Academic Writing Task 1 · bar chart

Average monthly rainfall levels in the town of Marley UK

The chart shows average levels of rainfall in Marley in the UK.

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

Average rainfall in millimetres in Marley, UK (millimetres)
020406080100JanuaryfebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
View the data
JanuaryfebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Rainfall795758555456576382757376

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 bar chart illustrates the average monthly rainfall in millimetres for the town of Marley in the UK. Overall, it is clear that precipitation levels vary significantly across the twelve months, with the highest rainfall recorded in autumn and the lowest during the spring and early summer months.

September stands out as the wettest month of the year, reaching a peak of 82 millimetres. This is followed by January, which records 79 millimetres, and December, with 76 millimetres. Conversely, the spring months show a marked decline in rainfall. May is the driest month, with only 54 millimetres of rain, closely followed by April at 55 millimetres and June at 56 millimetres.

During the middle of the year, rainfall remains relatively stable. July and February both record 57 millimetres, while March sees a slight increase to 58 millimetres. August experiences a moderate rise to 63 millimetres before the sharp increase towards the autumn peak. November and October also record high levels of rainfall, at 73 and 75 millimetres respectively, maintaining the trend of wetter conditions during the latter part of the year compared to the spring and summer periods.

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

How to write about bar charts

fluctuates
rises and falls irregularly in number or amount
precipitation
rain, snow, sleet, or hail that falls down
peak
the highest point or level of something
conversely
in a way that is the opposite
marked
clearly noticeable or significant in its extent
stable
not likely to change or fail suddenly

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Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?

Overall, rainfall in Marley fluctuates throughout the year, with September experiencing the highest precipitation and May the lowest.

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 bar charts?

Compare the biggest and smallest bars before anything else. If the bars show years, describe change; if they show places, describe rank. Round sensibly and say 'just over' or 'nearly' rather than guessing decimals.

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