer to the first question is ‘No’ and ‘Yes’ to the second question, then it is high time you learn what a pie chart is. It is because chances are, if you are taking the IELTS Academic Test, you will encounter one. 

On the other hand, even if you already know what a pie chart is, reviewing its basic features and how it is a significant part of the IELTS Writing Test will aid you achiever your desired band score in the IELTS Writing Task 1. 

This article will guide and help you prepare for the IELTS Writing Task 1 if the question is an IELTS pie chart. Please continue reading. 

What is IELTS Writing Task 1?

What is a pie chart, what are the major features of the pie chart, how to analyze the question, how to structure your essay for pie chart ielts question, points to remember while writing the response, practice tips for evaluating pie charts, words and phrases to use in ielts academic writing task 1, sample pie charts responses with feedback, additional faqs on ielts writing task 1: pie charts guide.

The IELTS Writing Task 1 is the first part of the IELTS Writing Test . 

It is different for the IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training modules. 

• For the IELTS Academic Writing , you are given either a graph, chart, table, or diagram, and you need to interpret, describe, and explain the information given. 
• On the other hand, the IELTS General Writing requires you to compose a letter in response to a given situation.
• Both tasks need you to have at least 150 words. 
• You are advised to spend 20 minutes at most finishing this task because the IELTS Writing Task 2 has more weight. 

An IELTS pie chart task is one of the tasks you might be given in the IELTS Academic Writing Task 1.

It is a form of a graph that uses a circular representation to display data. The graph’s parts are proportional to the percentage of the full number in each group. To put it simply, the size of a slice of the pie is proportional to the size of the group as a whole.

The full ‘pie’ represents 100% of the total pie, whereas the pie ‘slices’ represent parts of the whole. 

Pie charts have unique characteristics that make them different from the other tasks in the IELTS Writing Academic Task 1. Before taking the test, make it a point that you familiarize yourself with these features to avoid confusion. 

• Title : The title gives a quick summary of what is in your pie chart. This makes it easier for the readers to figure out what they are about to look at. It is not an issue if it is creative or simple as long as it explains the chart. 
• Legend : The legend explains what each slice stands for. It aids the reader in understanding what they are looking at. 
• Source : The source specifies where you obtained the data in your graph. It is critical to acknowledge those who gathered your data. 
• Data : The information, or data, that your chart contains is the most significant component of it. Data is shown in pie charts as part of a 100-point scale (a percentage). Each slice represents a unique piece of information.

Part of the criteria for your writing in the IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 is Task Achievement. Were you able to accomplish what is asked of you? That is why to get your desired band score. It is a must that you analyze the question carefully. 

• Examine the pie charts and make a plan of what you will write : This is probably the most important stage in the IELTS Writing Test because what you plan will dictate the flow of your writing. Keep in mind that you need to analyze the IELTS pie charts carefully. Study the given details before planning on what to write. 
• Compare the main features to each other : The IELTS pie chart is meant to compare and contrast the given information. These comparisons will aid you in developing a strategy for the body of your IELTS Writing Task 1. Remember that you should not state your opinions and that you are only asked to examine, describe and explain the data given. 
• Select the data for the overview statement : The next step is to consider what information should be included in the Overview statement. Remember that an ‘Overview Statement’ summarizes what you believe is the most important information to know about the pie chart. 
• Write the overview paragraph : The last step is to write your response in the IELTS Academic Writing pie chart task. The first paragraph, the ‘overview paragraph,’ must be written first. Remember two tips when writing your response. First, you need to paraphrase the task, and second, have your overview statement followed by supporting and relevant details. 

Paraphrasing the Question

Paraphrasing the question is essential in the IELTS Academic Writing pie chart task. It increases your chances of getting a high mark from the examiner as it demonstrates that you have a wide range of vocabulary. 

You should rephrase this by utilizing your own grammar and vocabulary as possible. You also need to get a little more specific about the kind of information in the pie chart.

The way you structure your writing in the IELTS Academic Writing pie chart task will dictate your fate in this part of the test. That is why, in the next section of this article, we have listed the steps that you should follow when writing your 150-word (or more) output. 

Step 1 — Analyze the question

Every IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 question has the same format. Here’s another version of our practice question, this time with the words that will appear in all of the questions highlighted.

The graph below depicts the reasons why people choose to commute to work by bicycle or car.

Select and summarize the most important data elements and draw comparisons where appropriate.

All questions in the IELTS Academic Writing pie chart task consist of: 

• 1 st sentence – A brief description of the task 
• 2 nd sentence – The instructions
• 3 rd sentence – The graphic (graph, chart, table, diagram) 

The second sentence of the IELTS Academic Writing pie chart task instructs you what to do. You should do the following:

• Choose the main features. 
• Write about the main features. 
• Compare and contrast the main features. 

Step 2 — Identify the Main Features 

In the IELTS Academic Writing pie chart tasks, the graphic should be simple to understand. Each question is designed to assess your language skills rather than your numerical skills.

Percentages or proportions are always shown in pie charts. Apart from that, they are similar to bar charts and line graphs in that they’re a visual representation of data.

Here are some good questions to ponder.

• What unit of measurements are used?
• What does the title and label say? 
• What is the most notable trend of the graphic? 
• What are the similarities and differences? 

Step 3 — Write the Introduction

Simply paraphrase the question in the introduction. Express similar sentences differently. This can be accomplished by employing synonyms and altering the phrase structure. 

Step 4 — Write an Overview

The primary elements shown in the pie charts should be reported in the second paragraph, with just broad information provided. The essay’s detail comes later. You should also make any obvious comparisons you notice.

Step 5 — Write the First-detail Paragraph

More specific information regarding the data in the image should be included in paragraphs 3 and 4 of your IELTS Academic Writing pie chart essay.

In paragraph 3, you should support your first essential characteristic with proof. Remember to make comparisons when appropriate.

Step 6 — Write the Second-detail Paragraph

You repeat the process for your second significant characteristic in the fourth and final paragraph. If you need to add a third primary feature to complete the essay nicely, do so. 

Because the question does not specify a time range, you can use either the present simple tense or the past simple tense. The present simple tense was used. Remember to be consistent with your tenses throughout your essay, regardless of which one you chose.

Sample — Complete IELTS Academic Writing Pie Chart Essay: 

To obtain a high mark in the IELTS Academic Writing pie chart task, you should bear in mind the following:

• Be consistent with the verb tenses : This means that if the pie chart image is in the present, your explanation should also be in the present tense. If your chart reflects the past, the explanation must be in the past tense.
• Meet the minimum number of words required : Write at least 150 words. Otherwise, it can be rejected. To avoid being rejected, make sure your answer is at least 155-190 words long while writing the explanation.
• Have a clear comparison of the data : Comparing two graphs is frequently easier than creating an explanation for a single graph. Because of this, you need to pay close attention to every aspect to develop excellent ideas to write about the chart.
• Do not deviate from the given topic : The answer you write must correspond to the chart exactly. When composing the explanation, you must exercise considerable caution. So, before you start writing on the chart, have a good look at it.
• Make it easier to read : When writing an IELTS Academic Writing pie chart task, organize material logically to make it easier to follow and read. Rather than writing about each chart independently, the most natural thing to do with an IELTS pie chart is to compare categories across charts, concentrating on similarities and contrasts.

