Academic Writing Task 1 · bar chart

Comparison of actual and predicted population growth in three major cities: 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.
  • 194 words
  • Bar charts
  • Academic
  • 20 minutes

The question

The chart shows information about the actual and expected figures of the population in three cities, Jakarta, Sao Paulo, and Shanghai.

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

Population size (1990 - 2000) (millions)
0510152025JakartaShanghaiSao Paulo
  • 1990
  • 2000 in prediction
  • 2000 actual figures
View the data
JakartaShanghaiSao Paulo
19908.51217
2000 in prediction111121.5
2000 actual figures12.51524

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 8194 words. Every figure in the answer comes from the chart above.

The bar chart illustrates the population data for Jakarta, Shanghai, and Sao Paulo, comparing 1990 figures with both the predicted and actual population counts for the year 2000.

Overall, all three cities experienced population growth between 1990 and 2000, with actual figures consistently exceeding the initial predictions in every case. Sao Paulo remained the most populous city throughout the period, while Shanghai showed the most significant deviation from its predicted growth.

In 1990, Sao Paulo had a population of 17 million, which was projected to reach 21.5 million by 2000; however, the actual figure was higher at 24 million. Similarly, Shanghai started with 12 million people in 1990. Interestingly, its population was predicted to decline to 11 million by 2000, but it actually grew to 15 million, representing a substantial increase rather than the expected contraction.

Jakarta, which had the smallest population of the three at 8.5 million in 1990, was predicted to reach 11 million by 2000. The actual population surpassed this estimate, reaching 12.5 million. In summary, while all cities saw their populations rise, the actual growth in each location significantly outperformed the initial forecasts made for the turn of the millennium.

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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.
  • surpassed

    to be greater than or exceed a limit

  • deviation

    the difference between an actual and expected value

  • contraction

    a process of becoming smaller in size

  • outperformed

    to perform better or higher than expected

  • forecasts

    predictions about future events or trends

  • consistently

    acting or happening in the same way repeatedly

Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?+

Overall, all three cities experienced population growth between 1990 and 2000, with actual figures consistently exceeding the initial predictions in every case.

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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