Academic Writing Task 1 · bar chart

Reliability of Print and Non-Print Academic Materials at Three Universities: 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 following graphs depict the reliability of print and non-print academic materials as voiced by undergraduates and postgraduates at 3 different British universities.

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

Print (%)
020406080100University of OxfordUniversity of CambridgeUniversity of Leeds
  • Under-graduates
  • Post-graduates
View the data
University of OxfordUniversity of CambridgeUniversity of Leeds
Under-graduates807580
Post-graduates908895
Non Print (%)
020406080100University of OxfordUniversity of CambridgeUniversity of Leeds
  • Under-graduates
  • Post-graduates
View the data
University of OxfordUniversity of CambridgeUniversity of Leeds
Under-graduates586260
Post-graduates505248

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 charts illustrate the perceived reliability of print and non-print academic resources among undergraduates and post-graduates at the universities of Oxford, Cambridge, and Leeds. Overall, print materials are viewed as more reliable than non-print alternatives by both student groups, with post-graduates showing a stronger preference for print media.

Regarding print materials, post-graduates report higher reliability levels than undergraduates at all three universities. The highest reliability score is recorded by post-graduates at the University of Leeds at 95%, followed by Oxford at 90% and Cambridge at 88%. Conversely, undergraduates report lower figures, ranging from 75% at Cambridge to 80% at both Oxford and Leeds.

In contrast, the trends for non-print materials are reversed. Undergraduates consistently rate these resources as more reliable than their post-graduate counterparts. Undergraduates at Cambridge express the highest confidence in non-print materials at 62%, while those at Oxford and Leeds report 58% and 60% respectively. Post-graduates show lower confidence levels, with scores of 50% at Oxford, 52% at Cambridge, and a low of 48% at the University of Leeds. Overall, print media remains the preferred source of reliable information for all students surveyed.

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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.
  • consistently

    occurring in the same way over a period

  • conversely

    introducing a statement that reverses a previous one

  • illustrate

    to provide a visual representation of data

  • perceived

    interpreted or regarded in a particular way

  • alternatives

    one of two or more available possibilities

  • reversed

    turned the other way around or opposite

Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?+

Post-graduates consistently rate print materials as more reliable than undergraduates, whereas the reverse is true for non-print materials across all three institutions.

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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