Accomplishing an IELTS Academic Writing pie chart task is not as easy as it seems.

It entails a lot of preparation, and that is why you are advised to consider the following when you practice for the IELTS Academic Writing pie chart task.

• Know what a pie chart is :

Pie charts are extremely useful when comparing a specified category (a slice of the pie) to the whole (the entire pie). The area of pie chart slices is a better representation of the relative size. Inflations and deflations, numbers per category, or direct correlations between categories in which one set of statistics depends on another should not be shown using pie charts. Using a line graph is a better format to utilize in this scenario.

• Have annotations :

Outside of minor fractions like 1/2 (50 percent), 1/3 (33 percent), and 1/4 (25 percent), it is actually quite difficult to deduce exact proportions from pie charts (25 percent). Furthermore, if the slice values are designed to represent amounts rather than proportions, pie charts usually lack the tick markings that allow direct value calculation based on slice sizes. Annotations are a regular feature of pie charts because of these reasons.

• Think about the order of the slices :

A solid slice order can make it easier for a reader to understand what is being said in the pie chart. When there are categories with relatively comparable values, a usual ordering goes from the largest slice to the smallest slice, which is highly useful. If the category levels have a natural ordering, plotting slices is usually preferable.

• Keep the amount of pie pieces to a minimum :

It can be tough to understand pie charts with many slices. It is difficult to identify the smallest slices, and it can also be difficult to select enough colors to distinguish all of the slices. Recommendations vary, but you should consider utilizing a different chart type if you have more than five categories. Another possibility is to combine little pieces into a single ‘others’ slice, which would be colored in a neutral gray.

• Do not use distorting effects: 

To read a pie chart correctly, slices of the areas, arc lengths, and angles must all relate to an appropriate depiction of the data. While it is good to prevent 3-d effects in any plot, it is especially critical with pie charts. Squeezing or expanding the circle, or adding too much depth, can easily alter the size of each slice in relation to the total.

Vocabulary accounts for 25% of your marks in the IELTS Writing Test.

To earn a good score, you must produce accurate and strong descriptions and analyses for the provided graph(s) or diagram. It is simple to keep repeating phrases and numbers in this minimum 150-word essay.

However, this is not an excellent way to get a decent grade. You must utilize a variety of terminology that describes and emphasizes the changes, similarities, and contrasts in the data. 

Here are some of the words and phrases that will help you accomplish the IELTS Academic Writing pie chart task. 

Adjectives : 

• significant
• considerable
• fluctuation
• dramatically
• significantly
• considerably

General Trend:

• It is clear…
• In general…
• It is obvious…
• At the onset…
•  It is clear that…
• As can be seen…
• As it is observed…
• As a general trend…
• As it is presented…
• At first glance…
• Generally speaking…
• It can be clearly seen that…
• As an overall trend/ As overall trend…
• A glance at the graph(s) reveals that…
• According to… 
• It is clear that…
• According to the…
• It is possible that… 
• It is worth noting…
• It is obvious that… 
• It is stated directly that…
• Categorically speaking…
• As shown in the image… 
• Returning to the specifics… 
• As can be observed in the… 
• It is without a doubt/clear that…
• It can plainly be seen that… 
• Now, returning to the details… 
• It is worth mentioning that…
• It appears to be the case that…
• It is evident from the statistics… 
• As you can see from the diagram…
• Based on the facts, it appears that…
• The figure is depicted in the graph…

Summarizing:

• Overall, the picture is clear…
• The majority/minority, in general…
• To summarize, the most significant difference is…
• To summarize, the most notable tendency is…

Predictions:

• is shown to…
• is expected to…
• is forecast to…
• is predicted to…
• is projected to…

Approximations:

• Just around
• Approximately
• More or less
• A little more than
• A little less than
• 33% – nearly a third
• 4% – a tiny fraction
• 50% – exactly a half
• 48% – around a half
• 52% – just over a half
• 48% – just under a half
• 23% – almost a quarter
• 27% – roughly one quarter
• 75% – nearly three quarters
• 78% – approximately three quarters

Proportions:

• 12% – a small minority
• 80% – a large proportion
• 68% – a significant majority
• 4% – an insignificant minority

To get an idea of how the questions in the IELTS Academic Writing pie chart task are posed, you are advised to study some sample responses. It will also help you structure your essay. Here are some of them:

How Do You Write an Answer IELTS Pie Chart Question?

To write an IELTS Academic Writing pie chart task, you need to analyze the question first. Then, identify its main features.

Next, you have to write the introduction, overview, and summary.  Please review our suggestions discussed above to ace this question type.

How Do You Write a Summary for the IELTS Academic Writing Pie Chart Task? 

The summary is the last part of the IELTS Academic Writing pie chart task.

Therefore, before you can write one, you should first analyze the data and identify its main features. From there, you can write your summary.

Do not make it too long. It should be a short and brief conclusion on what you have written. 

How Long Should I Spend in the IELTS Academic Writing Pie Chart Task? 

You are strongly advised to spend no more than 20 minutes on the IELTS Academic Writing pie chart task because the second task carries more weight.

However, that is not to say that you should neglect this part of the test. The first task also accounts for your overall marks in the IELTS Writing Test, so you should give your best performance in both tasks. 

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  How to Write A Task 1 Pie Chart Band 9 Report  

A pie chart is a circular graph that shows the proportional relationship between different categories. It's a popular type of question in the IELTS Academic Writing Task 1.

On this page, you'll learn everything you need to know about answering Pie Chart questions in the IELTS Writing Task 1. We've broken it down into 7 simple steps:

Analyze the question

Identify the major features

Follow the 4 paragraph structure

Paraphrase the question sentence

Write an Overview paragraph

Write Body paragraph 1

Write Body paragraph 2

To improve your band score in the IELTS Academic Writing Task 1, you can use the 7-step strategy, which is a great idea.

However, if you really want to make sure you get the score you need, you might want to try our Writing Feedback Service . Our team of former IELTS examiners will give you detailed feedback and guidance to help you reach your target score.

We also have high-quality eBooks written by former IELTS examiners, which offer powerful tips and strategies to help you achieve a band score of 7 or higher. These eBooks   cover all possible essay types and are a great resource for anyone looking to do well on the IELTS exam.

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

The charts below show the percentage of volunteers by organisations in 2008 and 2014.

Write at least 150 words.

Source: Cambridge English IELTS Past Papers

1. How to Analyse a Task 1 Pie Chart Question

To answer the question correctly, we must identify three important parts of the question sentence:

Topic Words / Keywords: Volunteers by organisations

Micro Keywords: Environmental, Art, Sport, Health Care, Educational, and Others.

Action Words: Compare (note that sometimes action words may not be explicitly stated, so it's important to understand what the examiner is looking for. For example, if there are multiple diagrams in the question, we can compare the major features.)

Once we've analysed the question, we can identify the main features in the diagrams.

You can check the  eBook  for more detailed discussion how to analyse the question most effectively.

2. How to Find the Main Features in a Task 1 Pie Chart

In an IELTS Writing Task 1 pie chart question, you are typically required to write a report on the given data within the pie chart. The major features you should be looking for are the significant details that allow you to construct a coherent and detailed report. Here are some steps to help you find and interpret these features:

Examine the Chart: First, take a good look at the pie chart. Note the title, any subtitles, or other labels. They will give you an overall understanding of the chart.

