Academic Writing Task 1 · pie chart

Nutritional composition of a medium baked potato and macaroni dinner

The pie graphs show the nutritional consistency of the two dinners.

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

Medium Baked Potato

CARBOHYDRATES: 35
PROTEIN: 25
Glucose: 15
OTHER NUTRIENTS: 15
SATURATED FAT: 10

View the data

Category	Value
CARBOHYDRATES	35
PROTEIN	25
Glucose	15
OTHER NUTRIENTS	15
SATURATED FAT	10

Macaroni

CARBOHYDRATES: 52
PROTEIN: 11
Glucose: 11
OTHER NUTRIENTS: 5
SATURATED FAT: 21

View the data

Category	Value
CARBOHYDRATES	52
PROTEIN	11
Glucose	11
OTHER NUTRIENTS	5
SATURATED FAT	21

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 nutritional breakdown of a medium baked potato and a serving of macaroni. Overall, it is clear that carbohydrates represent the largest share of both food items, although the specific proportions of each nutrient vary significantly between the two.

Regarding the medium baked potato, carbohydrates account for 35% of its total content, followed by protein at 25%. Glucose and other nutrients each contribute 15% to the total, while saturated fat makes up the smallest portion at 10%.

In contrast, the nutritional profile of macaroni is dominated by carbohydrates, which comprise 52% of the total. Saturated fat is the second most prominent component at 21%, which is more than double the figure for the baked potato. Conversely, protein and glucose levels are identical in macaroni, each accounting for 11% of the total. Finally, other nutrients represent only 5% of the macaroni, which is one-third of the proportion found in the baked potato. In summary, the baked potato offers a more balanced distribution of protein and other nutrients, while macaroni is heavily weighted towards carbohydrates and saturated fat.

181 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.

breakdown: a detailed analysis or division of something
proportion: a part, share, or number considered in comparative relation
dominated: to be the most important or noticeable part
comprise: to consist of or be made up of
conversely: introducing a statement that reverses a previous one
weighted: having a greater importance or share of something

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Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?

While carbohydrates are the most significant component in both meals, macaroni contains a notably higher proportion of carbohydrates and saturated fat, whereas the baked potato is richer in protein and other nutrients.

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.