Academic Writing Task 1 · bar chart

Global television sales figures for Supervision Incorporation between 1999 and 2012: 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.
  • 190 words
  • Bar charts
  • Academic
  • 20 minutes

The question

The bar chart below shows the global sales of televisions by Supervision Incorporation from 1999 to 2012.

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

Global sales of televisions by Supervision Incorporation (1999-2012) (million units)
0102030405019992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012
View the data
19992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012
TV sold1011141413182124283127423748

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 8190 words. Every figure in the answer comes from the chart above.

The bar chart illustrates the global sales figures for televisions produced by Supervision Incorporation over a fourteen-year period, starting from 1999 and concluding in 2012. Overall, it is evident that the company saw a substantial growth in sales, with the total number of units sold rising from 10 million to 48 million by the end of the period.

In 1999, the company sold 10 million units. This figure grew steadily to reach 14 million by 2001, before experiencing a slight dip to 13 million in 2003. Following this, a consistent upward trajectory was observed, with sales climbing to 21 million in 2005 and 31 million by 2008. This period of growth was interrupted in 2009, when sales fell to 27 million units.

However, the company recovered strongly in the following years. Sales surged to 42 million in 2010, representing a significant increase. Although there was a temporary decline to 37 million in 2011, the company achieved its peak performance in 2012, with sales reaching 48 million units. This final figure was nearly five times the amount recorded at the beginning of the period, highlighting a period of remarkable commercial expansion.

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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.
  • upward trend

    a general direction in which something is developing

  • fluctuations

    irregular rising and falling in number or amount

  • steady

    regular, even, and continuous in development or intensity

  • trajectory

    the path followed by a development or trend

  • surged

    increased suddenly and powerfully in a short time

  • peak

    the highest point or level of something

Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?+

Overall, the sales of televisions experienced a significant upward trend throughout the period, despite minor fluctuations, with the highest volume recorded in the final year.

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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