Academic Writing Task 1 · pie chart

Reasons for students choosing to study at Dorrifod University by age

The graphs below show the different reasons for two groups of students to choose Dorrifod University.

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

Age 18-24 (%)
  • Close to home: 36%
  • Reputation of teaching staff: 2%
  • Facilities on campus: 14%
  • Course offered: 35%
  • Opportunity to study abroad as part of course: 9%
  • Related to industry: 4%
View the data
CategoryValue (%)
Close to home36
Reputation of teaching staff2
Facilities on campus14
Course offered35
Opportunity to study abroad as part of course9
Related to industry4
Age 25 and over (%)
  • Close to home: 39%
  • Reputation of teaching staff: 12%
  • Facilities on campus: 2%
  • Course offered: 24%
  • Opportunity to study abroad as part of course: 3%
  • Related to industry: 20%
View the data
CategoryValue (%)
Close to home39
Reputation of teaching staff12
Facilities on campus2
Course offered24
Opportunity to study abroad as part of course3
Related to industry20

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 factors influencing students aged 18-24 and those aged 25 and over when selecting Dorrifod University. Overall, it is clear that being close to home is the most significant factor for both demographics, although the secondary priorities differ considerably between the two groups.

For the 18-24 age group, the most influential factors are proximity to home and the course offered, accounting for 36% and 35% respectively. Facilities on campus also play a notable role at 14%, followed by the opportunity to study abroad at 9%. In contrast, industry links and the reputation of teaching staff are relatively minor considerations for younger students, at 4% and 2% respectively.

Regarding students aged 25 and over, proximity to home remains the leading reason at 39%. However, the importance of the course offered drops to 24%, while the relevance to industry becomes a major factor, rising to 20%. The reputation of teaching staff is also significantly more important for this older group at 12%, compared to just 2% for the younger cohort. Conversely, campus facilities and study abroad opportunities are less prioritised by older students, at 2% and 3% respectively.

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

How to write about pie charts

demographics
statistical data relating to the population and groups
prioritise
to treat something as being more important
notable
worthy of attention or striking in size
cohort
a group of people with a shared characteristic
conversely
introducing a statement that reverses a previous one
account for
to make up a specific portion of something

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Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?

While proximity to home is the primary motivator for both age groups, younger students prioritise course content, whereas older students place significantly more importance on industry links.

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.

More pie charts