Academic Writing Task 1 · bar chart

Percentage of unemployed graduates aged 20-24 in a European country

The bar chart below shows the percentage of unemployed graduates, aged 20-24, in one European country over a two-year period.

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

Graduate unemployment by Gender, 2008 & 2009 (%)
0510152025Jan' 08April' 08July' 08Oct' 08Jan' 09April' 09July' 09Oct' 09
  • Men
  • Women
View the data
Jan' 08April' 08July' 08Oct' 08Jan' 09April' 09July' 09Oct' 09
Men10771612121122
Women7.56611961014

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 bar chart illustrates the percentage of unemployed graduates aged 20-24 in a European country between January 2008 and October 2009. Overall, it is clear that unemployment rates for both men and women were volatile throughout the period, with men consistently recording higher figures than their female counterparts. Both groups reached their peak unemployment levels in October 2009.

In early 2008, 10% of male graduates were unemployed, compared to 7.5% of women. These figures dipped to 7% and 6% respectively by April 2008, remaining stable until July 2008. However, a sharp increase occurred in October 2008, with male unemployment rising to 16% and female unemployment to 11%.

At the start of 2009, the rate for men stood at 12%, while women saw a rate of 9%. By April 2009, male unemployment remained at 12%, whereas female unemployment dropped to 6%. Following a slight decrease in July 2009, both groups experienced a significant surge by October 2009. Male unemployment reached a period high of 22%, while female unemployment also peaked at 14%. Throughout the entire timeframe, the gap between male and female unemployment remained evident, particularly during the final quarter of 2009.

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

How to write about bar charts

fluctuated
changed frequently and irregularly in value or amount
volatile
liable to change rapidly and unpredictably for worse
counterparts
people or things that correspond to another
surged
increased suddenly and powerfully in a short time
timeframe
a specified period of time during which events occur
evident
plain or obvious to the eye or mind

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Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?

Overall, graduate unemployment rates for both genders fluctuated significantly over the two-year period, with men consistently experiencing higher unemployment levels than women.

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 bar charts?

Compare the biggest and smallest bars before anything else. If the bars show years, describe change; if they show places, describe rank. Round sensibly and say 'just over' or 'nearly' rather than guessing decimals.

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