Academic Writing Task 1 · mixed chart

Coca-Cola unit case volume by region and share price trends

The chart and graph below give information about sales and share prices for Coca-Cola.

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

Coca-Cola's unit case volume by region 2000 (%)
  • North America: 30.4%
  • Latin America: 25.7%
  • Europe: 20.5%
  • Asia: 16.4%
  • Africa and Middle East: 7%
View the data
CategoryValue (%)
North America30.4
Latin America25.7
Europe20.5
Asia16.4
Africa and Middle East7
Coca-Cola share price ($)
0204060801001996199719981999200001
View the data
1996199719981999200001
Share price386082625258

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 pie chart illustrates the distribution of Coca-Cola's unit case volume across five global regions in 2000, while the line graph tracks the company's share price from 1996 to 2001. The total volume for the year 2000 stood at 17.1 billion units.

In 2000, North America was the leading region for unit case volume, contributing 30.4% of the total. This was followed by Latin America at 25.7% and Europe at 20.5%. Asia accounted for 16.4%, while the Africa and Middle East region represented the smallest share, at just 7.0%.

Regarding the share price, the value began at approximately $38 in 1996 and climbed steadily to a peak of $82 in 1998. Following this high, the price entered a period of decline, dropping to $62 in 1999 and further to $52 by 2000. Despite this downward trend, there was a partial recovery in 2001, with the share price rising to $58. Overall, the data highlights that while the company maintained a substantial global sales volume, its market valuation underwent marked fluctuations over the five-year period.

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

How to write about mixed charts

accounted for
constituted a specific portion of a total amount
distribution
the way in which something is shared among people
fluctuations
irregular rising and falling in number or amount
peak
the highest point reached by a specific value
proportion
a part or share considered in comparative relation
downward trend
a general direction in which something is decreasing

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Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?

While North America accounted for the largest proportion of unit case volume in 2000, the company's share price experienced significant volatility between 1996 and 2001.

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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