Academic Writing Task 1 · bar chart

Reasons for university education and employer support by age group

The chart below shows the main reasons for university education among people of different age groups, based on a survey conducted in 2008, and the percentages of students who got support from their employers in this year.

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

Main reasons for university education by age group (%)

For career
For interest

View the data

	Under 26	26-29	30-39	40-49	over 49
For career	80	70	58	40	18
For interest	10	15	25	40	70

Percentage of students receiving employer support (%)

View the data

	Under 26	26-29	30-39	40-49	over 49
Employer support	62	50	33	38	42

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 provided charts illustrate the primary motivations for pursuing university education and the levels of employer support received by students across five age brackets in 2008. Overall, younger students are predominantly motivated by career advancement, whereas older students are more likely to study for personal interest. Employer support is highest among the youngest cohort and shows varied trends thereafter.

Regarding motivations, 80% of those under 26 study for career purposes, a figure that steadily declines to 18% for those over 49. Conversely, interest-based study shows an inverse trend, rising from a mere 10% in the youngest group to 70% among those over 49. The 40-49 age group represents a point of equilibrium, where career and interest motivations are equally split at 40% each.

In terms of employer support, the highest proportion of students receiving assistance is found in the under 26 category at 62%. This percentage drops to 50% for the 26-29 age group and reaches a low of 33% for those aged 30-39. Interestingly, support levels recover slightly in the older categories, climbing to 38% for 40-49 year-olds and 42% for those over 49.

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

How to write about 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.

predominantly: mostly or mainly for the most part
inverse trend: a pattern where one variable decreases as another increases
equilibrium: a state where opposing forces or influences are balanced
cohort: a group of people with a shared characteristic
fluctuates: rises and falls irregularly in number or amount
proportion: a part, share, or number considered in comparative relation

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Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?

While career-driven education declines with age, interest-based study becomes more prevalent, and employer support fluctuates across the different age demographics.

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.