Academic Writing Task 1 · pie chart

Main energy sources in the USA during 1980 and 1990: 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.
  • 192 words
  • Pie charts
  • Academic
  • 20 minutes

The question

The two graphs show the main sources of energy in the USA in the 1980s and the 1990s.

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

Energy sources in 1980 (%)
  • Oil: 42%
  • Natural gas: 26%
  • Coal: 22%
  • Hydroelectric Power: 5%
  • Nuclear Power: 5%
View the data
CategoryValue (%)
Oil42
Natural gas26
Coal22
Hydroelectric Power5
Nuclear Power5
Energy sources in 1990 (%)
  • Oil: 33%
  • Natural gas: 25%
  • Coal: 27%
  • Hydroelectric Power: 5%
  • Nuclear Power: 10%
View the data
CategoryValue (%)
Oil33
Natural gas25
Coal27
Hydroelectric Power5
Nuclear Power10

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 8192 words. Every figure in the answer comes from the chart above.

The two pie charts illustrate the distribution of energy sources in the United States across two distinct years, 1980 and 1990. Overall, it is clear that oil was the most significant contributor to energy production in both years, although its reliance decreased over the decade. Conversely, coal and nuclear power experienced growth in their proportional usage.

In 1980, oil accounted for 42% of the total energy supply, followed by natural gas at 26% and coal at 22%. Hydroelectric and nuclear power provided the smallest contributions, each representing 5% of the total. By 1990, the share of oil dropped by 9 percentage points to 33%, while natural gas also saw a slight decline to 25%.

In contrast, coal became a more prominent energy source, rising from 22% in 1980 to 27% in 1990. Similarly, the contribution of nuclear power doubled over the ten-year period, reaching 10% by 1990. Hydroelectric power remained the most stable source, maintaining a constant share of 5% throughout the decade. In summary, the energy landscape in the USA shifted towards a greater reliance on coal and nuclear power, while the dominance of fossil fuels like oil and gas diminished.

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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.
  • accounted for

    made up a specific portion of the total

  • proportional

    corresponding in size or amount to something else

  • dominance

    the state of being the most important source

  • diminished

    became smaller in size, amount, or degree

  • stable

    not likely to change or fluctuate significantly

  • distinct

    clearly different or separate from each other

Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?+

While oil remained the primary energy source throughout the decade, its dominance declined significantly, whereas coal and nuclear power saw notable increases in their respective shares.

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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