Academic Writing Task 1 · pie chart

Comparison of Marital Status Distributions in Canada and Australia: IELTS Writing Task 1 sample answer

An IELTS Writing Task 1 pie 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 pie charts.
  • 188 words
  • Pie charts
  • Academic
  • 20 minutes

The question

The two pie charts below show the marital status of the populations of Canada and Australia.

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

Marital Status of Canada's Population (%)
  • Separated but not divorced: 53%
  • Married: 29%
  • Never married: 7%
  • Widowed: 7%
  • Divorced: 1%
  • Same sex marriage: 3%
View the data
CategoryValue (%)
Separated but not divorced53
Married29
Never married7
Widowed7
Divorced1
Same sex marriage3
Marital Status of Australia's Population (%)
  • Separated but not divorced: 41%
  • Married: 46%
  • Single: 5%
  • Widowed: 6%
  • Divorced: 2%
View the data
CategoryValue (%)
Separated but not divorced41
Married46
Single5
Widowed6
Divorced2

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 8188 words. Every figure in the answer comes from the chart above.

The provided pie charts illustrate the distribution of marital status among the populations of Canada and Australia. Overall, it is evident that the marital landscape differs significantly between the two countries, particularly regarding the prevalence of separation and marriage.

In Canada, the largest segment of the population is comprised of those who are separated but not divorced, accounting for a majority of 53%. This is followed by married individuals at 29%. Other categories, including those who have never been married and the widowed, each represent 7% of the population. The remaining groups, same-sex marriages and divorced individuals, constitute smaller proportions of 3% and 1%, respectively.

Conversely, Australia exhibits a different pattern, where the married population forms the largest group at 46%. Those who are separated but not divorced make up 41% of the total. The remaining categories in Australia are relatively small, with widowed individuals accounting for 6%, single people at 5%, and divorced individuals representing the smallest share at 2%. In summary, while separation is the dominant status in Canada, marriage remains the most common status in Australia, highlighting a clear demographic contrast between the two nations.

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Pie charts

How to write about pie charts: tips and vocabulary

  • →Name the largest and smallest shares in the overview.
  • →Use proportion language: a quarter, just under half, the majority.
  • →With two pies, compare the same slice across both.
  • comprised of

    made up of or consisting of specific parts

  • prevalence

    the fact of being very common or widespread

  • constitute

    to be considered to be something

  • conversely

    used to introduce a statement that is opposite

  • dominant

    more important, powerful, or noticeable than others

  • demographic

    relating to the structure of human populations

Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?+

While separated individuals constitute the largest proportion in Canada, married people represent the majority in Australia, with both nations showing relatively low percentages for other marital categories.

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 pie charts?+

Name the largest and smallest shares in the overview. Use proportion language: a quarter, just under half, the majority. With two pies, compare the same slice across both.

Keep practising

More pie charts

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