Academic Writing Task 1 · mixed chart

Employment rates and average salaries of Australian university graduates 2004-2012

The graphs below show the percentage of graduates that got full-time jobs after graduating from a university in Australia, and the average salary of both these types of graduates, from 2004 to 2012.

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

Math Graduates and Other Graduates (%)

Math Graduates
Other Graduates

View the data

	2004	2006	2008	2010	2012
Math Graduates	80	81	85	79	78
Other Graduates	65	88	85	75	65

Average Salary of Graduates

Category	2004	2006	2008	2010	2012
Math Graduates	$41,000	$43,000	$50,000	$51,000	$56,000
Other Graduates	$41,000	$43,000	$45,000	$47,000	$51,000

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 line graph illustrates the percentage of math and other graduates in Australia who secured full-time employment between 2004 and 2012, while the table provides data on their corresponding average salaries.

Overall, math graduates experienced relatively stable employment rates, whereas other graduates saw significant fluctuations. Conversely, both groups enjoyed a steady increase in average earnings throughout the period, with math graduates consistently earning more than their counterparts from 2008 onwards.

Regarding employment, math graduates started at 80% in 2004, peaking at 85% in 2008 before declining slightly to 78% by 2012. In contrast, other graduates began at a lower 65% in 2004, surged to a period high of 88% in 2006, but subsequently dropped to 65% by 2012. Both groups shared an identical employment rate of 85% in 2008.

In terms of remuneration, both categories earned $41,000 in 2004 and $43,000 in 2006. From 2008, the salary gap widened; math graduates' salaries rose steadily to $56,000 by 2012, while other graduates' earnings grew more modestly, reaching $51,000 in the same year.

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

How to write about 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.

fluctuations: irregular rising and falling in number or amount
counterparts: people or things that have the same function
remuneration: money paid for work or a service
surged: increased suddenly and powerfully in a short time
modestly: in a way that is not very large
consistently: in every case or on every occasion

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?

While math graduates generally maintained more stable employment rates, both groups experienced a consistent upward trend in their average annual salaries over the eight-year period.

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.