HOW TO WRITE AN IELTS BAR CHART ESSAY

Structure:
Paragraph 1 – Introduction
Paragraph 2 – Overview
Paragraph 3 – 1st main feature
Paragraph 4 – 2nd main feature

The bar chart below shows the sector contributions to India’s gross domestic product from
1960 to 2000.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make
comparisons where relevant.

Write at least 150 words.

Contribution as % of India's GDP

There are 3 main features/trends in this IELTS bar chart:

Main feature 1: The contribution of the agricultural sector dropped steadily.
Main feature 2: The contribution of the service sector increased each decade.
Main feature 3: Industry remained static from 1980 to 2000

Model Essay
The bar graph illustrates the relative percentage contributions made by the agricultural, industrial and
service sectors to the Indian economy between 1960 and 2000.

Over the whole time period, the significance of agriculture declined steadily while services grew in
importance decade by decade. A different patterned emerged for industry, which initially showed a slowly
increasing percentage but then plateaued from 1980 onwards.

In 1960, agriculture contributed by far the highest percentage of GDP, peaking at 62%, but it then dropped
in steady increments to a low of 12% in 2000. The service sector, on the other hand, had a relatively
minor impact on the economy in 1960. This situation changed gradually at first, then its percentage
contribution jumped from 28% to 43% between 1980 and 1990. By 2000 it matched the high point
reached by agriculture in 1960, showing a reversal in the overall trend.

Industry remained a steady contributor to India’s wealth throughout the period. As a sector, it grew
marginally from 16% in 1960 to exactly a quarter in 1980 then remained static for the next two decades,
maintaining a constant share of the overall GDP.
 (188 words)

I. How To Write an IELTS Line Graph Essay

Paragraph 1 – Introduction

Paragraph 2 – Overview

Paragraph 3 – 1st main feature

Paragraph 4 – 2nd main feature

The graph below shows radio and television audiences throughout the day in 1992.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make
comparisons where relevant.

Write at least 150 words.

There are 2 main features/trends in this line graph:

Main feature 1: The peak time for TV audiences is in the evening (8 pm).

Main feature 2: The peak time for radio audiences is in the morning (8 am).
Model Essay
 II. How To Write an IELTS Table Chart Essay

Paragraph 1 – Introduction

Paragraph 2 – Overview

Paragraph 3 – 1st main feature

Paragraph 4 – 2nd main feature

The tables below give the distribution of world population in 1950 and 2000, with an estimate of the
situation in 2050.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where
relevant.
Write at least 150 words.
Main feature 1: The only region where the percentage is expected to increase by 2050
is Africa.

Main feature 2: Europe is expected to have the greatest drop in percentage

contribution by 2050.

Main feature 3: The only region showing a fluctuation in percentage contribution over
the whole time period is Asia.

III. How To Write an IELTS Pie Chart Essay

Paragraph 1 – Introduction

Paragraph 2 – Overview

Paragraph 3 – 1st main feature

Paragraph 4 – 2nd main feature

The chart below shows the reasons why people travel to work by bicycle or by
car.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and
make comparisons where relevant.

Write at least 150 words.

Main feature 1: The largest proportion of people who cycle do so for health and
environmental reasons.

Main feature 2: The highest percentage of people who drive do so because it’s
comfortable.
Model Essay

The two pie charts display the key reasons why people choose to either cycle
or drive to work by percentage.

The largest proportion of people who cycle, have made this choice for health
and environmental reasons whilst the prime advantage of driving to work is
considered to be the comfort of travelling by car. Notably, for an almost equal
proportion of people, their chosen method is the fastest.

Taken together, health and fitness and less pollution are reasons given by over
half of all people who prefer travelling by bike. Each represents a 30% portion
which is double the next most popular reason which is a lack of parking issues
at 15%.