Identify Categories: Take note of each distinct slice of the pie chart. Each slice represents a different category or component of the whole data set.

Identify Proportions: Look at the percentages or numbers associated with each slice. This will give you an idea of how the whole is divided among the different categories. The larger the slice, the larger its share of the whole.

Compare the Slices: Look for differences between the slices. Which are the largest and smallest slices? Are there any slices that are about the same size?

Look for Trends or Patterns: Are there any noticeable patterns or trends in the data? For instance, if the chart shows data over a period of time, can you see any trends from year to year?

Notice Any Anomalies: Keep an eye out for anything unusual or surprising in the data. For example, is there one slice that is significantly larger or smaller than the others?

Interpret the Data: Finally, consider what the data means. Does it show a significant disparity between different groups? Does it reveal an important trend?

Now, coming across these above-stated steps, let's find the key features in our sample pie chart question:

2008                                2014

Major contributors        Major contributors

Educational(24%)         Environmental (29%)

Environmental(21%)     Sport (25%)

Increased : Health Care, Sport, and Environmental

Decreased : Others, Art, and Educational

Most significant change : Sport

Units are measured in percentage.

3. IELTS Task 1 Pie Chart Report Writing Structure

We can complete the essay using only 10 sentences! Yes, it is that much simple! Take a look how we place the 10 sentences in our 4 paragraph essay. The  eBook  gives you step by step detailed demonstration how to write each paragraph perfectly.

1. Paraphrasing the Question Sentence

Paraphrase the question statement using just one or two sentences. 

2. Overview Paragraph

Sentence 1: summary statement 1(preview of the essay without presenting data)

Sentence 2: summary statement 2 (more preview without presenting data)

3. Body Paragraph 1

Sentence 1: first major point

Sentence 2: second major point

Sentence 3: extension sentence 1 (compare/combine the major points stated above)

Sentence 4: extension sentence 2 (extension of the previous sentence, or adding an exceptional feature).

4. Body Paragraph 2

Sentence 1: exceptional feature 

Sentence 2: extension of the exceptional feature

Sentence 3: final sentence (wrapping-up the whole essay, completely based on the discussion above, nothing new)

Let's develop the answer step by step applying the above-stated 4 paragraph essay structure.

Before diving deep into the report writing of the pie chart, we would like to share you some important thought.

In order to succeed in the IELTS Writing exam, it is important not only to answer the given question but also to have a strong grip on proper structure, vocabulary, organization, and grammar to effectively communicate your thoughts. This is where our IELTS Essay Correction Service proves to be a fantastic platform for any student who wants to enhance their IELTS writing skills and attain a high score on the exam.

By utilizing this platform, you'll receive detailed feedback from a former IELTS examiner who will guide you to identify areas for improvement and work on enhancing your writing skills to reach your target score. Additionally, our support team is always available via email and live chat, 24/7, to address any queries or concerns you may have.

Our personalized approach and professional feedback ensure that you will be fully equipped to achieve a band score of 7 or higher on the IELTS exam with confidence. Don't delay - join our  IELTS Essay Correction Service  today and take a guaranteed leap towards success.

4. Paraphrasing the Question Sentence

In the first paragraph of your IELTS Task 1 essay, you need to rephrase the question statement using your own words while retaining the original meaning. This is known as paraphrasing, and it requires a good understanding of paraphrasing techniques to do it effectively. The purpose of this paragraph is to demonstrate to the examiner how well you understand the question. A detailed dedicated chapter in the  eBook  gives you powerful strategies how to paraphrase most effectively.

Let's look at the actual question statement that we are using on this page:

"The charts below show the percentage of volunteers by organisations in 2008 and 2014."

We can paraphrase this statement as below:

"The provided diagrams depict the level of involvement in volunteering by various organizations during two distinct timeframes, 2008 and 2014."

Great job! The first paragraph is finished, and you've written 20 words so far. We need to aim for at least 150 words, but don't worry, we can add more in the upcoming paragraphs. Now, it's time to move on to the next section, which is the Overview Paragraph.

5. Overview Paragraph

The Overview Paragraph is crucial in our IELTS Writing Task 1 essay. It's actually the most significant part, as it determines your score. In fact, w ithout this paragraph, your IELTS Writing section score will not exceed band 5. Understanding this extreme importance, the  eBook  presents an in-depth discussion providing special tips and strategies on how to write an impressive overview paragraph.

Remember, the overview is a brief summary of the main aspects that you plan to cover in your body paragraphs. So, you should avoid including any data in this section; instead, just state the most significant features visible in the diagrams. You write an overview to let the readers know what you intend to discuss in the upcoming paragraphs.

Overview Paragraph Structure

Remember our Overview paragraph structure:

Let's form the paragraph:

Sentence 1(Summary Statement 1)

" Overall, among the 6 organizations involved, 3 of them showed an increase in volunteer participation rates. "

Sentence 2(Summary Statement 2)

" Notably, the Sports organization experienced the most substantial shift, while the Educational and Environmental groups had the highest proportion of volunteers in 2008 and 2014, respectively. "

Complete Overview Paragraph

"Overall, among the 6 organizations involved, 3 of them showed an increase in volunteer participation rates. Notably, the Sports organization experienced the most substantial shift, while the Educational and Environmental groups had the highest proportion of volunteers in 2008 and 2014, respectively."

Quite simple and smart! We began with a concise 20-word first paragraph that paraphrased the question. Next, we expanded on the critical nature of the Overview paragraph in 43 words, bringing our total count to 63 words. We've now finished two of the four required paragraphs for the IELTS Task 1 essay, meaning we're halfway done! It's now time to tackle Body Paragraphs 1 and 2.

6. Body Paragraph 1

In the overview paragraph, we have given just a general statement of significant features, we haven't discussed any detail. Now it's time to explain them in the two body paragraphs.

Body Paragraph 1 Structure

Remember our body paragraph 1 structure:

Let's form the paragraph following the above-stated structure:

Sentence 1(First Major Point)

"In 2008, the Educational organization was the most prominent contributor, accounting for 24% of total volunteer participation, followed by Environmental and Art organizations."

Sentence 2(Second Major Point)

"However, Environmental organization took the lead in 2014, with the highest number of volunteers at 29%."

Sentence 3(Extension Sentence 1)

"Educational organization witnessed a modest decline, dropping from 24% in 2008 to 17% in 2014, while the Environmental organization experienced a surge, increasing from 21% to 29% during the same timeframe."

Sentence 4(Extension Sentence 2)

"Health Care was the least active organization in both periods."

Complete Body Paragraph 1

"In 2008, the Educational organization was the most prominent contributor, accounting for 24% of total volunteer participation, followed by Environmental and Art organizations. However, Environmental organization took the lead in 2014, with the highest number of volunteers at 29%. Educational organization witnessed a modest decline, dropping from 24% in 2008 to 17% in 2014, while the Environmental organization experienced a surge, increasing from 21% to 29% during the same timeframe. Health Care was the least active organization in both periods."

We have added 81 words and completed the first Body Paragraph, meaning we're now 75% done with our IELTS Task 1 essay! Notice how easy it is to describe the main features we see in the diagrams.

Our word count so far is 20 for the first paragraph, 43 for the Overview, and 81 for the first Body Paragraph, bringing us to a total of 144 words. We will write one more paragraph for a better description, and we only need 6 more words to meet the minimum requirement. We are going to write a few extra words for giving a comprehensive description. Let's get started!

