Academic Writing Task 1 · pie chart

Proportion of energy produced from different sources between 1985 and 2003

The charts below show the proportion of energy produced from different sources in a country between 1985 and 2003.

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

Energy production by source in 1985 (%)

Natural gas: 13%
Coal: 8%
Hydrogen: 4%
Nuclear: 22%
Oil: 52%
Other renewable: 1%

View the data

Category	Value (%)
Natural gas	13
Coal	8
Hydrogen	4
Nuclear	22
Oil	52
Other renewable	1

Energy production by source in 2003 (%)

Natural gas: 23%
Coal: 13%
Hydrogen: 4%
Nuclear: 17%
Oil: 39%
Other renewable: 4%

View the data

Category	Value (%)
Natural gas	23
Coal	13
Hydrogen	4
Nuclear	17
Oil	39
Other renewable	4

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 changes in the percentage of energy generated from six distinct sources in a specific country between 1985 and 2003.

Overall, oil was the most significant energy source in both years, although its contribution fell markedly over the period. Conversely, there was a clear shift towards greater reliance on natural gas, coal, and other renewable sources, while nuclear energy experienced a decline.

In 1985, oil accounted for more than half of the total energy production at 52%. By 2003, this figure had dropped to 39%, though it remained the largest single source. Nuclear energy was the second most prominent source in 1985 at 22%, but this proportion decreased to 17% by 2003. Hydrogen energy remained stable, contributing 4% of the total in both years.

In contrast, other sources saw growth. Natural gas production rose from 13% in 1985 to 23% in 2003. Similarly, the share of coal increased from 8% to 13% over the same period. Finally, the contribution of other renewable sources quadrupled, rising from a negligible 1% in 1985 to 4% by 2003.

180 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.

dominance: the state of being more powerful or important
markedly: in a way that is easy to notice
conversely: in a way that is the opposite
prominent: important, well-known, or easily seen
negligible: so small or unimportant as to be ignored
quadrupled: to increase by four times the original amount

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Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?

While oil remained the primary energy source throughout the period, its dominance declined significantly, whereas natural gas, coal, and other renewables saw notable increases in their respective shares.

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.