Pie Chart

The pie charts below show the average household expenditures in Japan and Malaysia in the
year 2010.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons
where relevant.
 Answer

Task 1 plan:
 Paraphrase task heading
 Summary paragraph – key features
o [1] identify 3 highest categories
o [2] proportion spent per household on transport and health care in Japan were
double the figures for Malaysia.
 Compare spending on 3 highest categories
 Compare expenditure on 2 lowest categories

The charts compare the average household spending in Japan and Malaysia in terms of five
important categories in 2010.

Overall, it is clear that householders in both countries spent the largest proportion of their
income on just three categories – housing, food and other goods and services. The percentage
figures for spending on transport and healthcare in Japan were double those for Malaysia.

In Malaysian households, the highest category was housing, which represented 34% of the
total expenditure. Whereas this was higher than in Japan, with just 21% spent on housing,
Japanese householders spent the highest proportion on a range of other goods and services, at
29%. This was slightly more than in Malaysia. In terms of food, the figures for both countries
were similar, at 27% and 24% for Malaysia and Japan respectively.

Expenditure on health care was the lowest category. In Japan, this accounted for 6% of the
total, while 20% of household spending went on transport. These figures were exactly double
those shown for Malaysia.

167 words.
Pie Chart

The two pie charts below show the online shopping sales for retail sectors in Canada in 2005 and
2010.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons
where relevant.
 Answer

Task 1 plan:
 Paraphrase task heading
 Summary paragraph – key features
o [1] changes in the percentages for the different sectors during the period
o [2] while the figures for food and beverages and also video games increased, the
figures for the other two sectors fell.
 Paragraph 3: details for the sectors with increased percentages.
 Paragraph 4: details for the sectors with reduced percentages.

The charts compare four retail sectors in Canada in terms of the proportion of their internet
sales in two years, 2005 and 2010.

Overall, the proportion of online sales for each of the four sectors changed significantly from
2005 to 2010. While the figures for food and beverages and also video games increased, the
figures for the other two sectors fell.

In 2005, the proportion of online sales of food and beverages was 22%, but this rose to 32%
in 2010. The percentage for internet sales of video games also went up, by 5% from the 2005
figure of 18%.

In contrast, the percentages of the online sales of the other sectors decreased. The most
dramatic fall was in the home furnishings retail sector. While this figure was 25% of the total
online sales of these four sectors in 2005, it fell to just 15% in 2010. There was also a decrease
in the electronics and appliances sector, which saw a fall from 35% in 2005 to 30% in 2010.

170 words
Pie Chart

The pie charts below show electricity generation by source in New Zealand and Germany in 1980
and 2010.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons
where relevant.
 Answer

Task 1 plan:
 Paraphrase task heading
 Summary paragraph – key features
o [1] more units of electricity were used in both countries in 2010 than in 1980
o [2] in 2010 nuclear power became the predominant fuel source in Germany, in
contrast to coal in NZ.
 Paragraph 3: compare total units of electricity generated in both countries in 1980 and
2010.
 Paragraph 4: compare the fuel sources in both 1980 in NZ and Germany.
 Paragraph 5. do the same for 2010. Note changes over the two years.

The charts compare the units of electricity produced in New Zealand and Germany in 1980
and 2010 from 5 fuel sources.

Overall, more units of electricity were produced in 2010 than in 1980 in both countries. In
2010, most electricity was produced by nuclear power in Germany and by coal in New
Zealand.

In 1980, coal was the main source of electricity in New Zealand. It produced 56 units, which
was twice the figure for Germany. Natural gas and hydro each accounted for 30 units in New
Zealand, with 11% for coal. In contrast, in Germany, the figures for natural gas, nuclear and
hydro power were 28%, 20% and only 7% respectively.

There were 2 main sources of electricity production in New Zealand in 2010, coal [150 units]
and hydro [46 units]. Nuclear power was used to generate 155 units in Germany. Although the
figure for natural gas fell to only 2 units, coal [28%] and petroleum [27%] remained
significant.

199 words
Pie Chart

The two graphs show the main sources of energy in the USA in 1980 and 1990.
Write a report for a university lecturer describing the changes which occurred.
 Answer

Task 1 plan:
 Paraphrase task heading
 Summary paragraph –
o [1] oil main energy source
o [2] not much change in the % of other sources of energy.
 Paragraph 3: report and compare proportions of oil, natural gas and coal used to
produce energy, 1980 and 1990.
 Paragraph 4: report and compare proportions of hydroelectric and nuclear power in
both years

The charts compare, in percentage terms, five fuel sources used to produce energy in the
USA in 1980 and 1990.

