Academic Writing Task 1 · bar chart

Average hours of housework performed by different employment groups over time: 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 bar chart below shows the average hours of housework done by women (unemployed, part-time employed, and full-time employed) and full-time working men.

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

Time spent by people on housework (hours)
0246810198519952005
  • Women with no employment
  • Women with part time employment
  • Women with full time employment
  • Men with full time employment
View the data
198519952005
Women with no employment76.57
Women with part time employment5.556
Women with full time employment21.52.5
Men with full time employment111.5

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 average number of hours spent on housework by four distinct groups: unemployed women, women in part-time employment, women in full-time employment, and men in full-time employment, across the years 1985, 1995, and 2005.

Overall, it is evident that women consistently performed more housework than their male counterparts. Furthermore, while there were fluctuations in the time spent by each group, unemployed women consistently recorded the highest figures, whereas full-time working men consistently spent the least amount of time on domestic chores.

In 1985, unemployed women spent 7 hours on housework, which slightly decreased to 6.5 hours in 1995 before returning to 7 hours in 2005. Similarly, women in part-time employment spent 5.5 hours in 1985, dipping to 5 hours in 1995, and rising to 6 hours by 2005.

Regarding those in full-time employment, women spent 2 hours on housework in 1985, which fell to 1.5 hours in 1995, before reaching a peak of 2.5 hours in 2005. Men in full-time employment spent the least time, remaining steady at 1 hour in both 1985 and 1995, before experiencing a slight increase to 1.5 hours in 2005.

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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.
  • fluctuating

    changing frequently in an irregular or uncertain way

  • counterparts

    people or things that have the same function

  • dipping

    a slight or temporary decrease in a value

  • peak

    the highest point or value reached over time

  • steady

    remaining at a constant level without much change

  • distinct

    clearly different or belonging to a different category

Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?+

Overall, women consistently spent more time on housework than men, with unemployed women dedicating the most hours, while all groups showed fluctuating trends over the two decades.

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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