Academic Writing Task 1 · pie chart

Student satisfaction levels regarding IT support and library opening hours: 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.
  • 177 words
  • Pie charts
  • Academic
  • 20 minutes
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The question

The Pie chart below gives the percentage about the satisfactory of current IT support service and the opening hours of the library on the campus

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

IT Support Service: Full-time students
  • Happy: 52
  • Quite: 44
  • Not at all: 8
View the data
CategoryValue
Happy52
Quite44
Not at all8
IT Support Service: Part-time students
  • Happy: 48
  • Quite: 37
  • Not at all: 15
View the data
CategoryValue
Happy48
Quite37
Not at all15
Current Opening hours: Full-time students
  • Happy: 88
  • Quite: 11
  • Not at all: 1
View the data
CategoryValue
Happy88
Quite11
Not at all1
Current Opening hours: Part-time students
  • Happy: 72
  • Quite: 23
  • Not at all: 5
View the data
CategoryValue
Happy72
Quite23
Not at all5

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 8177 words. Every figure in the answer comes from the chart above.

The provided pie charts illustrate the satisfaction levels of full-time and part-time students regarding two campus facilities: the IT support service and the current library opening hours.

Overall, it is evident that students are considerably more satisfied with the library's opening hours than with the IT support service. Furthermore, full-time students express higher levels of contentment compared to their part-time counterparts in both surveyed areas.

Regarding IT support, 52% of full-time students are happy, while 44% are quite satisfied and only 8% are not at all happy. In contrast, part-time students show lower satisfaction, with 48% reporting they are happy, 37% quite satisfied, and a notable 15% not at all happy with the service.

In terms of library opening hours, satisfaction is much higher. A substantial 88% of full-time students are happy, with only 11% feeling quite satisfied and a negligible 1% not at all happy. Part-time students also report high satisfaction, with 72% being happy and 23% quite satisfied, although 5% are not at all happy, which is five times the proportion of dissatisfied full-time students.

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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.

  • contentment

    a state of happiness and satisfaction with something

  • counterparts

    people or things that have the same function

  • negligible

    so small or unimportant as to be ignored

  • proportion

    a part, share, or number considered in comparison

  • considerably

    by a notably large amount or to degree

  • illustrate

    to provide pictures or data to explain information

Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?+

Overall, students are significantly more satisfied with the library's opening hours than with the IT support service, with full-time students consistently reporting higher levels of happiness across both 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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