Academic Writing Task 1 · pie chart

Comparison of US consumer spending patterns between 1966 and 1996

The charts below show US spending patterns between 1966 and 1996.

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

US spending patterns in 1966 (%)

Food: 44%
Cars: 23%
Petrol: 9%
Restaurants: 7%
Furniture: 10%
Computers: 1%
Books: 6%

View the data

Category	Value (%)
Food	44
Cars	23
Petrol	9
Restaurants	7
Furniture	10
Computers	1
Books	6

US spending patterns in 1996 (%)

Food: 14%
Cars: 45%
Petrol: 8%
Restaurants: 14%
Furniture: 8%
Computers: 10%
Books: 1%

View the data

Category	Value (%)
Food	14
Cars	45
Petrol	8
Restaurants	14
Furniture	8
Computers	10
Books	1

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 two pie charts illustrate changes in the distribution of US consumer spending across seven categories between 1966 and 1996. Overall, it is evident that while food was the primary expense in 1966, cars became the dominant category by 1996, reflecting a major shift in household priorities.

In 1966, food accounted for the largest proportion of spending at 44%, followed by cars at 23%. Furniture and petrol represented 10% and 9% respectively, while restaurants made up 7%. Books comprised 6% of the total, with computers being the least significant expenditure at only 1%.

By 1996, the spending landscape had transformed significantly. Expenditure on cars nearly doubled to reach 45%, making it the most prominent category. Conversely, spending on food plummeted to 14%. The proportion allocated to restaurants doubled to 14%, matching the figure for food. Meanwhile, spending on computers saw a notable increase from 1% to 10%. In contrast, the shares for furniture and petrol experienced slight declines to 8% each, and the proportion spent on books fell to 1%. These figures highlight a clear transition toward automotive and technological consumption over the three decades.

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

How to write about 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.

accounted for: constituted a specific proportion of the total
plummeted: decreased rapidly and by a large amount
prominent: important, noticeable, or standing out clearly
conversely: used to introduce a contrasting or opposite point
notable: worthy of attention or striking in nature
distribution: the way in which something is shared out

Write your own report and get a band

Take a timed Academic writing test and get a band for task achievement, coherence, vocabulary and grammar, with the sentences to fix.

Practise IELTS Academic writing

On your phone? Get the BandLadder app.

Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?

The most significant shifts over the thirty-year period were the dramatic decline in food expenditure and the substantial rise in spending on cars.

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.