The model answer below is to a mock IELTS Academic Task 1 bar chart.
When practicing mock questions, you have to cover a wide range of scenarios. In this case, not much data is supplied and so it can be a challenge reaching the 150-word minimum count. When you get a question like this, it is often important not just to report the data but also to show how it contrasts with other data supplied. In this case, we have reached the word limit, in part, by comparing the data between boys and girls.
We structured this essay in the following way…
1st Body Paragraph: the introduction and overview
2nd Body Paragraph: contains the overview for both charts and the description of data in the bar chart
3rd Body Paragraph: describes the data in the line graph
The Practice IELTS Writing Task 1 Question
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
The bar chart shows the percentage of Canadian boys and girls participating in extracurricular clubs.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
You should write at least 150 words.
A Good Model Answer For a Bar Chart IELTS Writing Task 1 with Limited Data
The supplied data shows the percentages of both genders who enrol in after-school clubs in Canada. Overall, the clubs were dominated by females–with the exception of sporting activities.
Among boys, sports are by far the most popular activity, accounting for 17% of the population shown. Significantly fewer boys – less than half – have joined a music club, with still fewer, just 4%, choosing art. The number of boys who did not join a club at all is equal to those who chose art. A slightly higher proportion of boys, meanwhile, chose language.
For girls, 17% of the population shown opted for languages–this equalled the enrolment of boys in sport activities. The other three courses are represented more evenly than for boys; 11% took sports, marginally more went for music, and the number of girls who haven’t joined a club is broadly similar to the number of boys.
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More Links To Helpful IELTS Writing Task Resources
See how an examiner marks a Task 1