Academic Writing Task 1 · mixed chart

Economic sector distribution and fishing income trends in Morocco over time

The chart below shows Morocco's income from different economic sectors in 2003 as well as its income from fishing from 1982 to 2003.

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

Morocco's income from different economic sectors in 2003 (%)
  • Fishing: 13%
  • Agriculture: 2%
  • Tourism: 26%
  • Industry: 24%
  • Worker's Remittance: 21%
  • Petroleum: 14%
View the data
CategoryValue (%)
Fishing13
Agriculture2
Tourism26
Industry24
Worker's Remittance21
Petroleum14
Morocco's income from fishing from 1982 to 2003 (US $ (Billions))
01234519821993199519972000200120022003
View the data
19821993199519972000200120022003
Income0.31.92.22.94.33.83.81.8

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 charts illustrate the distribution of Morocco's economic income across various sectors in 2003 and track the nation's fishing revenue between 1982 and 2003.

In 2003, tourism was the leading economic sector, accounting for 26% of total income, closely followed by industry at 24% and worker's remittances at 21%. Petroleum and fishing contributed 14% and 13% respectively, while agriculture represented a marginal 2% of the total revenue.

Regarding the fishing sector, income began at a low of 0.3 billion US dollars in 1982. Over the following two decades, this figure witnessed a substantial upward trend, climbing steadily to reach a peak of 4.3 billion US dollars in 2000. Following this high point, the revenue experienced a period of relative stability, remaining at 3.8 billion US dollars in both 2001 and 2002. However, the final year of the period, 2003, saw a sharp decline in fishing income, which dropped to 1.8 billion US dollars. Overall, while the fishing sector showed significant growth for much of the period, it remained a secondary contributor to the national economy by 2003.

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

How to write about mixed charts

fluctuations
irregular rising and falling in number or amount
marginal
very small or insignificant in size or amount
peak
the highest point or value reached during time
upward trend
a general direction of increasing over a period
substantial
of considerable importance, size, or worth
secondary
coming after or less important than the primary

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Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?

Tourism and industry were the primary contributors to Morocco's economy in 2003, while fishing revenue experienced significant fluctuations, peaking at the turn of the millennium.

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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