Academic Writing Task 1 · pie chart

Survey results regarding causes of poor school learning outcomes in 2011

The pie chart below shows the results of a survey of the causes of poor learning outcomes in schools in a particular country in 2011.

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

Causes of poor learning outcomes in schools in a particular country in 2011

working parents: 20
lack of revision: 8
poor facilities: 10
unskilled teachers: 35
upbringing: 27

View the data

Category	Value
working parents	20
lack of revision	8
poor facilities	10
unskilled teachers	35
upbringing	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 pie chart illustrates the distribution of five distinct factors contributing to poor academic performance in schools across a specific nation during 2011. Overall, it is evident that teacher-related issues and upbringing were the most prominent concerns, whereas academic preparation and school infrastructure played a comparatively minor role.

Unskilled teachers accounted for the largest proportion of poor learning outcomes, representing 35% of the total. This was followed by upbringing, which was cited as a cause in 27% of cases. Together, these two factors constituted over three-fifths of the reported reasons for unsatisfactory educational results.

In contrast, the remaining three categories had a much smaller impact. Working parents were identified as a cause in 20% of instances, which was double the figure for poor facilities at 10%. Finally, a lack of revision was the least significant factor, contributing to only 8% of poor learning outcomes. In summary, the data highlights that systemic issues related to teaching quality and student background were perceived as the most critical barriers to academic success in 2011, significantly outweighing issues related to school resources or individual study habits.

182 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.

proportion: a part or share of a whole number
constituted: to be the parts that form something
prominent: important, noticeable, or standing out very clearly
comparatively: when considered in relation to something else
outweighing: being greater or more significant than something
distribution: the way in which something is shared out

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Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?

Unskilled teachers were the primary cause of poor learning outcomes, while a lack of revision was the least significant factor identified in the survey.

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.