Scorify.uzThe question
The bar chart shows the percentage of households owning four types of technology in three countries in 2019.
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
Compare the countries for each item. Country X is highest in every category and Country Z lowest. Smartphones are the most common item everywhere, while tablets are the least common. The order of popularity is the same in all three countries.
Band 7 sample report
The bar chart compares the proportion of households in three countries that owned four kinds of technology in 2019.
Overall, smartphones were the most widely owned item in all three countries, whereas tablets were the least common. Country X recorded the highest ownership of every item, and Country Z the lowest.
Smartphone ownership ranged from 75% in Country Z to 90% in Country X. Computers came second in Country X, at 85%, and were found in 70% of households in Country Y and 55% in Country Z.
Smart TVs were less common, owned by 60% of households in Country X, 48% in Country Y and just 35% in Country Z. Tablets were the least popular item, with ownership between 30% and 45%, and the gap between the countries was much smaller for this item than for computers.
To summarise the ranking, the order of the countries did not change from one item to another: Country X first, Country Y second and Country Z third, which suggests that overall access to technology was greatest in Country X.
176 words.
Useful language for this chart type
- the proportion of — the share or percentage
- range from … to — show the lowest and highest values
- recorded the highest — had the largest figure
- the least common — owned by the fewest
- widely owned — owned by many
- came second — was in second place
- the gap between — the difference between
Common mistakes
- Listing all twelve bars one by one.
- Missing the overall pattern that the same order applies in every country.
- Writing “people” instead of “households”.
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.