Writing Task 1
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
The chart below gives information about how families in one
country spent their weekly income in 1968 and 2018.
Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main
features, and make comparisons wherever relevant.
Write at least 150 words.
1968 and 2018: Average weekly spending by families
Structure Breakdown
Question Type
Bar chart
Introduction
Paraphrase the prompt and mention the time frame.
Overview
Highlight key features, focusing on changes, highs, lows, and patterns.
Avoid specific data details.
Main Body Paragraph 1
Dedicate individual paragraphs to present specific details about the key data
points in the chart.
Group similar data together and discuss the trends over the given time frame.
Main Body Paragraph 2
Make comparisons between different categories or highlight similarities and
differences.
Use comparative language and conjunctions to enhance coherence
Band 8 Sample Answer
The provided bar chart illustrates the weekly expenditures of families in a country
from 1968 to 2018. Overall, it is evident that while food consumption dominated
earlier years, later periods witnessed an increased focus on leisure activities and
housing.
In 1968, families allocated around 35% of their weekly income towards food
expenditures. However, by 2018, this percentage had significantly decreased to
slightly over 20%. During the same period in 1968, spending on housing and
clothing accounted for 10%, while expenditures on fuel amounted to just over 5% of
their weekly earnings.
In contrast, leisure activities emerged as the primary spending category for families
in 2018, constituting approximately 22% of their weekly wages. Housing followed
closely as the second priority, with families dedicating nearly 20% of their income to
accommodation. Despite being the least substantial expense in 2018, fuel and
power, along with personal goods, experienced a decline. However, spending on
household goods remained consistent across both periods. (157 Words)
Band 9 Sample Answer
The provided bar graph illustrates the spending patterns of the average family in a
particular country in the years 1968 and 2018. Notably, there have been substantial
shifts in expenditure over the decades, with leisure and housing surpassing food as
the primary areas of financial allocation.
Overall, the way families spent their income had changed significantly by the
current year compared with the past. To mention, leisure and housing had
overtaken food as the largest areas of expenditure.
In 1968, the majority of family income, at 35%, was spent on food expenses.
However, by 2018, this proportion had nearly halved, dropping to approximately
17%. During the earlier period, no other spending category exceeded 10% of the
weekly income. In contrast, in 2018, both leisure and housing experienced a
noteworthy surge, emerging as the predominant expenditures, constituting around
22% and 19% of family income, respectively.
The allocation for transport also saw an increase, reaching almost 15% of the
weekly income. Expenditure on household goods remained relatively constant at
around 7%. Conversely, spending on clothing and footwear, fuel and power, as well
as personal goods, all witnessed a decline, each representing no more than 5% of
the weekly income. (198 Words)
