Academic Writing Task 1 · mixed chart

Trends in film viewing costs and market share from 2005 to 2011

The line graph shows the cost for watching films. The pie charts show the shift in the percentage of market share among the three types.

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

Cost for watching films (currency)
0481216202005200620072008200920102011
  • Cinema Ticket
  • DVD
  • Legal Download
View the data
2005200620072008200920102011
Cinema Ticket91010.511121314
DVD66.36.66.877.58
Legal Download75356.57.59
Market share in 2005 (%)
  • Go to cinema: 36%
  • Legal Download (watch online): 5%
  • Rent a DVD: 59%
View the data
CategoryValue (%)
Go to cinema36
Legal Download (watch online)5
Rent a DVD59
Market share in 2011 (%)
  • Go to cinema: 18%
  • Legal Download (watch online): 56%
  • Rent a DVD: 26%
View the data
CategoryValue (%)
Go to cinema18
Legal Download (watch online)56
Rent a DVD26

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 line graph illustrates the changes in the cost of three different ways to watch films between 2005 and 2011, while the pie charts depict the corresponding shifts in market share.

Overall, the cost for all three methods increased throughout the period. Simultaneously, the market share for renting DVDs plummeted, whereas legal downloads experienced a dramatic surge in popularity.

Regarding costs, cinema tickets were the most expensive throughout, rising steadily from 9 in 2005 to 14 by 2011. DVD prices saw a more gradual increase, starting at 6 and reaching 8. Legal downloads were initially priced at 7, dipped to a low of 3 in 2007, but then climbed sharply to finish at 9 in 2011, overtaking DVD costs.

In terms of market share, renting a DVD was the dominant method in 2005, accounting for 59% of the market, followed by cinema visits at 36% and legal downloads at only 5%. By 2011, the landscape had transformed; legal downloads became the market leader at 56%. Conversely, the share for renting DVDs dropped to 26%, and cinema attendance halved to 18%.

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

How to write about mixed charts

plummeted
fell sharply and suddenly in value or amount
surge
a sudden powerful forward or upward movement
steadily
in a regular and even manner without interruption
overtaking
catching up with and passing while in motion
transformed
made a thorough or dramatic change in form
accounted for
constituted a particular amount or part of something

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Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?

While the costs for all three film-viewing methods rose over the period, there was a significant shift in consumer preference from renting DVDs to legal online downloads.

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.

More mixed charts