Academic Writing Task 1 · pie chart

Survey results on student satisfaction with university IT support and 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.
  • 181 words
  • Pie charts
  • Academic
  • 20 minutes
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The question

The pie charts show the results of a survey conducted by a university on the opinions of full-time and part-time students about its services.

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

IT support: Full-time students
  • Not at all: 15
  • Quite happy: 31
  • Very happy: 54
View the data
CategoryValue
Not at all15
Quite happy31
Very happy54
IT support: Part-time students
  • Not at all: 45
  • Quite happy: 35
  • Very happy: 20
View the data
CategoryValue
Not at all45
Quite happy35
Very happy20
Opening hours: Full-time students
  • Not at all: 1
  • Quite happy: 12
  • Very happy: 87
View the data
CategoryValue
Not at all1
Quite happy12
Very happy87
Opening hours: Part-time students
  • Not at all: 5
  • Quite happy: 23
  • Very happy: 72
View the data
CategoryValue
Not at all5
Quite happy23
Very happy72

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 provided pie charts illustrate the satisfaction levels of full-time and part-time students regarding university IT support and current opening hours. Overall, it is evident that full-time students are generally more content with these services than part-time students, and opening hours are viewed more favourably than IT support by both cohorts.

Regarding IT support, 54% of full-time students expressed being 'very happy', while only 15% were 'not at all' satisfied. Conversely, part-time students showed significantly lower satisfaction, with 45% reporting they were 'not at all' happy and only 20% feeling 'very happy'. The proportion of students who were 'quite happy' was relatively similar, at 31% for full-time and 35% for part-time students.

In terms of opening hours, satisfaction was notably higher. A substantial 87% of full-time students were 'very happy', with a negligible 1% feeling 'not at all' satisfied. Part-time students also expressed high levels of satisfaction, with 72% being 'very happy' and 23% 'quite happy'. Only 5% of part-time students were 'not at all' satisfied with the opening hours, reflecting a generally positive sentiment towards this aspect of university provision.

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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.

  • cohorts

    groups of people sharing a common characteristic

  • favourably

    in a way that shows approval or liking

  • negligible

    so small or unimportant as to be ignored

  • proportion

    a part, share, or number considered in comparative relation

  • conversely

    introducing a statement that reverses a previous one

  • provision

    the action of providing or supplying something for use

Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?+

Overall, full-time students reported higher levels of satisfaction with both services compared to their part-time counterparts, with opening hours receiving the most positive feedback across both groups.

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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