Academic Writing Task 1 · mixed chart

Speed camera implementation and road safety statistics in Melbourne 2002-2005

The charts show information concerning speed-camera use, together with statistics on road accidents, for the city of Melbourne.

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

Number of Speed Cameras in Melbourne (number of cameras)

View the data

	2002	2003	2004	2005
Speed Cameras	30	40	70	145

Percentage of Accidents & Deaths on Melbourne's Road (%)

Accidents
Deaths

View the data

	2002	2003	2004	2005
Accidents	3.4	3.3	3.6	3.9
Deaths	0.8	0.7	1	1.2

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 correlation between the installation of speed cameras and road safety statistics in Melbourne between 2002 and 2005. Overall, it is evident that the deployment of speed cameras rose sharply, yet this did not lead to a reduction in the percentage of road accidents or fatalities, both of which saw an increase by the end of the period.

In 2002, there were 30 speed cameras in operation. This figure grew steadily to 40 in 2003 and 70 in 2004, before experiencing a substantial surge to 145 cameras by 2005. Despite this rapid expansion in surveillance, the percentage of accidents on Melbourne's roads followed a fluctuating but generally upward trajectory. Starting at 3.4% in 2002, the rate dipped slightly to 3.3% in 2003, before climbing to 3.6% in 2004 and reaching a peak of 3.9% in 2005.

A similar pattern is observed regarding road deaths. The percentage of fatalities began at 0.8% in 2002, decreased marginally to 0.7% in 2003, and then rose to 1.0% in 2004. By 2005, the proportion of deaths reached 1.2%, marking a notable increase over the four-year period.

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

How to write about mixed charts

Write one overview sentence that links the two visuals.
Give each visual its own detail paragraph.
Point out where one chart explains the other.

correlation: a mutual relationship or connection between two things
deployment: the action of bringing resources into effective action
upward trajectory: a path or trend that is moving upwards
fluctuating: rising and falling irregularly in number or amount
marginal: relating to or situated at the edge or fringe
proportion: a part, share, or number considered in comparative relation

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Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?

While the number of speed cameras in Melbourne increased significantly over the period, the percentage of both road accidents and deaths also experienced an overall upward trend.

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 mixed charts?

Write one overview sentence that links the two visuals. Give each visual its own detail paragraph. Point out where one chart explains the other.