Academic Writing Task 1 · pie chart

Proportions of Canadian adults based on their personal car ownership levels: 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.
  • 189 words
  • Pie charts
  • Academic
  • 20 minutes

The question

The chart below shows the proportions of adults in Canada who own one car, two cars, or more than two cars, or who do not own a car.

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

Car ownership in Canada
  • One car: 55
  • Two cars: 25
  • No car: 15
  • More than two cars: 5
View the data
CategoryValue
One car55
Two cars25
No car15
More than two cars5

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 8189 words. Every figure in the answer comes from the chart above.

The pie chart illustrates the distribution of car ownership among adults in Canada, categorised into four groups: those who own no car, one car, two cars, or more than two cars.

Overall, it is evident that car ownership is highly prevalent in Canada, as the combined proportion of individuals owning one or more vehicles accounts for the vast majority of the population. Owning a single car is the most common scenario, while households with more than two vehicles represent a very small minority.

Specifically, more than half of the Canadian adult population, at 55%, own exactly one car. This is followed by a quarter of the population (25%) who possess two cars. In contrast, those who do not own any vehicle make up 15% of the total. The smallest segment consists of individuals who own more than two cars, accounting for only 5% of the population.

In summary, the data highlights a clear preference for single-vehicle ownership among Canadians, with a significant disparity between those owning one or two cars and the small minority who either own no vehicle or possess a larger fleet of more than two cars.

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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.
  • prevalent

    widespread in a particular area at a particular time

  • distribution

    the way in which something is shared among people

  • segment

    each of the parts into which something is divided

  • disparity

    a great difference between two or more things

  • account for

    to make up a particular amount or proportion

  • minority

    the smaller number or part of a whole group

Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?+

The vast majority of Canadian adults own at least one vehicle, with over half of the population owning exactly one car.

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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