Academic Writing Task 1 · mixed chart

Average income and household expenditure on food and clothing in the UK

The pictures show information about average income and spending on food and clothes by an average family in a city in the UK.

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

Average income and spending on food and clothes
Category20102013
Income2900025000
Spending on food and clothes1400015000
Spending breakdown in 2010
  • Fruit and Vegetables: 26
  • Meat and Fish: 29
  • Dairy products: 12
  • Other food: 18
  • Clothes: 15
View the data
CategoryValue
Fruit and Vegetables26
Meat and Fish29
Dairy products12
Other food18
Clothes15
Spending breakdown in 2013
  • Fruit and Vegetables: 30
  • Meat and Fish: 23
  • Dairy products: 16
  • Other food: 18
  • Clothes: 13
View the data
CategoryValue
Fruit and Vegetables30
Meat and Fish23
Dairy products16
Other food18
Clothes13

Chart redrawn by BandLadder from the data in the original IELTS practice task. Many IELTS practice tasks come from the Cambridge IELTS series (Cambridge University Press & Assessment); all rights in the original tasks remain with their owners.

Band 8 sample answer

The provided data illustrates the financial situation of an average UK city family regarding income and expenditure on food and clothing between 2010 and 2013. Overall, there was a decline in total income alongside an increase in spending on food and clothes over the three-year period.

In 2010, the average family earned 29,000, allocating 14,000 towards food and clothing. By 2013, income fell to 25,000, yet spending on these essentials grew to 15,000. This indicates that a larger portion of the family budget was consumed by these items despite the lower total earnings.

Regarding the breakdown of spending, meat and fish accounted for the largest share in 2010 at 29%, followed by fruit and vegetables at 26%. By 2013, the priority shifted, with fruit and vegetables becoming the primary expense at 30%, while meat and fish dropped to 23%. Dairy products saw an increase from 12% to 16%, whereas spending on clothes declined from 15% to 13%. Expenditure on other food remained stable at 18% throughout the period. These figures highlight a significant reallocation of household funds towards healthier food options despite the tightening financial circumstances.

186 words. Every figure in the answer comes from the chart above.

How to write about mixed charts

expenditure
the total amount of money spent by someone
reallocation
the act of distributing resources in a new way
accounted for
to make up a particular amount or proportion
tightening
becoming more restricted or difficult in financial terms
proportion
a part or share of a total amount
stable
remaining at a constant level without much change

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Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?

While the average family income decreased between 2010 and 2013, their total expenditure on food and clothes rose, with notable shifts in the proportion of spending across different categories.

How long should an IELTS Task 1 answer be?

At least 150 words; 170 to 200 is the safe range. Spend about 20 minutes on it and leave 40 for Task 2, which carries twice the marks.

How do I describe mixed charts?

Write one overview sentence that links the two visuals. Give each visual its own detail paragraph. Point out where one chart explains the other.

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