7. Body Paragraph 2

Body paragraph 2 is the final paragraph of our IELTS Task 1 essay. This is the easiest paragraph in the whole essay. Because here we're just stating other features in brief and then adding a final sentence to conclude the essay. Lets's apply our structure for the second body paragraph:

Body Paragraph 2 Structure

Sentence 1(Exceptional Feature)

"In contrast, while the remaining sectors underwent moderate fluctuations in their contribution levels, Sports experienced a marked surge from 15% in 2008 to 25% in 2014."

Sentence 2(Extension of the Exceptional Feature) 

"Furthermore, only Health Care, Environmental, and Sports sectors exhibited an increase in volunteer participation, whereas the other three experienced a decline during the same time span."

Sentence 3(Final Sentence)

"Lastly, the Educational and Environmental sectors occupied the leading position in terms of contribution in 2008 and 2014, respectively, with Health Care persistently ranking at the bottom in both periods."

Complete Body Paragraph 2

"In contrast, while the remaining sectors underwent moderate fluctuations in their contribution levels, Sports experienced a marked surge from 15% in 2008 to 25% in 2014. Furthermore, only Health Care, Environmental, and Sports sectors exhibited an increase in volunteer participation, whereas the other three experienced a decline during the same time span. Lastly, the Educational and Environmental sectors occupied the leading position in terms of contribution in 2008 and 2014, respectively, with Health Care persistently ranking at the bottom in both periods."

We've added 82 more words to the previous 144, and just finished the final part of our 4 paragraph essay. That means we have completed an IELTS Task 1 essay with 226 words, which is absolutely okay.

To summaris, understanding how to write a Task 1 pie chart Band 9 report for the IELTS exam is a critical skill that requires practice and precision. By identifying key features, interpreting data accurately, and employing a clear, coherent writing style, you can craft a compelling report that will help you reach for that elusive Band 9 score.

Remember, becoming adept at pie chart interpretation is a valuable asset not just for IELTS success, but also for navigating our data-driven world. It's all about understanding the story that numbers tell, which can boost your comprehension of market trends, budget allocations, research outcomes, and more.

The art of writing an IELTS Task 1 report is just a small piece of the puzzle. To ensure you're completely prepared, continue to practice other key components of the exam, such as the listening, reading, and speaking sections. With regular practice and the right strategies, you can achieve your goal of an impressive IELTS Band 9 score.

Stay tuned to our blog for more tips and techniques for IELTS preparation. Whether you're looking for advice on "Understanding IELTS Listening Band 9 Requirements," or seeking insights on "Effective Strategies for IELTS Reading Section," we've got you covered. Remember, a comprehensive approach is the key to IELTS success, and we are here to support you in every step of your IELTS journey.

Don't forget to check the following resources:

Download IELTS High Scoring eBooks

Get Detailed IELTS Essay Feedback from An Examiner

Check the detailed discussion on all the question types

Pie Chart                  Bar Chart

Line Graph                Map

Table Chart               Process Diagram

Multiple Graphs

IELTS Writing Task 1: how to write single pie chart, with strategies, model answer and bonus tips

In this post on IELTS Writing Task 1 , we are looking at the strategies to write a good, strong answer for a single pie chart. Often, writing on a single picture becomes more challenging than writing a combined picture. So, this post is designed for helping you to sort out the problems regarding writing a well-organized answer for any single graph or chart. Try to follow the points discussed in the model answer. Consider them significantly important because they will surely help to cover a good band in Task 1.

Let’s take a look at the title and the picture first.

The pie chart below shows the percentage of a family’s household income distributed into different categories. (RB’15)

Strategies for writing a good, strong answer:

As we can see in the chart, it deals with the allocation of household income. You have to scan the picture clearly so that no information goes unnoticed. Every single detail will help you to write the answer flawlessly.

Points to remember:

• Your writing must agree with the tense. This means if the picture or the question indicates the present tense, you have to write the details in the present tense. If it indicates past, your answer to the details must be in the past tense.
• Your answer must contain 150 words or more. If it is shorter than that, you will be penalized. So, arrange your writing in a way that covers at least 155-160 words.
• You may find it more challenging to write a very good answer to a single chart/ graph than a combined chart. In many cases found in the IELTS exam, the answer written by candidates is short in word count. They fail to write 150 words. So, to avoid such discrepancies, pay attention to every detail that can find. Try to focus so that you do not miss any detail.
• Your answer must contain accurate numeral information. This refers to the representation of numbers in the Task 1 picture. It cannot mismatch with the answer. You will be seriously penalized for providing the wrong information. So, please count well.
• Your answer should have clear and solid paragraphing. Here is how I have made the paragraphing for the model answer.

• The answer must not contain any personal opinion, reasons, or effects. You will be penalized if you write so.
• For this answer, you need to write some sentences using a degree of comparison/ compare and contrast. To learn more about how to write sentences like this, please follow the link below.

IELTS Writing Task 1 and Task 2 : Comparing & contrasting

Model answer:

The given pie chart is a clear illustration of a family’s income distributed into different categories. Overall, it is apparent that the maximum share of household income goes to food and education while the minimum goes to power.

As it can be seen in the chart, a quarter proportion of the total household income is spent on food while in education 3% less is spent on food. Clothes expenses consume 13% of the total income which is 12% lower than the income spent on food. The family also spends only 5% of their earnings on power and as far as transport expenditure is concerned, they spend 7% more than on power. 8% of the household income is spent on other necessities. It is observed that the family saves 15% of their entire household earnings for future expenses.

In fine, it is clear from the chart that the family gives more importance to food and education than any other expenses.

(159 words)

Bonus tips:

Writing some short sentences to describe trends in different graphs and charts can benefit you immensely. So, try to write some single sentences just as fun practice in a separate notebook. Take two or three model pictures and target only one or two trends. Then, try to write some sentences to describe the trends.

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IELTS Writing Task 2: Agree disagree topic on using forensics to solve old cases; with 3 model answers

This IELTS Writing Task 2 post offers some sample answers to an agree-disagree topic. This agree-disagree topic asks the candidates to provide arguments as to whether new science related to criminal forensics should be used to look at old cases or not. In this post, you will find three great model answers which may help […]

IELTS Writing Task 2: an advantage-disadvantage essay on taking a gap year before starting university education; with plans and model answer

This IELTS Writing Task 2 post offers the insights of writing a great answer to an advantage-disadvantage essay. This task 2 question asks the candidates to provide their personal opinions on taking a gap year before starting university education. In this post, you will find a plan that can help you to write this answer […]

IELTS writing task 1: comparing 3 pie charts

Comparisons in ielts writing task 1 academic..

Updated: June 2023

It’s common in IELTS writing task 1 to get multiple charts such as 2 or 3 pie charts, or a bar graph and a table, or maybe 2 line graphs and so on. In this post, I will deal with 3 pie charts with 4 categories.

Always take time to analyse the task before you start writing. In writing task 1, I advise around three to four minutes of planning time.

There are two model answers below with different structures. In the first example I write according to the 3 nutrients, while in the second model, I structured it according to breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks.

Notice that this is not dynamic data, (it does not change over time) so it would be incorrect to use trends language here. This is static data so I need to use comparatives and superlatives to compare the data.

