Academic Writing Task 1 · bar chart

Average Daily Calorie Intake Across Eight Different Countries in 2003: 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.
  • 180 words
  • Bar charts
  • Academic
  • 20 minutes

The question

The graph below shows the average calorie intake per person in eight countries in 2003.

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

Average calorie Intake in 2003 (calories)
01,0002,0003,0004,0005,000United StatesIndiaNew ZealandSomaliaChinaSpainMexicoIndonesia
View the data
United StatesIndiaNew ZealandSomaliaChinaSpainMexicoIndonesia
Average calorie Intake3,4002,0003,3001,9002,1002,6002,5001,700

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 8180 words. Every figure in the answer comes from the chart above.

The bar chart illustrates the average daily calorie intake per person across eight distinct nations in 2003. Overall, it is evident that there is a significant disparity in nutritional consumption between the countries, with Western nations generally exhibiting higher figures compared to those in Asia and Africa.

The United States led the group with the highest intake at 3,400 calories, closely followed by New Zealand, where the average was 3,300 calories. In contrast, Indonesia recorded the lowest consumption at 1,700 calories, which was slightly less than the 1,900 calories consumed by individuals in Somalia. These figures highlight a substantial gap between the highest and lowest consumers.

Regarding the remaining countries, Spain and Mexico showed moderate levels of intake, with 2,600 and 2,500 calories respectively. Meanwhile, China and India displayed relatively similar consumption patterns, with average intakes of 2,100 and 2,000 calories per person. Overall, the data indicates that while some nations maintained a high caloric intake, others remained significantly below the 2,000-calorie threshold, reflecting a clear divide in average dietary energy supply across the selected regions during the year 2003.

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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.
  • disparity

    a great difference between two or more things

  • exhibiting

    to show or display a particular quality

  • consumption

    the amount of something that is used

  • threshold

    a point of entry or beginning level

  • substantial

    of considerable importance, size, or worth

  • illustrates

    to provide a visual representation of data

Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?+

The United States and New Zealand recorded the highest calorie consumption, while Indonesia and Somalia reported the lowest levels among the countries surveyed.

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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