IELTS Academic Writing Task 1. Bar charts

Bar charts compare information across various categories, using rectangular horizontal or vertical bars. The length of a bar depends on the size of the value they represent. You can talk about the data shown in a bar chart either in the past or in the present tense, but you have to be consistent in your choice. So, for instance, if you started in the past, DO NOT jump to the present.

At the planning stage, you need to identify:

•       what the horizontal and vertical axes present;
•       into what groups the data is divided;
•       what are the most prominent features of each group.

There are different ways to organize your ideas within IELTS Academic Writing Task 1; below I’ll tell you about one of the possible ones.

In your writing paper, begin with stating the topic of your essay by specifying what facts are illustrated in the chart(s). If you feel it’s appropriate, name the groups that you’ll be talking about (especially if you classified the information into groups of your own).

Then, in the main body, talk about the groups. Highlight the main features, most obvious trends, and make relevant comparisons within a group; provide some details to support your ideas. If there are three groups or fewer, I suggest you talk about each of them independently at this point with the exception of some significant trends. If there are more than three groups, you may not have enough time to pay attention to each; thus, you’ll have to make up your mind as to which of them are worth more attention and which are to be commented on as a means of comparison.

In the conclusion, compare the most important aspects across groups and/or groups as such.

Sample task

The chart below shows employee training methods in Arts and entertainment companies, divided into three categories, across the British Isles.

Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant.

Write at least 150 words.

Sample answer

The chart shows staff training approaches employed by UK companies operating in creative industries.

External training is the most popular among cultural industries in UK countries, showing the highest percentage of respective methods in Wales with over 80%, whereas the Northern Ireland firms rank last with under 60%.

In-house formal training programmes are second in terms of popularity in Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland, the latter scoring the highest percentage with over 50%.

Informal training techniques come second after external training in England with about 35%, although the level of interest in informal training is close to that of in-house instruction. In contrast, across the three other countries, there is the least proportion of involvement in informal training.

To sum up, while there is a substantial gap between external training and the other types of employee instruction in England and Wales, creative industry companies in Northern Ireland and Scotland place in-house employee training almost just as high as external methods.