Academic Writing Task 1 · mixed chart

Weekly student expenditure and total costs across four different countries: IELTS Writing Task 1 sample answer

An IELTS Writing Task 1 mixed 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 mixed charts.
  • 201 words
  • Mixed charts
  • Academic
  • 20 minutes

The question

The table and chart below provide a breakdown of the total expenditure and the average amount of money spent by students per week while studying abroad in 4 countries.

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

Expenditure of studying abroad
CountryUS ($)
A875
B735
C540
D435
Weekly expenditure breakdown by category (US ($))
0100200300400500ABCD
  • accommodation
  • tuition
  • living cost
View the data
ABCD
accommodation220280240200
tuition358320250235
living cost430350275225

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 8201 words. Every figure in the answer comes from the chart above.

The provided table and bar chart illustrate the total weekly expenditure and a breakdown of costs for students studying abroad in four distinct countries, labelled A through D.

Overall, country A is the most expensive destination for students, while country D is the cheapest, with tuition and living costs being the primary drivers of these expenditure differences. There is a clear correlation between the total weekly costs and the individual spending categories across all four nations.

Country A records the highest total weekly expenditure at $875. This is largely attributed to its significant living costs of $430 and tuition fees of $358, which are the highest among all countries. In contrast, country B, with a total weekly cost of $735, shows a more balanced distribution, although it has the highest accommodation costs at $280.

Countries C and D are considerably more affordable. Country C has a total weekly expenditure of $540, with costs relatively evenly spread between accommodation ($240), tuition ($250), and living expenses ($275). Finally, country D is the least expensive option at $435 per week. It maintains the lowest accommodation costs at $200 and the lowest living costs at $225, making it the most economical choice for international students.

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Mixed charts

How to write about mixed charts: tips and vocabulary

  • →Write one overview sentence that links the two visuals.
  • →Give each visual its own detail paragraph.
  • →Point out where one chart explains the other.
  • expenditure

    The total amount of money spent by someone

  • breakdown

    A detailed analysis or division of something complex

  • attributed to

    Regarded as being caused by a specific factor

  • economical

    Giving good value for the money spent

  • correlation

    A mutual relationship or connection between two things

  • distinct

    Recognizably different in nature from something else

Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?+

Overall, country A is the most expensive destination for students, while country D is the cheapest, with tuition and living costs being the primary drivers of these expenditure differences.

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 mixed charts?+

Write one overview sentence that links the two visuals. Give each visual its own detail paragraph. Point out where one chart explains the other.

Keep practising

More mixed charts

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