Academic Writing Task 1 · mixed chart

Temperature and Rainfall Patterns in Brisbane and Canberra Throughout the Year

The graph and chart below give information on the average daily maximum and minimum temperatures in degrees Celsius (°C) and the average number of days with rainfall each month for two Australian cities.

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

Average daily temperatures in two Australian cities (°C)

Brisbane - maximum
Canberra - maximum
Brisbane - minimum
Canberra - minimum

View the data

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Brisbane - maximum	28	30	25	21	23	21	21	22	24	27	28	29
Canberra - maximum	27	27	24	19	16	12	11	13	16	20	24	27
Brisbane - minimum	21	20	19	17	13	11	10	10	13	17	18	20
Canberra - minimum	13	13	11	7	3	1	1	2	3	6	9	12

Average number of days with rainfall in two Australian cities (Days with rainfall)

Brisbane
Canberra

View the data

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Brisbane	13	14	14	12	10	7	7	7	7	8	10	12
Canberra	7	7	8	7	7	10	10	10	8	10	7	7

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 monthly average daily temperatures and the frequency of rainfall in Brisbane and Canberra. Overall, Brisbane maintains higher temperatures year-round, while Canberra experiences significantly colder minimums during winter months. Regarding rainfall, Brisbane is generally wetter, particularly in the first quarter of the year.

In terms of temperature, Brisbane’s maximums fluctuate between 21°C and 30°C, peaking in February. Canberra follows a similar trend but with a wider range, reaching a high of 27°C in January and February, before dropping to a low of 11°C in July. The minimum temperatures show a starker contrast; while Brisbane’s minimums remain between 10°C and 21°C, Canberra’s minimums plummet to 1°C during June and July, indicating much colder winter nights.

Regarding rainfall, Brisbane experiences its highest frequency in February and March, with 14 days of rain each. Conversely, Canberra’s rainfall is more evenly distributed, peaking at 10 days in June, July, August, and October. Notably, from June to September, Canberra records more rainy days than Brisbane, which sees its lowest rainfall frequency of 7 days during these same months.

177 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.

fluctuate: to change or vary frequently in level
starker: more severe, obvious, or clearly defined contrast
plummet: to fall or drop straight down rapidly
evenly distributed: spread out equally across the whole period
conversely: in a way that is the opposite
peaking: reaching the highest point or level possible

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Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?

Brisbane generally experiences warmer temperatures and more frequent rainfall than Canberra, which exhibits a more pronounced seasonal temperature variation.

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.