Overall, oil was the main resource used for energy production in both years. There was
relatively little change in the proportions of the other fuel sources used in 1980 and 1990.

In 1980, 42% of energy produced in the USA came from oil, but this then fell to 33% in
1990. The figures for natural gas, in contrast, remained almost stable at 26% of total energy
production in 1980 and 25% in 1990. There was, however, a significant increase in the
proportion of coal used as an energy source. From a figure of 22% in 1980, it then overtook
natural gas in 1990, with 27%.

sWhile the figure for hydroelectric power remained constant at 5% of the total in both years,
the percentage of nuclear power used to produce energy rose by 5% from the 1980 figure, to
reach 10% in 1990.

162 words
Pie Chart

The pie charts below show units of electricity production by fuel source in Australia and
France in 1980 and 2000.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make
comparisons where relevant
 Answer

The pie charts compare the amount of electricity produced using five different sources of fuel
in two countries over two separate years.

Total electricity production increased dramatically from 1980 to 2000 in both Australia and
France. While the totals for both countries were similar, there were big differences in the fuel
sources used.

Coal was used to produce 50 of the total 100 units of electricity in Australia in 1980, rising to
130 out of 170 units in 2000. By contrast, nuclear power became the most important fuel
source in France in 2000, producing almost 75% of the country’s electricity.

Australia depended on hydro power for just under 25% of its electricity in both years, but the
amount of electricity produced using this type of power fell from 5 to only 2 units in France.
Oil, on the other hand, remained a relatively important fuel source in France, but its use
declined in Australia. Both countries relied on natural gas for electricity production
significantly more in 1980 than in 2000.
Pie Chart

The charts below give Information on the ages of the populations of Yemen and Italy In 2000 and
projections for 2050.
Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons
where relevant.
 Answer

The pie charts compare the proportions of people falling into three distinct age groups in
Yemen and Italy in two different years.

It is clear that Italy had the older population in the year 2000, and that the same is predicted
for the year 2050. The populations of both countries are expected to age over the fifty-year
period.

In the year 2000, just over half of the population of Yemen was aged 14 or under, while most
Italians (61.6%) fell into the 15 to 59 age group, and only 14.3% were children under 15 years
of age. People aged 60 or over accounted for almost a quarter of the Italian population, but
only 3.6% of the inhabitants of Yemen.

By 2050, the proportion of children under 15 is predicted to drop in both countries, most
noticeably in Yemen where the figure is expected to fall by 13.1%. On the other hand, the
figures for elderly people are expected to rise, by 2.1% in Yemen and a massive 18.2% in Italy.
Finally, it is anticipated that the 15 to 59 age group will grow by around 10% in Yemen, but
shrink by around 15% in Italy.
Pie Chart

The three pie charts below show the changes in annual spending by a particular UK
school in 1981, 1991 and 2001.

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

The pie charts compare the expenditure of a school in the UK in three different years over a
20-year period.

It is clear that teachers’ salaries made up the largest proportion of the school’s spending in all
three years (1981, 1991 and 2001). By contrast, insurance was the smallest cost in each year.

In 1981, 40% of the school’s budget went on teachers’ salaries. This figure rose to 50% in
1991, but fell again by 5% in 2001. The proportion of spending on other workers’ wages fell
steadily over the 20-year period, from 28% of the budget in 1981 to only 15% in 2001.

Expenditure on insurance stood at only 2% of the total in 1981, but reached 8% in 2001.
Finally, the percentages for resources and furniture/equipment fluctuated. The figure for
resources was highest in 1991, at 20%, and the proportion of spending on furniture and
equipment reached its peak in 2001, at 23%.
Pie Chart

The following two pie charts show the results of a survey into the popularity of various
leisure activities among European adults in 1985 and 1995.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make
comparisons where relevant.
 Answer

A glance at the two pie charts provided reveals the relative popularity of various leisure
activities among European adults in 1985 and 1995.

Of these activities, watching TV was the most widely enjoyed in both years, at 32 percent in
1985 and a slightly lower 30 percent in 1995. Yet, by far the most significant change to take
place during this period was the increased popularity of computer games. Not a single
respondent to the survey rated playing computer games as their preferred leisure activity in
1985. However, by 1995 this figure stood at 27 percent – the second highest overall. Also
more popular in 1995 was talking with friends, at 26 percent compared to 21 percent a
decade earlier.