A different set of concerns has affected the decision of those who choose to
commute by car. Comfort is by far the most significant factor at 40% of people,
but distance to work is a more important concern for just over a fifth of drivers.
For 14% of people, a faster journey time is the key factor compared to a figure
of 12% of cyclists who find their means of transport quicker.

(184words)
 IV. How To Write an IELTS Process Diagram Essay

Paragraph 1 – Introduction

Paragraph 2 – Overview

Paragraph 3 – 1st main feature

Paragraph 4 – 2nd main feature

The diagrams below show a structure that is used to generate electricity from
wave power.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make
comparisons where relevant.

Write at least 150 words.

Identify the Main Features

The graphic in IELTS process diagram questions should not be difficult to understand.
There are not usually any numbers to analyse as in other types of question, just a
diagram to interpret or, as in our practice question, two diagrams which each show part
of the process.

All you are looking for are the main features. These should be the easiest things to
spot. There will be lots of information in the graphic to help you identify them,
especially, titles, labels and captions.
Here are some useful questions to ask?

1) Is it a linear or a cyclical process?

A linear process starts and finishes at different places. It will often involve the
manufacture or creation of something, starting with the raw materials going in at one
end and the finished product coming out the other end. An example of this can be seen
in this diagram from a past IELTS process diagram question about the manufacture of
bricks.

Linear process

A cyclical process, on the other hand, is a process that goes back to the beginning and
repeats over and over again, such as the life cycle of a frog or a butterfly.

Cyclical process
2) Where does the process start and end?

For a linear process this will usually be obvious. It may be harder to determine for a
cyclical process so it’s important that you examine the graphic carefully to find out.

3) How many steps are there to the process?

If there are a lot, it can be helpful to number them from 1 to whatever number the final
stage is.

4) Can the process be easily broken down into stages?

In the brick-making graphic, for example, there are three stages:

a) Creating the bricks from clay

b) Manufacturing the finished product by drying and firing

c) Packaging and delivery

In the life cycle graphic above, there are also three distinct stages as the frog passes
through different stages of development – egg, juvenile, adult.

5) What are the raw materials? What is produced at the end of the process?

These questions obviously apply only to manufacturing processes.

For other types of process, it might be more appropriate to ask the following question.

6) What is the end result of the process?

This question is relevant for our practice IELTS process diagram question which shows
a process that creates something using a particular structure. The end result is the
production of electricity.

KEY FEATURES

Stage 1: Electricity is generated as the wave flows into the structure (Diagram A).
Stage 2: Electricity is also created as the receding wave draws air back down the
column (Diagram B).
Model Essay

The two diagrams illustrate a method of creating electricity from the force of
waves using a specifically designed man-made construction.

The structure, consisting of a wave chamber and a tall column containing a

turbine, is erected on a steeply sloping coastal cliff or sea wall where it is
subject to the movement of the ocean waves.

The first diagram shows how the incoming wave fills a large chamber and
forces the air inside this space up the column and through the turbine. The
pressure of the air rotates the turbine which generates a current of electricity.
The process does not end there for the structure is able to continue producing
power as the sea recedes as can be seen in the second diagram.

As the water now flows away from the structure, it draws air back down the
column and downwards through the turbine in the same direction as the
previous upward flow of air. The turbine continues to turn thus generating even
more electricity.

(165 words)

V. How To Write an IELTS Map Essay

Paragraph 1 – Introduction

Paragraph 2 – Overview

Paragraph 3 – 1st main feature

Paragraph 4 – 2nd main feature

The maps below show the village of Stokeford in 1930 and 2010.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make
comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.

Identify
the Main Features
All you are looking for are the main features. Start with the earliest map. Identify the key
features and look to see how they have changed in the later map, and again in the final
map if there are three.

Here are some useful questions to ask?

1) What time periods are shown?

Are the maps of past, present or future situations? This is important to note because it
will determine whether you write your essay using past, present or future tenses.

