Academic Writing Task 1 · pie chart

Percentage of water consumption for various purposes across six global regions: IELTS Writing Task 1 sample answer

An IELTS Writing Task 1 pie 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 pie charts.
  • 194 words
  • Pie charts
  • Academic
  • 20 minutes

The question

The charts below show the percentage of water used for different purposes in six areas of the world.

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

North America
  • Agricultural Use: 39
  • Domestic Use: 13
  • Industrial Use: 48
View the data
CategoryValue
Agricultural Use39
Domestic Use13
Industrial Use48
South America
  • Agricultural Use: 71
  • Domestic Use: 19
  • Industrial Use: 10
View the data
CategoryValue
Agricultural Use71
Domestic Use19
Industrial Use10
Europe
  • Agricultural Use: 32
  • Domestic Use: 15
  • Industrial Use: 53
View the data
CategoryValue
Agricultural Use32
Domestic Use15
Industrial Use53
Africa
  • Agricultural Use: 84
  • Domestic Use: 9
  • Industrial Use: 7
View the data
CategoryValue
Agricultural Use84
Domestic Use9
Industrial Use7
Central Asia
  • Agricultural Use: 88
  • Domestic Use: 7
  • Industrial Use: 5
View the data
CategoryValue
Agricultural Use88
Domestic Use7
Industrial Use5
South East Asia
  • Agricultural Use: 81
  • Domestic Use: 7
  • Industrial Use: 12
View the data
CategoryValue
Agricultural Use81
Domestic Use7
Industrial Use12

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 provided pie charts illustrate the distribution of water consumption across three sectors—agriculture, industry, and domestic use—in six distinct global regions. Overall, it is evident that agriculture accounts for the largest proportion of water usage in the majority of the regions, while industrial demand is notably higher in North America and Europe than elsewhere.

In Africa, Central Asia, and South East Asia, agricultural activities are the primary consumers of water, representing 84%, 88%, and 81% of total usage, respectively. In these regions, domestic and industrial requirements remain relatively low, with industrial use peaking at only 12% in South East Asia. Similarly, South America relies heavily on agriculture for 71% of its water, though it records a higher domestic usage of 19% compared to the other three regions.

Conversely, North America and Europe exhibit a different pattern, where industrial use is the most significant factor. In North America, industrial consumption stands at 48%, closely followed by agriculture at 39%. Europe shows a similar trend, with industrial use reaching 53%, while agricultural and domestic sectors account for 32% and 15% respectively. Across all six regions, domestic water consumption remains the smallest category, consistently staying below 20%.

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Pie charts

How to write about pie charts: tips and vocabulary

  • →Name the largest and smallest shares in the overview.
  • →Use proportion language: a quarter, just under half, the majority.
  • →With two pies, compare the same slice across both.
  • account for

    to make up a specific portion or share

  • dominant

    having the most influence or the largest share

  • notably

    in a way that is worthy of attention

  • exhibit

    to show or display a particular pattern

  • proportion

    a part or share in relation to whole

  • consistently

    in a way that does not change much

Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?+

Agricultural use is the dominant water consumer in most regions, whereas industrial use is significantly higher in North America and Europe compared to other areas.

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 pie charts?+

Name the largest and smallest shares in the overview. Use proportion language: a quarter, just under half, the majority. With two pies, compare the same slice across both.

Keep practising

More pie charts

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