Academic Writing Task 1 · mixed chart

Graduation statistics for Higher Colleges of Technology in 1999

The graphs show enrolment in different colleges in the Higher Colleges of Technology in 1999.

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

HCT Graduates by College (number of graduates)
02004006008001,000Al Ain Men'sAl Ain Women'sAbu Dhabi Men'sAbu Dhabi Women'sDubai Men'sDubai Women'sRas Al Khaimah Men'sRas Al Khaimah Women'sSharjah Men'sSharjah Women's
View the data
Al Ain Men'sAl Ain Women'sAbu Dhabi Men'sAbu Dhabi Women'sDubai Men'sDubai Women'sRas Al Khaimah Men'sRas Al Khaimah Women'sSharjah Men'sSharjah Women's
Graduates131218273293426547102178165186
Graduates by Level and Gender (number of graduates)
02004006008001,000CertificateDiplomaHigher DiplomaBachelor
  • Male
  • Female
View the data
CertificateDiplomaHigher DiplomaBachelor
Male5703601800
Female70033533060
Total Graduates by Level
  • Certificate: 50
  • Diploma: 27
  • Higher Diploma: 20
  • Bachelor: 3
View the data
CategoryValue
Certificate50
Diploma27
Higher Diploma20
Bachelor3

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 graduates across various Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) in 1999, categorized by institution, academic level, and gender.

Overall, Dubai Women's college recorded the highest number of graduates, significantly outperforming other campuses. Furthermore, the Certificate level was the most common qualification, representing half of the total graduates, whereas Bachelor degrees were the least common.

Regarding individual colleges, Dubai Women's led with 547 graduates, followed by Dubai Men's at 426. In contrast, Ras Al Khaimah Men's had the lowest output at 102. Abu Dhabi campuses showed a relatively balanced distribution, with 293 women and 273 men graduating. Sharjah and Al Ain campuses exhibited similar trends, with women consistently outnumbering men in graduation figures.

In terms of academic levels, the Certificate was the most popular, with 700 female and 570 male graduates. The Diploma level saw a closer gender split, with 360 men and 335 women. Interestingly, while men dominated the Certificate and Diploma levels, women were more prevalent in Higher Diploma (330 versus 180) and Bachelor programs, the latter of which saw 60 female graduates compared to none for men. The pie chart confirms that Certificates comprised 50% of all awards, dwarfing the 3% share held by Bachelor degrees.

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

How to write about mixed charts

outperforming
achieving better results than another group or entity
distribution
the way in which something is shared or spread
prevalent
existing very commonly or happening often in places
dwarfing
making something seem small by comparison to another
accounted for
to make up a specific portion or percentage
exhibited
to show or display a particular quality or trend

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?

Dubai Women's college produced the highest number of graduates, while the Certificate level accounted for half of all qualifications awarded.

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.

More mixed charts