The two maps in our practice IELTS map question show the village of Stokeford at two
different times in the past. This immediately tells us that we will need to use the past
tense in our essay.

2) What are the main differences between the maps?

What features have disappeared? What new features are in their place?

3) What features have remained the same over the time period?

Although the location on the maps will have undergone major development, some
features may remain unchanged.
Also, think about directional language you can use, such as:

Identify the Main Features

All you are looking for are the main features. Start with the earliest map. Identify the key
features and look to see how they have changed in the later map, and again in the final
map if there are three.

Here are some useful questions to ask?

1) What time periods are shown?

Are the maps of past, present or future situations? This is important to note because it
will determine whether you write your essay using past, present or future tenses.

The two maps in our practice IELTS map question show the village of Stokeford at two
different times in the past. This immediately tells us that we will need to use the past
tense in our essay.

2) What are the main differences between the maps?

What features have disappeared? What new features are in their place?

3) What features have remained the same over the time period?

Although the location on the maps will have undergone major development, some
features may remain unchanged.

Also, think about directional language you can use, such as:

 north

 south

 east

 west

 north-east

 north-west

 south-east

 south-west

Main feature 1: The farmland has been built on.

Main feature 2: The large house has been converted into a retirement home.
Main feature 3: The school has been enlarged.

Main feature 4: The shops have disappeared.

Model Essay

The two maps illustrate how the village of Stokeford, situated on the east bank
of the River Stoke, changed over an 80 year period from 1930 to 2010.

There was considerable development of the settlement over these years and it
was gradually transformed from a small rural village into a largely residential
area.

The most notable change is the presence of housing in 2010 on the areas that
were farmland back in 1930. New roads were constructed on this land and
many residential properties built. In response to the considerable increase in
population, the primary school was extended to around double the size of the
previous building.

Whilst the post office remained as a village amenity, the two shops that can be
seen to the north-west of the school in 1930, no longer existed by 2010, having
been replaced by houses. There also used to be an extensive property standing
in its own large gardens situated to the south-east of the school. At some time
between 1930 and 2010, this was extended and converted into a retirement
home. This was another significant transformation for the village.

(187 words)
VI. How To Write an IELTS Multiple Graph Essay

Paragraph 1 – Introduction

Paragraph 2 – Overview

Paragraph 3 – Details of 1st graph or chart

Paragraph 4 – Details of 2nd graph or chart

The pie chart shows the main reasons why agricultural land becomes less
productive. The table shows how these causes affected three regions of the
world during the 1990s.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and
make comparisons where relevant.

Write at least 150 words.

Identify the Main Features

Here are some useful questions to ask? The first question relates specifically to bar
charts and line graphs but the rest apply to all graph and chart types.

 What information do the 2 axes give?

 What are the units of measurements?

 What are the time periods?

 What can you learn from the title and any labels?

 What is the most obvious trend?

 Are there any notable similarities?

The main features are:

 Pie chart: The biggest cause of land degradation worldwide is over-grazing.

 Table: Europe had the highest percentage of degraded land.
 Model Essay

The pie chart illustrates the primary causes of land deterioration across the
globe while the table outlines how three different regions were affected by
these damaging factors in the 1990s.

It is clear from the pie chart that the main reason why farmland becomes less
productive is over-grazing. The data in the table reveals that Europe had the
highest percentage of degraded land compared to North America and Oceania
for the period recorded.

The pie chart presents two additional key reasons for the decrease in the
productivity of agricultural land. These are deforestation and over-cultivation.
Although tree clearance is almost as damaging as grazing too many animals, at
30%, it has a 5% lower impact than over-grazing. Excessive cultivation is the
least problematic at just over a quarter of the total.

According to the table, 23% of Europe’s agricultural land was affected by these
damaging practices. This was almost double the percentage in Oceania, the
next most affected region. North America experienced by far the lowest level of
productivity loss with a figure of just 5% of its total agricultural land.

(184 words)