Academic Writing Task 1 · bar chart

Frequency of eating at fast food restaurants in the USA 2003-2013: 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.
  • 207 words
  • Bar charts
  • Academic
  • 20 minutes

The question

The chart below shows how frequently people in the USA ate in fast food restaurants between 2003 and 2013.

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

Frequency of eating at fast food restaurants among people in the USA (2003–2013) (%)
01020304050Every daySeveral times a weekOnce a weekOnce or twice a monthA few times a yearNever
  • 2003
  • 2006
  • 2013
View the data
Every daySeveral times a weekOnce a weekOnce or twice a monthA few times a yearNever
20034173130135
20063203325154
20133162833154

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 8207 words. Every figure in the answer comes from the chart above.

The bar chart illustrates the frequency with which individuals in the USA visited fast food restaurants over a decade, spanning from 2003 to 2013.

Overall, the majority of Americans consumed fast food at least once a week or once a month throughout the period, with the most significant fluctuations occurring in the 'once a week' and 'once or twice a month' categories.

In 2003, 31% of people ate fast food once a week, a figure that peaked at 33% in 2006 before declining to 28% by 2013. Conversely, the proportion of those eating at these establishments once or twice a month stood at 30% in 2003, dipped to 25% in 2006, and subsequently rose to 33% in 2013, making it the most common frequency by the end of the period.

Regarding other categories, the percentage of people eating fast food several times a week fluctuated, starting at 17%, rising to 20% in 2006, and falling to 16% in 2013. Meanwhile, those who visited a few times a year saw a steady increase from 13% in 2003 to 15% in both 2006 and 2013. Daily consumption and never eating fast food remained the least popular options, consistently accounting for 5% or less of the population throughout the decade.

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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 numbers or amounts

  • proportion

    a part, share, or number considered in comparative

  • conversely

    introducing a statement that reverses a previous one

  • peaked

    reached the highest point of a numerical value

  • subsequently

    happening after something else in a time sequence

  • consistently

    acting or done in the same way over time

Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?+

Overall, the majority of Americans consumed fast food at least once a week or once a month throughout the period, with the most significant fluctuations occurring in the 'once a week' and 'once or twice a month' categories.

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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