Source: Cambridge IELTS 14 page 29.

If you need corrections on your writing for a Band 7+ click here

Model answer 1.

The pie charts illustrate the average proportion of sodium, saturated fat, and added sugar in common meals eaten in the USA that are considered unhealthy if eaten excessively.  

Overall, dinner and lunch account for the highest proportions of sodium and saturated fat, whereas breakfast indicates the lowest figures for all three nutrients. Notably, snacks contain the largest amount of sugar.

Looking at the data for sodium , dinner comprises by far the highest amount at just over two-fifths (43%), while breakfast and snacks account for 14% and lunch contains just under one-third (29%). Turning to the figures for saturated fats , yet again the highest figure is for dinner, totalling 37%, with lunch at a little over a quarter (26%). This figure is followed closely by snacks amounting to 21%. Breakfast is the healthiest option of the four containing 16% of saturated fat.

Regarding the added sugar category , snacks are the unhealthiest amounting to 42% sugar compared to breakfast at just 16%. Moreover, dinner indicates the second-highest amount of sugar, representing just under one-quarter (23%), while lunch comprises almost one-fifth (19%).

Model answer 2   (different structure)

Looking at the data for breakfast , in the sodium category, this accounts for 14%, while breakfast containing saturated fats and added sugar both amount to 16%. Turning to the lunch figures , sodium levels represent 29%, which is the highest figure here, followed by 26% of saturated fats and nearly a fifth (19%) of added sugar.

Regarding dinner , 43% of sodium was consumed in dinners in the USA, which is by far the highest figure. Saturated fats amount to 37% for dinner, while added sugars comprise 23%. In terms of snacks , 42% of snacks have added sugar in them with just over a fifth (21%) containing saturated fat. Moreover, sodium indicates a lower figure of 14%, which is equal to that of breakfast.

Always write in clear paragraphs, and skip a line between them. The overview is important, so make sure you have one, but don’t go into too much detail in the overview.

In the paragraphs, I used specific phrasing to indicate which category I am writing about ‘ Looking at the data for…..  / Turning to the figures for….  / Regarding…. / In terms of….’  This helps with your coherence and cohesion and makes the report more logical.

I separated it into 2 main body paragraphs and reported on the figures there. Notice also that I have used fractions and approximation language such as: ‘nearly a fifth… / just under one-third… / a little over a quarter… / comprises almost one-fifth’.

See this link here for more details on approximation and fractions.

For a higher score in vocabulary check out this post here .

Leave a comment below if you have any questions.

Leave a comment cancel reply.

IELTS Writing Task 1 – Pie Chart Example Essay 1

In this post, we will look at a  Writing Task 1 Academic pie chart essay  example from the IELTS writing task 1 Academic Test. Students often ask if the questions are repeated year after year and the answer is no, but the type of chart or graph can be.

There are so many questions written each year, you may find you practice answering various questions on different topics. It is best practice to learn how to answer each one of the various types of writing task 1 questions , from bar charts, line graphs, maps, process etc.

Take a look at the IELTS Writing Task 1 Academic essay example  below >>

The chart below shows how much money is spent in the budget on different sectors by the UAE government in 2000.

The diagram describes the comparative statistics of the annual expenditure of ten departments of the government of the United Arab Emirates in 2000. The units were measured in billion AED.

On the one hand, the receiver of the largest portion of the annual budget of the United Arab Emirates government in 2000 is the Social security sector with 100 billion AED followed by the Health and personal social services and the Education department with 53 billion AED and 38 billion AED respectively. Landing in the fourth spot is the other expenditures and the Debt sector with both 23 billion AED.

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IELTS Academic Writing Task 1. Sample 1

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

The pie graphs below show the result of a survey of children's activities. The first graph shows the cultural and leisure activities that boys participate in, whereas the second graph shows the activities in which the girls participate.

Write a report describing the information shown in the two pie graphs.

Write at least 150 words.

How to answer this task?

Introduce the pie charts.

Write what do they summarize.

Write a general overview.

Write in brief the main trends.

Describe the first chart.

Tell about the activities on the boys' chart and their popularity. Use linking structures and vocabulary to describe graphs .

Describe the second chart.

Tell about the activities on the girls' chart and their popularity. Use words from academic wordlist .

Model answer

The two pie charts draw the conclusion of a survey of boys' and girls' cultural and leisure activities.

Overall, equal quantities of both sexes enjoyed listening to music, but a dramatically larger number of girls liked reading. There were also many differences in terms of the children's preferred sports.

Turning to the first chart, we can observe that boys prefer playing computer games (34% participation rate) than taking other activities. Playing basketball comes as the second most popular leisure, practiced by almost a third of male children. Basketball is followed by soccer, which is exercised by 17%. Skateboarding and listening to music are less preferable activities, chosen by 11% and 10% of boys respectively. Reading, the least popular cultural activity among boys, represents only two percent.

Taking a closer look at the second chart, we can see that girls' most preferred activity is dancing, being 27% of the total. In contrast to the boys' preferences, reading is chosen by more than a fifth of all girls. Although percentage of female children who play computer games is roughly twice less than that of boys (16%), this activity is third most popular on the girls' chart. With a slight difference between computer games and netball, the latter is practiced at 15% rate. Similarly to skateboarding popularity among boys, 11% of girls go in for gymnastics. Listening to music comes as the least popular leisure, with a proportion of 10%, equal to those on the first chart.

(244 words)

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Task 1 Sample Pie Chart

This IELTS writing task 1 sample is a pie chart. Below the pie chart is a model answer. With pie charts you are usually given 2, 3, or 4 to compare. In this case there are 2.

Take a look at the question and chart first. Which is the best way to compare the information?

Make a decision then look at the model answer. Comments are provided so you can see why the response would achieve a high IELTS score.

Task 1 Sample

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

The pie chart shows the amount of money that a children's charity located in the USA spent and received in one year, 2016.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant.

Write at least 150 words.

Revenue Sources and Expenditures of a USA Charity in one year, 2016.

Model Answer

The pie charts show the amount of revenue and expenditures in 2016 for a children’s charity in the USA. Overall, it can be seen that donated food accounted for the majority of the income, while program services accounted for the most expenditure. Total revenue sources just exceeded outgoings.

In detail, donated food provided most of the revenue for the charity, at 86%. Similarly, with regard to expenditures, one category, program services, accounted for nearly all of the outgoings, at 95.8%. 

The other categories were much smaller. Community contributions, which were the second largest revenue source, brought in 10.4% of overall income, and this was followed by program revenue, at 2.2%. Investment income, government grants, and other income were very small sources of revenue, accounting for only 0.8% combined.

There were only two other expenditure items, fundraising and management and general, accounting for 2.6% and 1.6% respectively. The total amount of income was $53,561,580, which was just enough to cover the expenditures of $53,224,896. 

(161 Words)

The response achieves the task because the data from the pie chart is selected and summarised appropriately.

Also, it can be seen that comparisons are made , which you are told to do in the rubric. The comparisons are clear from language such as ' similarly ', ' much smaller ', and ' largest revenue source '. Those are all language of comparison and contrast.

The summary is also well-organised . The writer decides first to compare the two largest items in each pie chart in the first paragraph, then go on to summarise the smaller items of expenditure, each in a separate paragraph.

It is therefore easy to follow the description.

