Academic Writing Task 1 · pie chart

Proportions of devices used for watching television by young Canadians

The pie charts below show the devices people in the 18 to 25 age group use to watch television in Canada in two different years.

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

Devices used to watch television in 2009

Mobile phone: 15
Laptop: 20
Tablet: 5
Desktop computer: 18
Flat-screen TV: 8
Conventional TV: 34

View the data

Category	Value
Mobile phone	15
Laptop	20
Tablet	5
Desktop computer	18
Flat-screen TV	8
Conventional TV	34

Devices used to watch television in 2019

Mobile phone: 26
Laptop: 12
Tablet: 19
Desktop computer: 12
Flat-screen TV: 27
Conventional TV: 4

View the data

Category	Value
Mobile phone	26
Laptop	12
Tablet	19
Desktop computer	12
Flat-screen TV	27
Conventional TV	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 pie charts illustrate the distribution of devices used by Canadians aged 18 to 25 for watching television in 2009 and 2019. Overall, there was a clear shift away from traditional television sets towards more portable and modern digital devices over the decade.

In 2009, the conventional TV was the most popular device, accounting for 34% of usage, followed by laptops at 20% and desktop computers at 18%. Mobile phones and flat-screen TVs represented 15% and 8% respectively, while tablets were the least used device at only 5%.

By 2019, the landscape had changed considerably. The proportion of conventional TV usage plummeted to just 4%. Conversely, flat-screen TVs became the most favoured option, rising to 27%, closely followed by mobile phones at 26%. Tablet usage also saw a significant increase, climbing to 19%. Meanwhile, the popularity of laptops and desktop computers declined, with both categories falling to 12% each. In summary, while traditional viewing methods dominated in 2009, the 2019 data highlights a clear preference for mobile and flat-screen technology among young Canadians.

173 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.

plummeted: decreased rapidly and by a large amount
conversely: in a way that is the opposite
accounted for: made up a specific portion of something
favoured: preferred over other available options or choices
distribution: the way in which something is shared out
landscape: the general situation or set of circumstances

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Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?

The most significant changes between 2009 and 2019 were the dramatic decline in the use of conventional televisions and the substantial rise in the popularity of mobile phones, tablets, and flat-screen TVs.

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.