IELTS Bar Chart Writing Task 1 Practice
A bar chart compares categories or shows change between points in time. Write an overview of the biggest differences, then compare the highest, lowest and any surprise.
How to approach it
- Name the chart, the units and the time or places it covers in one sentence (paraphrase the question).
- Write an overview: the largest and smallest categories, or the main change over time.
- Group the bars into two body paragraphs by similarity, not one by one.
- Quote the key numbers only, with units, and compare them.
13 practice questions
Smartphone Usage by Age Group
The bar chart below shows the percentage of people in six age groups who used a smartphone every day in 2023. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting …
TechnologyRice Consumption in Four Countries
The bar chart below shows the average annual rice consumption per person in four countries in 2010 and 2020. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main …
FoodAverage Weekly Hours in Four Sectors
The bar chart below shows the average number of hours worked per week in four sectors of an economy in 1995, 2010 and 2025. Summarise the information by …
WorkBurglaries in Five Districts
The bar chart below shows the number of burglaries per 1,000 households in five districts of a city in 2023. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the …
CrimeJournal Articles by Field in Three Countries
The bar chart below shows the number of journal articles published in four scientific fields by three countries in 2024. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the …
SciencePupils per Teacher in Five Countries
The bar chart below shows the average number of pupils per teacher in primary schools in five countries in 2024. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the …
EducationSavings Rates by Household Income Group
The bar chart below shows the share of income saved by households in five income groups in 2015 and 2025. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the …
EconomyMarathon Finishers by Age Group
The bar chart below shows the number of marathon finishers in each age group in Country A in 2015 and 2025. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting …
SportSugar Tax Revenue in Four Countries
The bar chart below shows the revenue raised from taxes on sugary drinks in four countries in 2019 and 2024. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the …
GovernmentApprenticeship Starts by Sector
The bar chart below shows the number of apprenticeship starts in six sectors in Country B in 2015 and 2025. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the …
WorkFeature Film Releases by Genre
The bar chart below shows the number of feature films released in Country A in four genres in 2015 and 2025. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting …
MediaChildren Walking or Cycling to School
The bar chart below shows the percentage of primary school pupils who walked or cycled to school in five countries in 2010 and 2024. Summarise the information by …
EducationIELTS Academic Writing Task 1: Bar Chart Analysis - Factors Influencing University Choice
The bar chart below illustrates the main reasons why undergraduate students chose a particular university in 2023. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and …
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