Scorify.uzThe question
The bar chart shows the average number of hours men and women of different ages spent on exercise per week.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.
What to notice before you write
There is a clear downward pattern with age for both genders. Men exercise more than women in every group, but the gap narrows in the oldest group. Highlight the highest and lowest values and the change of the gap.
Band 7 sample report
The bar chart illustrates how many hours per week men and women in four age groups spent on exercise.
Overall, the amount of exercise decreased with age for both genders, and men exercised more than women in every age group, although the difference became very small among people aged 50 and over.
Teenagers aged 10 to 17 exercised the most, with men averaging 6.5 hours and women 5 hours per week. Among 18 to 29-year-olds, the figures dropped to 5 hours for men and 3.5 hours for women.
The decline continued in the 30 to 49 group, at 3.5 hours for men and 3 hours for women. In the oldest group, men exercised for 2.5 hours and women for 2.8 hours, so it was the only category in which women exercised slightly more than men.
The biggest difference between men and women appeared in the two youngest groups, where men exercised for 1.5 hours more per week, while the smallest difference was among people over 50, at only 0.3 hours.
170 words.
Useful language for this chart type
- decline with age — decrease as people get older
- average — the typical amount
- the difference became small — the gap narrowed
- the only category in which — a unique exception
- slightly more than — a little more than
- hours per week — unit of measurement
- the oldest group — people aged 50 and over
Common mistakes
- Calling the oldest group a “winner”; keep neutral language.
- Not noticing the one exception.
- Forgetting units.
Study guides
Computer-Delivered IELTS: What Changes and What Stays the Same
Thinking about taking IELTS on a computer? Here is what stays the same, what feels different in Writing, Reading and Listening, and how to prepare for the screen.
IELTS Writing Task 1 Vocabulary for Graphs, Charts and Processes
Useful verbs, nouns, adverbs and sentence patterns for describing line graphs, bar charts, tables and processes in IELTS Task 1, with more than twelve example sentences.
Linking Words for IELTS and How to Use Them Correctly
A practical list of IELTS linking words grouped by function, with correct and incorrect examples, punctuation rules and a warning about overusing connectors.
Frequently asked questions
How many words should an IELTS Task 1 report be?
Write at least 150 words. Strong reports are usually 160–190 words and take about 20 minutes, leaving a minute or two to check.
What is an overview in Task 1?
The overview is a short paragraph, written without detailed numbers, that states the main trends or the most important features of the data. Reports without a clear overview are limited to a lower band.
Should I give my opinion in Task 1?
No. Describe and compare only what the data shows. Do not explain reasons or add information that is not in the chart.