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.
| Paragraph 1 | Introduction of the report by paraphrasing the title. (1 line)
Overall comment on the whole picture. (1 line) It should be around 40-45 words. |
| Paragraph 2 | The details of the picture. All the necessary data should be here.
It should be around 80-100 words. |
| Paragraph 3 | Here, a concluding statement can be written. Though, it is not necessary for all kinds of task 1 answers. But you must do this if you are short on words or if you want an excellent band.
It should have around 20-25 words. |
- 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.