There is not one right way to organise the pie chart. You could for example discuss each chart in turn as they are about different categories.

However, you should compare across categories if each pie chart is about the same thing. There is a lesson about that here: IELTS Pie Chart

Next >>>

More on IELTS Pie Charts:

IELTS Sample Pie Chart: Describing four pie charts together

View a sample pie chart for the IELTS test on electricity generation, with a model answer. In a pie chart you have to use language connected to proportions and percentages.

IELTS Pie Chart Strategies and Tips for a Band 7, 8 or 9

This IELTS pie chart lesson provides you with tips and advice on how to describe an IELTS Pie Chart in order to get a Band 7, 8 or 9.

IELTS Pie Chart Exercise: Improve your language flexibility

With this IELTS pie chart exercise you can Improve your language and grammar for writing about Task One charts. The focus is on comparing and on 'proportions'.

Writing Task 1 Pie Chart: Describing two pie charts over time

Writing Task 1 Pie Chart: This sample chart compares the structure of a company in terms of the ages of the workforce.

Task 1 Pie Chart: Using the past and future tenses

Task 1 pie chart for IELTS with model answer and tips on how to develop a high-scoring response to this type of chart. You need to use past and future tenses.

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How to Describe a Pie Chart in IELTS Writing Task 1?

In IELTS Academic writing task 1, you write a report in minimum 150 words. Pie chart is one of questions that can be asked in IELTS writing task 1. In order to score Band 7 or above, it becomes extremely important to examine the question well and find out key features that can be written. Let us see how to describe a pie chart.

Step 1: Read the Question Properly to Select Information

One of the foremost things to consider in mind before writing about the pie chart is to read the question carefully. In the IELTS writing task 1 question itself, you can find basic information which you can select in order to firstly understand the question and then write introduction. To select the information, you should go through the question statement, heading of pie chart diagram, labels of pie chart sections and any other text written at the bottom or anywhere.

Step 2: Start Writing Introduction

Once you are done with understanding the pie-chart question and now that you know what the question is about, you can start writing introduction by using paraphrasing skills. You can make use of words or phrases written on the diagram heading or labels in order to better describe what the pie chart is about. For example,

Question statement:

The pie chart shows the amount of food eaten by youngsters in Australia in the year 2000.

Pie-chart heading:

Consumption of food by Australian Teenagers

By looking at the above information, you may paraphrase the statements and write your introduction as:

Introduction:

The given pie chart represents the percentage of food consumption by the teenagers in Australia in 2000.

Step 3: Analyse the Pie Chart Carefully

As said earlier, it is really important to mention the key features of pie chart diagram in IELTS writing task 1. You can come to know the important features only when you have understood the diagram well. In the pie chart, make sure to find out the highest and lowest percentage sections. Apart from this, do note the second highest proportion as well. You also need to compare and contrast in the pie chart diagram. For this, if there are two or more than two pie charts, notice the similarities and differences in the percentage sections. Notifying the trend would be good to see whether the percentage has been increasing or decreasing.

Step 4: Start Writing Body Paragraph

Keep in mind that coherence and cohesion are the two important parameters as well in IELTS writing task 1. Hence, make sure that you write everything logically. There should be proper paragraphing and flow of key features in the right order that could look understandable to the reader. Writing in random order picking out key features from any of the pie charts in any order can confuse the reader. Also, do make use of connectives such as whereas, however, on the other hand etc. to compare and contrast.

Step 5: Write Conclusion

The conclusion is the major aspect of the pie chart diagram in IELTS writing task 1. Some people prefer writing it after introduction while others write it at the end. Where ever you place the conclusion, keep in mind that it should reflect the overall idea of the question. There is one tip that you may follow for writing the conclusion in pie-chart. You may mention the highest proportion and/or the lowest proportion out of the pie charts to write conclusion.

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Pie Chart and Bar Chart for IELTS Writing Task 1

It is possible to be given two charts together in IELTS writing task 1. Below you will see two pie charts followed by a bar chart. This exercise will focus on how to structure your report and how to highlight the key features of both charts in one overview.

The charts below show the males and females arrested over 5 years and the reasons for the most recent arrests.

Source: The above charts were not created by IELTS Liz.

Two Charts: Structure and Overview

Answer the questions below in order to decide your paragraphing for your task 1 report.

• Will you put the introduction separately?
• Will you have an overview or conclusion?
• How many body paragraphs will you have?
• What order will you put your paragraphs in?
• Will your body paragraphs be equal lengths?
• Yes, the introduction should go in a separate paragraph.
• You must have an overview not a conclusion. The overview can go after the introduction.
• You should have 4 paragraphs in total.
• You should have an introduction, an overview, one body paragraph for the pie chart detail and one body paragraph for the bar chart detail.
• The body paragraph with pie chart detail will be shorter than the body paragraph with details about the bar chart

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• Pie chart lesson in easy steps – a complete report, click here
• Bar chart model: Band 9
• Pie Chart Model: Band 9
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The pie chart illustrates the percentage of people arrested in a period of five years ending in 1994. The bar chart elucidates the causes for which people were taken into custody.

Overall, males were arrested in greater proportion than females and majority of arrests were made due to public drinking for both genders whereas a small number of arrests were made for which there was no answer given by the officials.

The majority of women (more than 35%) were arrested for public drinking. This figure dropped to close to 20% for crimes of assault and offences committed for other reasons .The figure dropped further as much as close to 15 % for drunk driving and a stable downward trend continues against offences committed in terms of breach of order and theft ( about 12%), finally plunging to as low as just above 5% for arrests for which no answer was given.

Like wise, majority of males (just above 30%) were also taken into custody for public drinking as opposed to just above 25% for drunk driving.Close to 20% were arrested for breaching the order and for other reasons and the figure slightly dipped (about 16%) for crimes of assault and theft. Lastly, the number hit the lowest to as low as nearly 4% for arrests made for which no answer was given.

Two charts explain the percentage of people who arrested and the reasons behind it from the years 1989 to 1994. Overall, there were 25% of males and 9% of females arrested in the specified time. whereas, the public drinking was the major reason of arresting, inmates were not provided answers contributed to only few percentages. In 1994, the reasons why prisoners have arrested were investigated. It was six reasons beside one category with no answers, starting from driving while drinking with 14% for females and 26% for males, public drinking constituted 31% of males and 37% females, breach of order included 18% males and 12% females, assault prisoners were 17% males and 19% females, robbery category was 16% males and 13% females, the bar with other reasons showed 19% males and 18% females, and finally, prisoners who were not answers compromised minimum percentage with 4% males and 7% females.

The pie charts and bar chart illustrate why people were mostly detained according to gender between 1989 and 1994. Information is divided into seven reasons in the bar chart and by gender in the pie charts. The unit was measured in percentage. Overall, significant percentage of arrested men was more than that of women over five years finishing in 1994. Public drinking was the majority of arrest while no answer was insignificant minority for both genders. Due to the charts, women were arrested significantly intern of public drinking around 60%, assault nearly 20% and no answer well over 5% compared with the figures for drink driving over 25%, breach of order around 18%, theft over 15% and other reason nearly 20% were the most recent of arrested men. As can be seen in the pie charts, nearly one-third of males were arrested as opposed to a tiny portion of females over five years.

