Academic Writing Task 1 · pie chart

Coffee production, consumption, and profit distribution across global regions

The three pie charts below show the coffee production and consumption of coffee and where the profit goes around the world.

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

Coffee Production by Region (%)
  • Africa: 19%
  • South America: 44%
  • Central America: 17%
  • Asia: 18%
  • Oceania: 2%
View the data
CategoryValue (%)
Africa19
South America44
Central America17
Asia18
Oceania2
Coffee Consumption by Region (%)
  • Japan: 7%
  • South America: 11%
  • Central America: 55%
  • Asia: 27%
View the data
CategoryValue (%)
Japan7
South America11
Central America55
Asia27
Coffee Profit Distribution (%)
  • explorer: 7%
  • producer: 11%
  • shipper: 55%
  • seller: 27%
View the data
CategoryValue (%)
explorer7
producer11
shipper55
seller27

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 three pie charts illustrate the global distribution of coffee production, consumption, and the subsequent profit margins across different regions and industry sectors. Overall, it is evident that production is concentrated in South America, whereas consumption is highest in Central America. Furthermore, the financial benefits of the coffee trade are heavily skewed towards the shipping industry.

Regarding production, South America accounts for the largest share at 44%, followed by Africa at 19% and Asia at 18%. Central America contributes 17%, while Oceania represents a negligible 2% of total production. In terms of consumption, Central America is the primary market, consuming 55% of the global supply. Asia follows with 27%, while South America and Japan account for 11% and 7% respectively.

When examining profit distribution, the data reveals a significant disparity. The shipping sector captures the lion's share of profits at 55%, followed by sellers at 27%. In contrast, producers and explorers receive much smaller portions, at 11% and 7% respectively. This highlights a clear imbalance, where those involved in the physical production and exploration of coffee receive significantly less financial reward compared to those involved in the logistics and retail stages of the supply chain.

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

How to write about pie charts

skewed
biased or distorted towards a particular side
negligible
so small or unimportant as to be ignored
disparity
a great difference between two or more things
lion's share
the largest part or portion of something
concentrated
gathered together in one place or area
imbalance
a lack of proportion or equality between parts

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Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?

South America dominates coffee production, while Central America is the leading consumer, and the shipping sector captures the majority of the profit.

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 pie charts?

Name the largest and smallest shares in the overview. Use proportion language: a quarter, just under half, the majority. With two pies, compare the same slice across both.

More pie charts