B2 English Course/ Writing Handout 4

BAR CHARTS
• Making comparisons
• Using linking devices
• Practising writing a Task 1 response where the data input is in the form of a bar chart

Exam information | Describing a bar chart

For Task 1 of the writing paper, you may need to describe a bar chart. Bar charts are useful for
comparing the quantities of different categories (shown in the form of bars). Bar charts usually
show the numbers or percentages on the left-hand vertical axis and the different categories that
are being measured along the horizontal or bottom axis (plural: axes). Both axes are labelled to
show what they refer to.
Most bar chart-based Task 1 questions will ask you either to describe changes over time (dynamic
bar charts) OR compare two or more sets of information (static bar charts). Sometimes you might
have to do both. The language you need will vary depending on the type of task.

USEFUL STRUCTURES FOR MAKING COMPARISONS

1) more/fewer/less + noun + than

More teenagers play computer games than a sport.
Overall, more students sat examinations in science-related subjects than in arts-related subjects.

2) the most/ the least + adjective

The most common childhood illness in 1979 was chickenpox.
The least popular subject was Music.

3) more/less + adjective + than

Cruises were more popular than beach holidays in 2012.
Science-related subjects were more popular than in arts-related subjects

4) high/low/few -er + than

A lower number of teenagers play a sport than play computer games.
A higher percentage of students gained top marks in Mathematics than in Chemistry.

5) the highest/ lowest/ largest/ smallest

The largest proportion of immigrants came from Mexico.
The highest percentage of students gaining top marks was in Mathematics.

6) as + adjective + as
Art and Design was nearly as popular as Chemistry.

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B2 English Course/ Writing Handout 4

Task 1: The bar chart below shows the number of students sitting examinations in eight different
subjects and the percentage of students gaining top marks. For this type of data, you are expected
not just to describe, but also to compare and contrast the information. Refer to the box above
and complete the sentences 1-6 with a comparative or superlative form.

1. Nearly ___________ many students sat the Art and Design exam ___________ did the Chemistry
exam.
2. The percentage of students gaining top marks in Art and Design was slightly ___________ than
the percentage of students achieving top marks in Chemistry.
3. The ___________ popular subjects were Physical Education, Health and Food Technology, and
Computing.
4. The HFT examination was taken by ___________ students than the PE examination.
5. However, a ___________ percentage of students taking the HFT exam gained top marks.
6. The ___________ percentage of students gaining top marks was in Media, Film and Television
Studies.

Task 2: To do well in IELTS Writing Tasks 1, you must show that you can use a range of
expressions and structures for functions like comparing and contrasting. Rewrite the sentences
1-5 using the words in brackets.
1. More girls than boys passed their English examinations. (fewer)
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2. The same number of boys and girls achieved a passing grade in Mathematics. (as … as)
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3. Boys did well in Technology; girls, in contrast, did well in language-related subjects. (whereas)
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4. The number of passes in Religious Studies was higher for girls than for boys. (lower)
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5. Nearly as many girls as boys passed the Economics exam. (similar)
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B2 English Course/ Writing Handout 4

TYPE 1: Describing a static bar chart

Static means that the data comes from one point in time.
If a chart is static, we will have to compare the different variables.

Task 3: Read the exam question below.

The chart below shows the proportion of male and female students studying six art-related
subjects at a UK university in 2011.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons
where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.

1. Identify the two main features in the bar chart.

Main feature 1: ___________________________________________________________________
Main feature 2: ___________________________________________________________________

2. Read the two model answers. How does the writer in each answer develop the body
paragraphs (Paragraphs 3 & 4)?
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B2 English Course/ Writing Handout 4

Model answer 1:
The bar chart shows the distribution of students by gender across six art-based disciplines at a UK
university in 2011.
Generally speaking, while females outnumbered males in most disciplines, the gender gap for each
subject was not significant with the notable exception of Philosophy where female
students outnumbered their male counterparts by almost three to one.
Regarding male enrollment, Art and Design was the only subject with more men than women at a
ratio of 120 to 90. Language-based subjects, namely Linguistics, English Language, and Literature
and Communication and Media Studies, were the most popular subjects for male students. The
least attracted subject for males was Philosophy, with only 50 students enrolled.
Looking specifically at female enrolled numbers, a higher proportion of females enrolled more than
males across five of the six subjects. Like men, female students are also drawn to language-based
subjects. Of these, English language and literature was the most popular subject with
an enrollment of 250 students. With regard to the least attractive subject, History and Archeology
had only less than 100 female students taking part.
(179 words)
Model answer 2:
The bar chart shows the distribution of students by gender across six art-based disciplines at a UK
university in 2010.
Generally speaking, the chart shows that while females outnumbered males in most disciplines, the
gender gap for each subject was not significant.
Across five of the six subjects, there were more females enrolled than males. Of these, the
difference in enrollment between genders was insignificant, with the notable expectation of
philosophy where female students outnumbered their male counterparts by almost 3 to 1. Art and
Design was the only subject with more men than women at ratio of 175 to 160.
The most popular subject for both genders was undoubtedly English language and Literature with
almost as many men (230) as women (250) taking part. In fact, language-based subjects, namely
Linguistics, English language and literature and communication and Media studies, proved to be the
most popular for both genders. With respect to the least attractive subjects, men seemed least
drawn to Philosophy while women were less interested in History and Archeology.
(172 words)

TYPE 2: Describing a dynamic bar chart

Dynamic means the data comes from more than one point in time.
If a chart is dynamic, we will have to compare the different times and comment on the general
trends over the time period.