The charts provide information on females and males arrested and their causes of incarceration. This was evaluated over a period of five years, coming to an end in 1994, in terms of percentage.

The pie charts demonstrate a noticeable difference between the arrests among both genres. Women make up the smallest percentage, while men make up the majority. According to the bar graph, the reasons for their arrests were divided into seven categories, with public driving being the most common.

Taking a deeper look at the pie charts, the number of men arrested is nearly four times the percentage of women. Furthermore, despite the fact that two-thirds of the male population was not incarcerated, females outnumbered them by more than 90 percent.

In contrast, the bar graph reveals that for women, public drinking is the major reason for their arrest, having the greatest percentage over both populations, 37 percent approximately. For men, that answer is the most popular too, but in a smaller number, about 30 percent. The other situations have a similar range among them, with the “no answer” option having the smallest percentage of 4 and 5 for males and females, respectively. 

The pie chart below illustrates the percentage of women and men captured over five years. The bar chart shows seven different reasons for the new captures. (Measured in percentage)

Overall, the masculine genre was more arrested than the women. Moreover, the principal argument was drunk in public areas for both genres. But just a few people did not answer about the reason for the crime.

First, most people caught committing a crime were men, 32% of criminals. In comparison with the female genre, just 9%. On the other hand, in both genres, more than 50% were not arrested.

Turning to the reasons for the most recent arrests. Man and women have the same result in the assault with a difference of 3% approximately. The same with the category of other reasons, both genres have a similar percentage, over 15%, being the male, the genre with the worst behavior, having a significant portion in each argument.

The pie charts show the number of men and women arrested during the last 5 years until 1994. The bar graph provides detailed information of reasons (public drinking, assault, drinking driving, breach order, theft, other reasons, and no answer) for their arrests. Overall, the number of arrested men was higher as compared to women during the given period. Drinking in public was the major reason for arrests while not answering was the least for both genders. The total percentage of people arrested was 41% which comprised 32% of men and 9% of women. The utmost reason for being legally detained was due to public drinking with nearly 38% for females and around 30% for males. A similar trend is evident for assault cases which recorded to almost 20% for ladies and around 17% for gents. Drinking while driving was the highest reason why men were arrested than women (about 26% and 14 % respectively). The reason for not providing an answer was the smallest percentage with only around 7% for ladies and just 4% for gents. The breach of order, theft, and other reasons were logged higher by men than women with percentile differences of approximately 1%, 3% and 6% respectively.

Hi Liz, Greetings.. you are a great teacher i have learnt so much from your website… but i am bit confused regarding use of bracket in writing task 1 to explain data likewise electricity generated from thermal was higher(27%) than renewals(10%). I am going to give exam on 1st june please clear my doubt… and kindly wish me gud luck its my ist attempt in IELTS

It’s fine to use brackets in your writing task 1 report. But don’t over use them. Make sure you use a range of grammar structures and language. Lots of luck!! See this page for all writing task 1 tips: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-1-lessons-and-tips/

First, I would like to thank you very much for this great effort you are putting here. The content id definitely helpful for everyone who would like to improve their scores in the IELTS test. I have written my response to the above chart and would appreciate your feedback:

The pie chart illustrates the percentage of males and females who were arrested from 1989 to 1994 while the bar graph gives more information about the reasons for their arrests, breaking it down into seven different categories.

Overall, the proportion of males who were arrested over five years was significantly higher than that of their females’ counterpart. The biggest reason behind males and females’ arrest was drinking in public as opposed to having no answer for an arrest which accounted for the least percentage.

Total percentage of people arrested was 41% with males representing 32% and just 9% for females. In terms of males, drinking in public scored the highest reason for arrest at just above 30% as opposed to the people who chose not to answer which was the lowest at approximately 4%. The second highest reason for male arrests was drinking driving at slightly over 25% while the remaining reasons had almost similar proportions scoring an average of about 17%.

Similarly, the most popular reason for females’ arrest was public drinking which reached a peak of just over 30%, accounting for six folds of no answer (just below 5%). Apart from that, drink driving, breach of order and theft consistently accumulated almost the same percentage of about 13%. Furthermore, reasons for people who were convicted for assault and other reasons showed an average rate of just below 20%.

Please check it for me. The charts provide the information regarding the proportion of arrests made by police over the five year period(1990-1994), and illustrate the causes of their latest arrests in terms of percentage.

Overall, majority of the males was involved in committing crimes as opposed to a small proportion of women. The drinking at public places was the most recent cause of the arrests of both genders. In contrast, few individuals were captured due to giving no response.

In regard to pie chart, it is conspicuous that about one-third of males had arrested as compared to only 9% of females over the five year period finished in 1994 according to the given data.

Turning towards bar chart, it is explicitly viewed that about two-fifth of women caught recently due to public drinking as opposed to around one third males arrested due to the same cause. Females dominated in assaulting cases and giving no answers with around 5% higher figure than their male counterparts. Males were showing two fold increase in arrests due to drink driving than females according to recent report. While, break of order and theft cases were demonstrated the same trends around 17%males’ and 13%female’s arrests. The arrests for no reason equally popular among both genders(well below than 20%).

HI LIZ, Atfirst I want to tell you one thing ,thank you for being such an amazing person. I am sure if there were a nobel prize for best teacher, you would get it! Another fantastic lesson, congrats for your great job. Please share with us more essay topics. I am about to book my exam slot @march. Need your help more. Essay on summer vacation is it important or not ? like a positive aspect of spend time n summer time and side by side drawback also.

Hi, It seems to me that it could be a good idea to construct 3 body paragraphs for this particular task (a, to comment about pie chart; b, to comment about crimes which lead to female arrest more frequently; c, for males ones). Could you comment if my reasoning is corect? Thanks a lot Cezar

A bar chart usually requires comparing. If you put males and females in separate paragraphs, you won’t be able to compare them.

Please, for this particular question, I wrote up to 211 words. Is it wrong to write above 150 words?

You should aim for between 160 and 180 words in task 1 – on the whole.

hi liz….i have got an exam on jan 9….this site is helping too much for me

to be true with you…..i have been love with you although i am younger than you..looking your videos on youtube

love you lizz

I’m glad my blog is useful 🙂 Good luck!

hlo mam m having exam on 16 july . I am having problem in managing task 1 length , i often exceed the give limit . plz suggest me how to ellaborate all the data given without increasing length, moreover give me some reading tips too. thanku

You are supposed to select information, not just relate it all. Start learning how your writing is marked: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-1-band-scores/

Hi Liz, I was confused in the sentence “The majority of arrests were due to…”. I wonder if there is “were” or “was” here? Would you please help me? Thank you in advance

https://ieltsliz.com/liz-notice-2015-2016/

Hi Tuan, After “the majority……” verb could be either singular or plural. It only depends on the context. Here It has to be plural according to context. Hope you got the answer ! For more information please search internet…

Difficult to write about all the reasons for recent arrest in the body paragraph, so is it ok to write about only the major reasons?

It stead of missing out categories, try grouping them together. Liz

Hi Liz, I would like to know if it is fine to describe some features that I did not put in the overview?

For example, I observed that there was a significant percentage difference in the reason of drunk driving between males and females. It I didn’t mention it in my overview, can I add this point later paragraphs?

