Academic Writing Task 1 · bar chart

Average Monthly Temperature and Rainfall in the City of Kolkata: 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.
  • 181 words
  • Bar charts
  • Academic
  • 20 minutes

The question

The climograph below shows average monthly temperatures and rainfall in the city of Kolkata.

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

Monthly Temperature and Precipitation (mm and °C)
0100200300400500JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
  • Precipitation
  • Temperature
View the data
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Precipitation202535501002553403302901502010
Temperature2024273031.530292828272521

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 8181 words. Every figure in the answer comes from the chart above.

The climograph illustrates the average monthly temperature and precipitation levels in Kolkata. Overall, the city exhibits a tropical climate characterised by a significant monsoon period and consistently high temperatures.

Temperature trends show a gradual rise from 20°C in January to a peak of 31.5°C in May. Following this, temperatures decline steadily, with a slight plateau at 28°C during August and September, before dropping to 21°C by December. Throughout the year, the temperature never falls below 20°C, indicating a warm climate.

In contrast, precipitation levels are highly seasonal. The first four months are relatively dry, with rainfall increasing from 20mm in January to 50mm in April. A dramatic surge occurs in May, reaching 100mm, followed by a substantial peak during the monsoon months. Precipitation hits its highest point in July at 340mm, closely followed by 330mm in August and 290mm in September. Rainfall then decreases sharply to 150mm in October, before plummeting to minimal levels of 20mm and 10mm in November and December, respectively. In summary, the wettest months coincide with a slight cooling trend in the latter half of the year.

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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.
  • characterised by

    having a particular feature or quality as typical

  • peak

    reaching the highest point or value of something

  • steady

    regular, even, and continuous in development or intensity

  • surge

    a sudden powerful forward or upward movement

  • plummet

    to fall or drop straight down at speed

  • coincide

    to occur at or during the same time

Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?+

Kolkata experiences a distinct wet season from June to October, while temperatures remain consistently warm throughout the year, peaking just before the onset of the heaviest rains.

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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