Academic Writing Task 1 · bar chart

Percentage of households with car ownership in a European country 1971-2001: 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.
  • 186 words
  • Bar charts
  • Academic
  • 20 minutes

The question

The chart below shows the changes in the percentage of households with cars in one European country between 1971 and 2001.

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

Car ownership (1971-2001) (%)
010203040501971198119912001
  • No car
  • One car
  • Two car
View the data
1971198119912001
No car49423030
One car35321943
Two car18292131

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 8186 words. Every figure in the answer comes from the chart above.

The bar chart illustrates the shifts in car ownership percentages among households in a European nation between 1971 and 2001. Overall, the data indicates a clear trend towards increased vehicle ownership, as the proportion of households without a car declined substantially, while those with one or more cars became more common.

In 1971, the majority of households, at 49%, did not own a car. This figure steadily decreased to 42% in 1981 and dropped further to 30% by 1991, remaining at this level in 2001. Conversely, ownership of one car stood at 35% in 1971, fluctuated slightly to 32% in 1981, dipped to 19% in 1991, before surging to a peak of 43% by the end of the period.

Regarding households with two cars, the percentage rose from 18% in 1971 to 29% in 1981. Although there was a minor decline to 21% in 1991, this figure rebounded to 31% by 2001. In summary, while the 'no car' category saw a consistent downward trend, the ownership of one or two vehicles experienced growth, reflecting a broader societal shift towards higher car dependency over these three decades.

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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.
  • proportion

    a part, share, or number considered in comparative relation

  • fluctuated

    rose and fell irregularly in number or amount

  • surging

    increasing suddenly and powerfully in a short time

  • rebounded

    recovered or rose again after a previous decline

  • downward trend

    a general direction in which something is decreasing

  • substantially

    to a great or significant extent in amount

Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?+

Overall, the proportion of households with no car decreased significantly over the period, while the percentage of households owning one or two cars generally increased, despite some fluctuations.

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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