Academic Writing Task 1 · bar chart

Road transport and commuting habits across several European countries: 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.
  • 182 words
  • Bar charts
  • Academic
  • 20 minutes

The question

The bar charts below give information on road transport in a number of European countries.

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

Travel per person by car (kilometres per year)
04,0008,00012,00016,00020,000DenmarkFranceItalyUnited KingdomGermanySpainEU Average
View the data
DenmarkFranceItalyUnited KingdomGermanySpainEU Average
Travel per person by car12,50012,00011,00010,5008,7008,50010,000
Travel per person by bus, train, metro and bike (kilometres per year)
01,0002,0003,0004,0005,000DenmarkFranceItalyUnited KingdomGermanySpainEU Average
View the data
DenmarkFranceItalyUnited KingdomGermanySpainEU Average
Travel per person by bus, train, metro and bike3,0001,0001,8009501,1501,2001,200
Commuting time (all modes, both ways) (minutes per day)
01020304050DenmarkFranceItalyUnited KingdomGermanySpainEU Average
View the data
DenmarkFranceItalyUnited KingdomGermanySpainEU Average
Commuting time (all modes, both ways)38352147463131

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 8182 words. Every figure in the answer comes from the chart above.

The provided bar charts illustrate road transport statistics and daily commuting durations across six European nations compared to the EU average. Overall, Denmark stands out for its high travel distances across all modes, whereas the United Kingdom and Germany report the most significant time spent commuting.

Regarding car travel, Denmark leads with 12,500 kilometres per year, followed closely by France at 12,000 kilometres. Conversely, Spain and Germany record the lowest figures, at 8,500 and 8,700 kilometres respectively, both falling below the EU average of 10,000 kilometres. In terms of public transport and cycling, Denmark again dominates with 3,000 kilometres per year, significantly higher than the EU average of 1,200 kilometres. The United Kingdom and France show the lowest usage in this category, both under 1,000 kilometres.

In terms of daily commuting, the United Kingdom and Germany experience the longest durations, at 47 and 46 minutes respectively. Italy reports the shortest commuting time at 21 minutes, which is notably lower than the EU average of 31 minutes. While Denmark has high travel distances, its commuting time remains moderate at 38 minutes per day.

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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.
  • dominates

    has a commanding influence or the highest value

  • conversely

    introducing a statement that reverses the previous one

  • notably

    in a way that is worthy of attention

  • significant

    sufficiently great to be worthy of attention

  • illustrate

    provide a visual representation of data or facts

  • moderate

    average in amount, intensity, or degree

Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?+

Denmark records the highest travel distances for both car and public transport, while the United Kingdom and Germany experience the longest daily commuting times.

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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