When you choose your key features, you also consider the length of your report. This has both pie charts and a bar chart. So, best to choose about one key feature from each and then start the body paragraphs. Try adding your sentence and then count the number of words. It might be lengthy and time consuming – remember you only have 20 mins for this. All the best Liz

Hi Liz, does this overview get good band or not?

Overall, the percentage of males was considerably higher than that of females. Most number of males and females ended up in the prison for public drinking whereas the least percentage was shown for no reason in both gender.

also i am confused between the use of ” than ” and ” than that of” in comparison.

Sorry I don’t mark writing. You can use both “than” or “than that of”. Liz

Maam, I wrote about 200 words in task 1 and it was comparison chart (pie charts and table)So,Please tell me would this thing affect my band score??

If your overview contained key features and your body paragraphs contained obvious details, then it should be ok. Some charts contain a lot of information and it is possible to write around 200 words. But it depends on the charts you get and how you write. Without seeing your writing and the charts, I can’t comment exactly. All the best liz

I love your site, I’m a frequent visitor. I was wondering if in this case would it be a good idea to add to the overview the sentence: “The biggest difference between female and male arrest was in drink driving. ” ? Thank you for your answer.

It is often good to add the main difference in the overview. But it depends on how much detail there is to write in the body paragraphs. Here you can see we have both a pie chart and a bar chart to describe. That means we need to limit the length of the overview or the report will get too long. But it is your choice. All the best Liz

i want ask you how I can improve my writing skill because I always get just 4 score Can you tell me please?? Because my exam in the next Saturday

With only a few days left, I recommend you look at my model essays and pay attention to structure, content of paragraphs and linking devices. However, to get more than 4, you will need to be able to produce more accurate English. More errors = lower score. All the best Liz

Hi Liz , Excuse me mum ,, in which time are you gonna read candidates` work ? ,, is there any particular appointment or when you are free ?? Thanks Regards,

Sorry, but at present I do not have time to offer any free marking. All the best Liz

Dear Liz , kindly , can you read my introduction and overview ? . and could you please evaluate them .. The pie chart depicts some information about the numbers of people from both genders who were arrested in five years , by the end of 1994 , while the bar chart illustrates seven features for why they were taken down.

Overall, men who had been arrested, exceed more than women in the same five years .However, the most popular cause for that detention , was the general drinking for males and females, whereas no reason was given for the minimal numbers of arrests.

Please read my notice: https://ieltsliz.com/posting-writing/ Liz

Hello Liz, Thank you for everything you did and you do In task 1, if have for example pie chart and bar chart should i write an introduction for each ,then i start the body paragraph with the keys features for the both of them.

You introduce both in the introduction. You write the key features for both in your overview. Then you describe each in separate body paragraphs.

Hi Liz, I wanna ask if we can put percentages or any information like numbers or years in the overview ? or it must be only in the body paragraphs ??! Thanks,

The overview is just a description of the key features without details of numbers. Unless, you have totals to give, for example in a table. All details usually go in the body paragraphs. All the best Liz

okay Thanks ,you are the best teacher 🙂

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IELTS Writing Task 1 Pie Chart Vocabulary: Essential Terms for Success

Understanding the importance of pie chart vocabulary mastering the appropriate vocabulary for describing pie charts is crucial for success in ielts writing task 1. pie charts are a common visual representation in the ielts exam, and having a strong grasp of the specific language used to analyze them can significantly improve your score. this article will provide you with essential vocabulary and strategies to effectively describe pie charts in your ielts writing task 1 response. key vocabulary for describing pie charts, segments and proportions.

When describing a pie chart, it’s important to use precise language to discuss the different parts and their relative sizes. Here are some key terms:

• Segment: A portion or section of the pie chart
• Slice: Another term for a segment of the pie chart
• Proportion: The relative size of a segment compared to the whole
• Percentage: The numerical representation of a proportion, expressed as a part of 100
• Fraction: A way to express a proportion as a part of a whole (e.g., one-third, one-quarter)

Example sentence: “The largest segment of the pie chart, representing 40% of the total, shows the proportion of students who prefer studying in the morning.”

Comparing Segments

To effectively analyze a pie chart, you’ll need vocabulary to compare different segments:

• Majority: The largest portion, more than half of the total
• Minority: A small portion, less than half of the total
• Predominant: The most common or prevalent category
• Significant: A noteworthy or considerable portion
• Negligible: An extremely small or insignificant portion

Example sentence: “While the majority of respondents prefer tea, a significant minority, about one-third, favor coffee.”

Describing Proportions

Use these phrases to describe the size of different segments:

• Account for: To represent a certain proportion of the whole
• Make up: To constitute a certain percentage
• Comprise: To be composed of or consist of
• Represent: To stand for or symbolize a certain proportion

Example sentence: “Environmental factors account for 25% of the reasons given for choosing a particular university.”

Expressing Precise and Approximate Values

When describing pie charts, you may need to express both exact and estimated figures:

• Exactly: Used for precise percentages
• Precisely: Another term for exact figures
• Approximately: Used for estimates or rounded figures
• Roughly: Similar to approximately, for less precise estimates
• Just over/under: Slightly more or less than a given value

Example sentence: “The pie chart shows that precisely 18% of the budget is allocated to marketing, while approximately one-fifth is dedicated to research and development.”

Strategies for Describing Pie Charts

Grouping similar segments.

When analyzing pie charts with multiple segments, it can be helpful to group similar categories:

• Combined: Used to describe the total of two or more segments
• Collectively: Indicating the total of several segments taken together
• In total: Expressing the sum of multiple segments

Example sentence: “While individually small, the three smallest segments combined account for 30% of the total responses.”

Identifying Trends and Patterns

Use these terms to discuss overall patterns in the pie chart:

• Dominate: To be the most prominent or influential
• Outweigh: To exceed in importance or influence
• Stark contrast: A clear and significant difference between segments

Example sentence: “There is a stark contrast between the two largest segments, which together dominate the chart, and the remaining smaller slices.”

Describing Changes Over Time

If you’re comparing two pie charts representing different time periods, use these phrases:

• Increase/decrease: To show a change in proportion over time
• Remain stable: To indicate no significant change
• Shift: To describe a change in the distribution of proportions

Example sentence: “The proportion of renewable energy sources increased from 10% to 25% between 2010 and 2020, while fossil fuels saw a corresponding decrease.”

Tips for Using Pie Chart Vocabulary Effectively

Vary your language: Use a range of vocabulary to avoid repetition and demonstrate your linguistic ability.

Be precise: Use exact figures when they are provided, but don’t be afraid to use approximations for more complex percentages.

Focus on key features: Highlight the most significant aspects of the pie chart, such as the largest segments or notable differences between categories.

Use appropriate tenses: Typically, you’ll use the present simple tense to describe a single pie chart, but pay attention to any time references if comparing charts from different periods.

Practice regularly: Familiarize yourself with different types of pie charts and practice describing them using the vocabulary you’ve learned.

Mastering the vocabulary for describing pie charts is essential for achieving a high score in IELTS Writing Task 1. By incorporating these key terms and phrases into your analysis, you’ll be able to provide a clear, accurate, and well-structured response. Remember to practice regularly with a variety of pie charts to build your confidence and fluency in using this specialized vocabulary.

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IELTS Task 1: Pie Charts and Graphs

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These are pie charts and graphs that I’ve collected over the years from real past IELTS exams and other practice materials.

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Here are the IELTS pie charts and graphs!

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