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B2 English Course/ Writing Handout 4

Tasks 4-5-6 are based on the following Task 1 writing question:

The bar chart below shows the total percentage of people employed in different sectors of the
economy in Country A in 2005 and 2015 with projections for 2025.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons
where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.

Task 4: Read the IELTS Writing Task 1 question and the introductions to some responses to the
task. Would the introductions receive a word count penalty for copying from the question?
Choose Yes or No.
1. The bar chart shows the total percentage of people employed in different sectors of the
economy in Country A in 2005 and 2015 with projections for 2025.
¨ Yes ¨ No
2. The data depicts the number of people who work in different areas of a country’s economy in
2005 and 2015 and makes forecasts for 2025 in percentages.
¨ Yes ¨ No
3. The chart illustrates the percentage of people employed in five sectors of a country’s economy
in the years 2005 and 2015 with predictions for 2025.
¨ Yes ¨ No
4. The chart shows the percentage of people employed in several sectors of the economy in
Country A over a period of 20 years.
¨ Yes ¨ No
5. In the chart, I can see the percentage of people employed in different sectors of the economy
in Country A in 2005 and 2015 and projections for 2025.
¨ Yes ¨ No

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B2 English Course/ Writing Handout 4

LINKING DEVICES
To develop coherence and cohesion, you need to use a variety of phrases to link one idea to the
next, so that the reader can follow your thinking. You’ll need connecting words for IELTS Task 1 to:
• Transition from a description of one visual to a description of the other
• Compare and contrast key features of the visuals
• Point out and highlight data or details of the visuals
Starting the overview: Showing contrast:
Overall, it could be seen that ... In contrast/ However/ Nevertheless, …
According to the graph/figures … …, whereas/ while …
It is clear that … Meanwhile, …
It can be seen that … On the other hand, …
It is noticeable that ... In comparison to …, …
Making transitions: Expressing addition:
With reference to…, … Moreover, …
With regards to…, … Furthermore, …
In addition, …
Highlighting data: Additionally, …
Obviously, … Likewise, …
Interestingly, …
Notably, …

Task 5: Choose the correct linking devices to complete the sentences.

1. In terms of / Obviously, / With reference to management and business will continue to be the
most important sector for employment in the future.
2. The textile industry will experience a decline in the proportion of people employed, falling from
about 30% to a projected rate of 20% in 2025, in comparison to / interestingly / whereas the
figures for both the service and the production and logistic sectors are predicted to rise to 15%
and 20%, respectively.
3. It is clear / Moving on to / Surprisingly that coal mining is no longer as important as it once was
in terms of employment. From a peak of 25%, it fell to 10% in 2005 and is forecast to fall further
to just under 5% in 2025.
4. By contrast / In comparison to / In terms of the textile sector, the service industry has
undergone a rise in employment, rising from just over 5% in 2005 to approximately 15% in 2015.
In the future, both of these sectors are predicted to reach 20% in 2025.
5. Interestingly / Nevertheless / Whereas , people working in the management and business
sector and the textile industry in Country A accounted for roughly the same percentage, at
about 30%, in 2005.
6. Obviously / Surprisingly / With reference to the trend for employment in production and
logistics, it has seen a steady rise, starting from about 8% and reaching 10% in 2015. This
phenomenon is likely to continue and it will most probably rise to about 15% in 2025.

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B2 English Course/ Writing Handout 4

Task 6: Choose the correct words and phrases to complete the sentences about the chart.
1. There will be roughly a fivefold / quadruple / quintet decrease in the percentage of people
employed in the coal mining industry during the period depicted.
2. The percentage of people working in the field of production and logistics will double / twofold
/ twice between 2005 and 2025.
3. The percentage of people working in the services industry is likely to more than threefold /
triple / third between the years 2005 and 2025.
4. In 2005, 30% of workers were employed in management and business, and this figure rose to
reach a tenth / two-fifths / two-thirds of the total working population in 2015.
5. A few of / By far the fewest / Far fewer people will be involved in coal mining in 2025 compared
to 2005.
6. Approximately the same percentage of people will be employed in the field of management and
business in 2015 as / than / then in 2025.

You Try
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
The graph compares the percentage of international and the percentage of UK students gaining
second class degrees or better at a major UK university.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons
where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.

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B2 English Course/ Writing Handout 4

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