Academic Writing Task 1 · bar chart

Aid provided by six developed nations to developing countries 2008-2010: IELTS Writing Task 1 sample answer

An IELTS Writing Task 1 bar chart question with a Band 8 sample answer, the chart redrawn with its data, the vocabulary that lifts the report and how to write about bar charts.
  • 199 words
  • Bar charts
  • Academic
  • 20 minutes

The question

The chart below shows the aid from six developed countries to developing countries from 2008-2010.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.

Aid from six developed countries to developing countries (2008-2010) ($ billion)
0510152025USGermanyUKJapanNetherlandsSweden
  • 2008
  • 2009
  • 2010
View the data
USGermanyUKJapanNetherlandsSweden
20082210121277
20092014111098
20102515131187

Chart redrawn by BandLadder from the data in the original IELTS practice task. Many IELTS practice tasks come from the Cambridge IELTS series (Cambridge University Press & Assessment); all rights in the original tasks remain with their owners.

Model answer

Band 8 sample answer

Band 8199 words. Every figure in the answer comes from the chart above.

The bar chart illustrates the amount of financial aid provided by six developed countries to developing nations between 2008 and 2010, measured in billions of dollars.

Overall, the United States remained the largest donor throughout the three-year period, despite some fluctuations. Conversely, the Netherlands and Sweden consistently provided the lowest levels of aid among the countries surveyed.

The US contributed $22 billion in 2008, which dipped to $20 billion in 2009 before rising to a peak of $25 billion in 2010. Germany showed a different trend, starting at $10 billion in 2008 and increasing steadily to $14 billion and $15 billion in the subsequent two years. The UK and Japan both experienced a slight decline between 2008 and 2009, with the UK falling from $12 billion to $11 billion and Japan from $12 billion to $10 billion, before both saw a recovery in 2010 to $13 billion and $11 billion respectively.

Regarding the smaller contributors, the Netherlands increased its aid from $7 billion in 2008 to $9 billion in 2009, before dropping back to $8 billion in 2010. Sweden followed a similar pattern, rising from $7 billion to $8 billion in 2009, then returning to $7 billion in 2010.

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Bar charts

How to write about bar charts: tips and vocabulary

  • →Compare the biggest and smallest bars before anything else.
  • →If the bars show years, describe change; if they show places, describe rank.
  • →Round sensibly and say 'just over' or 'nearly' rather than guessing decimals.
  • fluctuations

    irregular rising and falling in number or amount

  • consistently

    acting or done in the same way over time

  • dipped

    a slight or temporary decrease in a value

  • subsequent

    coming after something in time or order

  • recovery

    a return to a normal state of health

  • contributor

    a person or thing that gives something

Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?+

The US consistently provided the highest amount of aid throughout the period, while the Netherlands and Sweden remained the smallest contributors among the six nations.

How many words and how long for IELTS Writing Task 1?+

At least 150 words; 170 to 200 is the safe range. Spend about 20 minutes on it and leave 40 for Task 2, which carries twice the marks.

How is IELTS Writing Task 1 scored?+

On four criteria: task achievement, coherence and cohesion, vocabulary, and grammatical range and accuracy. A clear overview of the main features is what most separates Band 6 from Band 7 and above.

How do I describe bar charts?+

Compare the biggest and smallest bars before anything else. If the bars show years, describe change; if they show places, describe rank. Round sensibly and say 'just over' or 'nearly' rather than guessing decimals.

Keep practising

More bar charts

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