Writing Task 1: Bar Chart: IELTS Academic 9990 (IELTS Academic)
Syllabus W.task1 · Strand 3 Writing
- Questions
- 10
- Total marks
- 40
- Tier mix
- 10 Core
0 of 10 questions completed
Syllabus coverage
- W.task1 10 questions completed
Bar-chart questions typically compare categories (countries, age groups, products) at one point in time, or compare the same categories across two or more time periods, and require the same report format and word count as all Task 1 tasks. Since a bar chart usually has too many individual values to describe one by one within 150–200 words, the key skill is grouping bars into meaningful comparisons (the highest and lowest categories, categories that are roughly similar, and any clear pattern across the whole set) rather than working through the chart bar-by-bar in the order given.
A clear overview naming the two or three most notable comparisons, followed by body paragraphs that group related categories together with specific supporting figures, produces a far more coherent report than a sequential list of every value. Accurate comparative and superlative language (“nearly twice as many,” “the lowest of all six categories”) is essential for conveying these comparisons precisely.
Question 1
The chart below shows the average monthly household spending in Denmark and Portugal in 2024, broken down by category, as a percentage of total household spending. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.
| Spending category | Denmark (%) | Portugal (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Housing & utilities | 32 | 24 |
| Food & drink | 15 | 20 |
| Transport | 13 | 15 |
| Leisure & culture | 14 | 10 |
| Education | 4 | 6 |
| Other | 22 | 25 |
The bar chart is a grouped bar chart with six spending categories on the horizontal axis and one bar per country for each category, with the percentage of total household spending shown on the vertical axis.
Question 2
The chart below shows the percentage of adults in three age groups who took part in five leisure activities at least once a week in Bregonia in 2023. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.
| Activity | 18–34 (%) | 35–54 (%) | 55+ (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Running/jogging | 34 | 22 | 9 |
| Cycling | 28 | 26 | 19 |
| Team sports | 31 | 14 | 3 |
| Swimming | 15 | 18 | 21 |
| Yoga/pilates | 12 | 17 | 14 |
The bar chart is a grouped bar chart with the five activities on the horizontal axis and one bar per age group for each activity, with the percentage of adults participating at least weekly shown on the vertical axis.
Question 3
The chart below shows the percentage of electricity generated from four different sources in South Korea, Poland and Norway in 2024. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.
| Source | South Korea (%) | Poland (%) | Norway (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coal | 33 | 62 | 0 |
| Natural gas | 27 | 8 | 1 |
| Nuclear power | 29 | 0 | 0 |
| Renewables | 11 | 30 | 99 |
The bar chart is a grouped bar chart with the four electricity sources on the horizontal axis and one bar per country for each source, with the percentage of total electricity generated shown on the vertical axis; figures for each country sum to 100%.
Question 4
The chart below shows the percentage of commuters using five different modes of transport to travel to work in Melbourne, Utrecht and Nairobi in 2024. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.
| Mode of transport | Melbourne (%) | Utrecht (%) | Nairobi (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Car | 58 | 22 | 18 |
| Bus/minibus | 14 | 6 | 47 |
| Train/metro | 16 | 10 | 3 |
| Bicycle | 4 | 52 | 5 |
| Walking | 8 | 10 | 27 |
The bar chart is a grouped bar chart with the five transport modes on the horizontal axis and one bar per city for each mode, with the percentage of commuters shown on the vertical axis; figures for each city sum to 100%.
Question 5
The chart below shows the percentage of household waste that was recycled, by material type, in Astencia in 2015 and 2024. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.
| Material | 2015 (%) | 2024 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Paper & cardboard | 61 | 74 |
| Glass | 55 | 68 |
| Metal | 48 | 71 |
| Plastic | 19 | 33 |
| Organic/food waste | 12 | 41 |
The bar chart is a grouped bar chart with the five material types on the horizontal axis and one bar per year for each material, with the percentage of household waste recycled shown on the vertical axis.
Question 6
The bar chart below shows the number of students who studied five foreign languages at Elmsworth Secondary School in 2015 and in 2025. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
The chart has two bars for each language, one for 2015 and one for 2025, with the number of students on the vertical axis.
| Language | Students in 2015 | Students in 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| French | 240 | 130 |
| Spanish | 90 | 310 |
| German | 150 | 60 |
| Mandarin | 40 | 170 |
| Japanese | 20 | 75 |
Write at least 150 words.
Question 7
The bar chart below shows the main reason given by adults in three age groups for their most recent trip away from home, based on a survey of 500 residents of the town of Fairbridge. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
The chart has five reason categories on the horizontal axis, each with three bars showing the percentage of each age group who gave that reason.
| Main reason for trip | 18-34 (%) | 35-59 (%) | 60+ (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Work or business | 38 | 45 | 8 |
| Visiting family | 22 | 20 | 35 |
| Holiday or leisure | 30 | 27 | 48 |
| Study | 8 | 2 | 1 |
| Other | 2 | 6 | 8 |
Write at least 150 words.
Question 8
The bar chart below shows the average number of hours per day that people in five age groups spent using the internet, on weekdays and at weekends, based on a national digital-habits survey. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Each age group has two bars, one for average weekday hours and one for average weekend hours.
| Age group | Weekday (hours) | Weekend (hours) |
|---|---|---|
| 13-17 | 4.2 | 6.5 |
| 18-24 | 5.8 | 7.1 |
| 25-40 | 3.9 | 4.8 |
| 41-60 | 2.1 | 2.9 |
| 61+ | 1.0 | 1.3 |
Write at least 150 words.
Question 9
The bar chart below shows average weekly household consumption, in kilograms, of four food types in Denmark, Vietnam and Kenya, based on national household-expenditure surveys. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Each food type has three bars, one for each country, showing kilograms consumed per household per week.
| Food type | Denmark (kg/week) | Vietnam (kg/week) | Kenya (kg/week) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meat | 2.8 | 1.6 | 0.9 |
| Vegetables | 3.5 | 5.2 | 4.1 |
| Grains | 2.1 | 6.8 | 5.5 |
| Dairy | 4.6 | 0.7 | 1.2 |
Write at least 150 words.
Question 10
The bar chart below shows the percentage of the workforce employed in agriculture, industry and services in four regions of the country of Valdoria, based on the most recent national labour-force survey. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Each region has three bars, one per sector, and the three percentages for each region add up to 100%.
| Region | Agriculture (%) | Industry (%) | Services (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern | 42 | 31 | 27 |
| Coastal | 8 | 24 | 68 |
| Central | 35 | 40 | 25 |
| Southern | 55 | 15 | 30 |
Write at least 150 words.