Academic Writing Task 1 · pie chart

Highest education levels achieved by women in Sri Lanka 1965-1995

The pie charts show the highest education level of women in Sri Lanka in 1965 and 1995.

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

Highest education level of women in Sri Lanka in 1965

NO SCHOOLING: 35
6-YEAR: 44
12-YEAR: 18
GRAD: 3
POST GRAD: 0

View the data

Category	Value
NO SCHOOLING	35
6-YEAR	44
12-YEAR	18
GRAD	3
POST GRAD	0

Highest education level of women in Sri Lanka in 1995

NO SCHOOLING: 0
6-YEAR: 20
12-YEAR: 25
GRAD: 35
POST GRAD: 20

View the data

Category	Value
NO SCHOOLING	0
6-YEAR	20
12-YEAR	25
GRAD	35
POST GRAD	20

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 the distribution of the highest education levels attained by women in Sri Lanka in 1965 and 1995. Overall, it is evident that educational standards improved dramatically over the three decades, characterized by a transition from basic or no schooling to advanced academic qualifications.

In 1965, the majority of women had limited formal education. Specifically, 44% had completed six years of schooling, while 35% had received no schooling at all. Only 18% reached the 12-year level, and a mere 3% were graduates, with no women recorded as having postgraduate qualifications. This indicates a population where primary education was the ceiling for most.

By 1995, the educational landscape had transformed completely. The percentage of women with no schooling dropped to 0%, and those with only six years of schooling decreased to 20%. Conversely, higher education levels saw remarkable growth. The proportion of women completing 12 years of schooling rose to 25%, while the graduate and postgraduate segments surged to 35% and 20%, respectively. Consequently, by 1995, more than half of the female population had attained at least a graduate-level education, marking a profound improvement in academic achievement compared to 1965.

193 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.

attainment: the act of achieving or reaching a goal
proportion: a part, share, or number considered in relation
surged: increased suddenly and powerfully in a short time
transformed: made a thorough or dramatic change in form
distribution: the way in which something is shared out
consequently: as a result or effect of something else

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Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?

Over the thirty-year period, there was a significant shift towards higher academic attainment, with the proportion of women receiving no schooling falling to zero while those achieving graduate or postgraduate qualifications rose substantially.

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.