Academic Writing Task 1 · bar chart

Annual GDP growth rates for Tunisia, Japan, and Ecuador 2007-2010: 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.
  • 178 words
  • Bar charts
  • Academic
  • 20 minutes

The question

The chart below shows the GDP growth per year for three countries between 2007 and 2010.

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

GDP Growth (annual %) (%)
02468102007200820092010
  • Tunisia
  • Japan
  • Ecuador
View the data
2007200820092010
Tunisia6.34.53.23
Japan24.25.36.5
Ecuador3.24.91.32.3

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 8178 words. Every figure in the answer comes from the chart above.

The bar chart illustrates the annual GDP growth percentages for Tunisia, Japan, and Ecuador between 2007 and 2010. Overall, the three nations exhibited divergent economic trajectories throughout the four-year period.

In 2007, Tunisia recorded the highest growth rate at 6.3%, significantly outperforming Japan and Ecuador, which stood at 2.0% and 3.2% respectively. However, Tunisia’s economic performance followed a downward trend, falling steadily to 4.5% in 2008, 3.2% in 2009, and reaching a low of 3.0% by 2010.

Conversely, Japan’s GDP growth demonstrated a robust upward trend. After starting at a modest 2.0% in 2007, the figure rose to 4.2% in 2008 and 5.3% in 2009, eventually peaking at 6.5% in 2010, the highest rate recorded by any country in the period. Ecuador’s growth was more volatile; it increased from 3.2% in 2007 to a peak of 4.9% in 2008, before plummeting sharply to 1.3% in 2009. By 2010, Ecuador’s growth rate showed a slight recovery, climbing back to 2.3%. In summary, Japan emerged as the strongest performer by the end of the period, while Tunisia’s growth consistently decelerated.

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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.
  • divergent

    developing or moving in different directions

  • trajectory

    the path or development of something over time

  • outperforming

    performing better than another person or thing

  • decelerated

    reduced the speed or rate of something

  • volatile

    liable to change rapidly and unpredictably

  • plummeting

    falling or dropping straight down at high speed

Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?+

While Tunisia experienced a consistent decline in GDP growth over the period, Japan saw a significant upward trend, and Ecuador's growth fluctuated considerably.

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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