Feature Film Releases by Genre

The question

How to approach this bar chart question

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.

1. Name the chart, the units and the time or places it covers in one sentence (paraphrase the question).
2. Write an overview: the largest and smallest categories, or the main change over time.
3. Group the bars into two body paragraphs by similarity, not one by one.
4. Quote the key numbers only, with units, and compare them.

How to plan this answer

Structure

1. Introduction: paraphrase the chart. Feature films released in Country A in four genres, comparing 2015 and 2025.
2. Overview: Drama was the largest genre in both years, Comedy was the only genre to fall, and Action showed the biggest rise.
3. Body 1: Drama (88 rising to 96) and Comedy (64 falling to 49), with the 2015 and 2025 figures for each.
4. Body 2: Action (41 rising to 73, overtaking Comedy) and Horror (22 rising to 37, still the lowest in 2025).
5. Optional closing sentence on the overall total, which rose from 215 to 255 films.

Key features to spot

• Drama was the most common genre in both years, rising from 88 films to 96.
• Comedy was the only genre to decline, falling from 64 films to 49, a drop of 15.
• Action rose by 32 films, from 41 to 73, moving from third place to second and overtaking Comedy.
• Horror was the smallest genre in both years but still grew from 22 films to 37.
• The combined total of the four genres rose from 215 films in 2015 to 255 in 2025.

Useful vocabulary

• the most popular genre: Drama remained the most popular genre in both years.
• was the only genre to decline: Comedy was the only genre to decline, falling from 64 to 49 films.
• rose by 32 films: Action rose by 32 films between 2015 and 2025.
• overtook: By 2025 Action had overtaken Comedy as the second most common genre.
• edged up: Drama edged up from 88 to 96 films, a relatively small change.
• climbed from third place to second: Action climbed from third place to second in the ranking.
• a combined total of: The four genres had a combined total of 255 films in 2025.
• remained the smallest category: Horror remained the smallest category, although it grew to 37 films.
• in contrast: Action grew strongly; in contrast, Comedy fell sharply.
• fell by 15 films: Comedy fell by 15 films over the decade.

Common mistakes

• Saying Action doubled. 41 to 73 is a rise of about 78 per cent, so describe it as nearly doubling or give the exact change.
• Describing Drama's rise as significant. An increase of 8 films is small, so use words such as edged up or rose slightly.
• Ranking Comedy above Action in 2025. Action (73) is clearly ahead of Comedy (49) in that year.
• Giving only 2025 figures when comparing genres. The task asks for comparisons over time, so quote both years.
• Explaining why Comedy fell, for example by linking it to streaming. The task asks for no speculation about causes.

Examiner tip: Group the four genres by trend, such as the two rises and the one fall, and quote both the 2015 and 2025 figures for each genre.