In stark contrast, however, all other activities decreased in popularity. Eating out – which
was the second most widely enjoyed pastime in 1985, accounting fot 23 percent of
respondents – slipped to a mere 8 percent in 1995. Likewise, there were also considerable
decreases in the popularity ratings of talking with family, other activities and (as previously
mentioned) watching television.

(177 words)
Pie Chart

The pie charts below show reasons why people left the UK for other countries and why people
stayed in the UK
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons
where relevant
 Answer

The two pie charts above give the reasons why people either left or stayed in the UK.

Interestingly, the most common reason for both leaving and staying in the UK is to join
families and friends (leaving – 39%, staying – 34%), implying the United Kingdom is both a
country of in-transit migrants and returning expats. The second most common reason for
leaving the UK is, unsurprisingly, its weather (24%), while the second most common reason
for staying is the many and varied opportunities for work (28%). In fact, the UK appears to
have a positive labour flow, with the number of people emigrating for work being 18%.

The third most common reason for staying is the lovely sound and infinite variation of the
language itself, as 19% of the people would agree.

Finally, roughly similar amounts of people left the UK for financial reasons (10%) and tax
purposes (9%), suggesting the wealthy are apparently finding that Britain asks too much of
them in the way of public investment. In contrast, 10% of UK immigrants are there for the free
health care system the NHS provides, and 9% are there for “ financial reasons”, for which we
should perhaps read “benefit”.
Pie chart

The graphs below show the age structure of a European country from 1901 to 1981 and a
prediction for 2021.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons
where relevant.
 Answer

The graphs compare the population make-up of one European country every forty years from 1901 to
1981, and the estimated number in 2021.

There was a huge increase the number of people in this country from 38,225,000 in 1901 to
67,180,000 eighty years later, and this upward trend is expected to last through to the year 2021, when
the population is estimated at 87,658,000, more than double the 1901 figure.

In 1901 and 1941, the age structure in this country was completely the same, with an overwhelming
majority of its population (95%) below 65,4% between 65 and 85, and only 1% over 85 years old.

However, the year 1981 saw a sharp increase in the percentage of the elderly. Altogether, they made
up 17% of the total population whereas the projection for the year 2021 shows that they will continue
to grow but less dramatically to 21% of the total population (15% for 65-85-year-olds and 6% for
over-85-year-olds).

In summary, changes are taking place not only in the number of people also in the ages of the people
who make up the population in this European, indicating it is advancing into an aging society.

199 words.
Pie Chart

The graphs below show information about electronic games in South Korea in 2003.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons
where relevant.
 Answer

These three pie charts show respectively the age structure of electronic game players in Korea,
their gender distribution as well as the percentage of different types of games sold in the
country. All information was based on the year 2003.

It can be seen from the first chart that electronic game players in Korea were mostly young
people between 18 and 35 (42%). Children and teenagers under 18 years old were second
largest group (35%), and the remaining 23% were over 35 years old.

The second chart shows that male electronic gam players clearly outnumbered their female
counterparts (72% and 28% respectively).

The third chart shows that action games were by far the best-selling genre, constituting 42%
of the electronic game sales in Korea. Next come sports and racing games, which accounted
for 21% and 17% respectively. Role-play and education games had less successful sales, with
7% each. The remaining 6% of the sales went to other types of games.

In conclusion, young men aged 18 and 35 were the most likely players of electronic games in
Korea, and action games were the most popular genre among Korean players.

190 words.
Pie Chart

The graphs below show information about the weekly work hours in Australia in 2001.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons
where relevant.
 Answer

The pie charts illustrate the working patterns of Australian employees and owners/manager by
indicating the percentage of them who worked full-time, part-time, or overtime.

Australia had an 8.8-million-strong workforce in 2001, among which the vast majority were
hired as employees (6.9 million) and the remaining 1.9 million either owners or managers.
Only 29% of Australian employees had a full-time working week of 35-40 hours. 38% of them
were working on a part-time basis for less than 35 hours per week, while a third had long
working hours of 41 a week or more.

When it comes to owners or managers, interestingly, two thirds of them had long-hour working
weeks while only about one fifth could have a regular working day. Part-time working, as can
be expected, was relatively rare among owners/mangers (only 14%).

Observing the overall workforce does not lead to any surprises as it simply combines the above
two, with about two thirds of all workers working full-time or long hours, and the remaining
one third working part-time.

To sum up, working overtime was over two times more common among owners/managers
than among employees.

188 words.