Academic Writing Task 1 · pie chart

Survey Results of Cultural and Leisure Activities Among Boys and Girls

The pie graphs below show the result of a survey of children?s activities. The first graph shows the cultural and leisure activities that boys participate in, whereas the second graph shows the activities in which the girls participate.

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

Boys' Cultural and Leisure Activities (%)

Soccer: 17%
Reading: 2%
Computer Games: 34%
Skateboarding: 11%
Listening to music: 10%
Basketball: 26%

View the data

Category	Value (%)
Soccer	17
Reading	2
Computer Games	34
Skateboarding	11
Listening to music	10
Basketball	26

Girls' Cultural and Leisure Activities (%)

Gymnastics: 11%
Reading: 21%
Computer Games: 16%
Netball: 15%
Listening to music: 10%
Dancing: 27%

View the data

Category	Value (%)
Gymnastics	11
Reading	21
Computer Games	16
Netball	15
Listening to music	10
Dancing	27

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 participation rates of boys and girls in various cultural and leisure activities. Overall, it is clear that boys and girls have distinct preferences, with computer games dominating the boys' chart, whereas girls engage in a wider variety of pursuits.

For boys, computer games are the most popular activity, accounting for 34% of their leisure time, followed by basketball at 26%. Soccer and skateboarding represent 17% and 11% respectively, while listening to music accounts for 10%. Notably, reading is the least popular activity for boys, comprising only 2% of their total participation.

In contrast, girls show a higher engagement in dancing, which is their most popular activity at 27%. Reading is also significantly more popular among girls than boys, at 21%, compared to 16% for computer games. Netball and gymnastics account for 15% and 11% respectively, while listening to music remains consistent with the boys' data at 10%. Overall, the data highlights a clear divergence in leisure choices, with boys favouring digital and competitive sports, while girls demonstrate a broader interest in creative and social activities.

181 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.

dominating: having the most significant influence or largest share
distinct: clearly different or of a different kind
account for: to make up a specific portion or percentage
notably: especially important or worthy of special attention
divergence: the process of becoming different or separating
consistent: acting or done in the same way

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Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?

While boys show a strong preference for computer games, girls' interests are more evenly distributed, with dancing and reading being their most popular activities.

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.