Academic Writing Task 1 · bar chart

Science qualification levels held by people in Malaysia and Singapore: 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.
  • 189 words
  • Bar charts
  • Academic
  • 20 minutes

The question

The chart below gives information about science qualifications held by people in two countries.

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

Science qualification in two countries (%)
020406080100Master's degreeBachelor's degreeSchool leaving examsNo qualification in sci…
  • Malaysia
  • Singapore
View the data
Master's degreeBachelor's degreeSchool leaving examsNo qualification in science
Malaysia0103565
Singapore0203060

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 bar chart illustrates the distribution of science qualifications among the populations of Malaysia and Singapore. Overall, it is evident that the largest proportion of individuals in both countries possesses no science qualification, whereas higher-level degrees are significantly less common.

Regarding the lack of formal science education, 65% of Malaysians hold no qualification, a figure slightly higher than the 60% recorded in Singapore. Conversely, when examining school leaving exams, Malaysia reports a higher percentage at 35%, compared to 30% in Singapore. This suggests that while Singapore has a smaller share of people with basic school-level science, it performs better at the tertiary level.

In terms of higher education, Singapore demonstrates a clear advantage. Specifically, 20% of the Singaporean population holds a Bachelor’s degree, which is double the 10% reported for Malaysia. Interestingly, the chart indicates that neither country has a measurable percentage of the population holding a Master’s degree in science, as both values appear to be at zero. In summary, Singapore shows a stronger tendency towards higher academic attainment in science, while Malaysia has a larger proportion of its population with only school-level qualifications or none at all.

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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.
  • distribution

    the way in which something is shared or spread

  • proportion

    a part or share of a total amount

  • conversely

    in a way that is the opposite

  • attainment

    the action or fact of achieving a goal

  • measurable

    able to be quantified or seen clearly

  • counterparts

    people or things that correspond to another

Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?+

Overall, the majority of people in both nations lack science qualifications, while Singaporeans are more likely to hold higher academic degrees than their Malaysian counterparts.

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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