Academic Writing Task 1 · mixed chart

Book borrowing trends and categories across four village libraries in 2014: IELTS Writing Task 1 sample answer

An IELTS Writing Task 1 mixed 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 mixed charts.
  • 184 words
  • Mixed charts
  • Academic
  • 20 minutes
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The question

The line graph shows the number of books that were borrowed in four different months in 2014 from four village libraries, and the pie chart shows the percentage of books, by type, that were borrowed over this time.

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

Number of books borrowed from four village libraries (number of books)
0100200300400500JuneJulyAugustSeptember
  • West Eaton
  • Ryeslip
  • Sutton Wood
  • Church Mount
View the data
JuneJulyAugustSeptember
West Eaton50115150150
Ryeslip300255215175
Sutton Wood250275100300
Church Mount50100125150
Types of Book Borrowed (%)
  • Self-Help: 10%
  • Fiction: 43%
  • History: 14%
  • Science: 14%
  • Biography: 19%
View the data
CategoryValue (%)
Self-Help10
Fiction43
History14
Science14
Biography19

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 8184 words. Every figure in the answer comes from the chart above.

The line graph illustrates the number of books borrowed from four village libraries between June and September 2014, while the pie chart categorises these borrowings by genre.

Overall, fiction was the most popular book type, accounting for 43% of all borrowings. In terms of library performance, Ryeslip saw a consistent downward trend, whereas West Eaton and Church Mount experienced growth, and Sutton Wood showed significant volatility.

Regarding the libraries, Ryeslip began as the most popular, with 300 books borrowed in June, but this figure fell steadily to 175 by September. Conversely, West Eaton and Church Mount both started at 50 books in June and followed an upward trajectory, reaching 150 books each by September. Sutton Wood displayed the most erratic pattern; after rising from 250 in June to 275 in July, borrowing plummeted to 100 in August before surging to 300 in September.

As for book types, fiction dominated the market at 43%. Biographies were the second most popular category at 19%, followed by history and science, which both stood at 14%. Self-help books were the least borrowed, representing only 10% of the total.

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Mixed charts

How to write about mixed charts: tips and vocabulary

  • →Write one overview sentence that links the two visuals.
  • →Give each visual its own detail paragraph.
  • →Point out where one chart explains the other.

  • downward trend

    a steady decrease in values over a period

  • upward trajectory

    a path showing a consistent increase in numbers

  • erratic

    unpredictable patterns that change frequently without clear direction

  • dominated

    to have the largest share or proportion overall

  • surging

    a sudden and powerful increase in a value

  • volatility

    the tendency of data to change rapidly and unpredictably

Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?+

While fiction was the most popular genre overall, borrowing trends for the four libraries showed significant variation, with Ryeslip experiencing a steady decline while others fluctuated or grew.

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 mixed charts?+

Write one overview sentence that links the two visuals. Give each visual its own detail paragraph. Point out where one chart explains the other.

Keep practising

More mixed charts

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