Comparisons in IELTS writing task 1 academic. Multiple pie charts.

Comparisons in IELTS writing task 1 academic.

Updated: June 2023

It’s common in IELTS writing task 1 to get multiple charts such as 2 or 3 pie charts, or a bar graph and a table, or maybe 2 line graphs and so on. In this post, I will deal with 3 pie charts with 4 categories.

Always take time to analyse the task before you start writing. In writing task 1, I advise around three to four minutes of planning time.

There are two model answers below with different structures. In the first example I write according to the 3 nutrients, while in the second model, I structured it according to breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks.

Notice that this is not dynamic data, (it does not change over time) so it would be incorrect to use trends language here. This is static data so I need to use comparatives and superlatives to compare the data.

The Task

ieltsfocus pie charts

Source: Cambridge IELTS 14 page 29.

If you need corrections on your writing for a Band 7+ click here

Model answer 1

The pie charts illustrate the average proportion of sodium, saturated fat, and added sugar in common meals eaten in the USA that are considered unhealthy if eaten excessively.

Overall, dinner and lunch account for the highest proportions of sodium and saturated fat, whereas breakfast indicates the lowest figures for all three nutrients. Notably, snacks contain the largest amount of sugar.

Looking at the data for sodium, dinner comprises by far the highest amount at just over two-fifths (43%), while breakfast and snacks account for 14% and lunch contains just under one-third (29%). Turning to the figures for saturated fats, yet again the highest figure is for dinner, totalling 37%, with lunch at a little over a quarter (26%). This figure is followed closely by snacks amounting to 21%. Breakfast is the healthiest option of the four containing 16% of saturated fat.

Regarding the added sugar category, snacks are the unhealthiest amounting to 42% sugar compared to breakfast at just 16%. Moreover, dinner indicates the second-highest amount of sugar, representing just under one-quarter (23%), while lunch comprises almost one-fifth (19%).

184 words

Model answer 2 (different structure)

The pie charts illustrate the average proportion of sodium, saturated fat, and added sugar in common meals eaten in the USA that are considered unhealthy if eaten excessively.

Looking at the data for breakfast, in the sodium category, this accounts for 14%, while breakfast containing saturated fats and added sugar both amount to 16%. Turning to the lunch figures, sodium levels represent 29%, which is the highest figure here, followed by 26% of saturated fats and nearly a fifth (19%) of added sugar.

Regarding dinner, 43% of sodium was consumed in dinners in the USA, which is by far the highest figure. Saturated fats amount to 37% for dinner, while added sugars comprise 23%. In terms of snacks, 42% of snacks have added sugar in them with just over a fifth (21%) containing saturated fat. Moreover, sodium indicates a lower figure of 14%, which is equal to that of breakfast.

181 words

Analysis

Always write in clear paragraphs, and skip a line between them. The overview is important, so make sure you have one, but don’t go into too much detail in the overview.

In the paragraphs, I used specific phrasing to indicate which category I am writing about ‘Looking at the data for….. / Turning to the figures for…. / Regarding…. / In terms of….’ This helps with your coherence and cohesion and makes the report more logical.

I separated it into 2 main body paragraphs and reported on the figures there. Notice also that I have used fractions and approximation language such as: ‘nearly a fifth… / just under one-third… / a little over a quarter… / comprises almost one-fifth’.

See this link here for more details on approximation and fractions.

For a higher score in vocabulary check out this post here.

Comparisons in IELTS writing task 1 academic. Multiple pie charts.