Academic Writing Task 1 · mixed chart

Trends in Household Food Expenditure and Restaurant Meal Consumption Patterns

The charts below show the percentage of their food budget the average family spent on restaurant meals in different years. The graph shows the number of meals eaten in fast food restaurants and sit-down restaurants.

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

Percentage of Food Budget Spent on Restaurant Meals

1970: 10
1980: 15
1990: 35
2000: 50

View the data

Category	Value
1970	10
1980	15
1990	35
2000	50

Fast Food vs. Sitdown Restaurant (Number of Meals / Per Year)

Fast Food Meals
Sitdown Restaurant Meals

View the data

	1970	1980	1990	2000
Fast Food Meals	20	30	55	86
Sitdown Restaurant Meals	20	35	46	50

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 shift in household food spending and the frequency of dining out between 1970 and 2000. Overall, it is evident that families increasingly prioritised restaurant meals over home cooking, with a marked preference for fast food emerging towards the end of the period.

In 1970, only 10% of the average food budget was spent on restaurant meals. This figure grew steadily to 15% in 1980 and 35% in 1990, eventually reaching 50% by the year 2000. This indicates a substantial change in consumer behaviour regarding food consumption.

Regarding the frequency of dining out, both fast food and sit-down restaurant meals started at 20 per year in 1970. By 1980, sit-down meals were more popular at 35 per year compared to 30 for fast food. However, this trend reversed by 1990, when fast food consumption rose to 55 meals annually, surpassing the 46 meals recorded for sit-down restaurants. By 2000, the gap widened further, with fast food reaching 86 meals per year, while sit-down restaurant meals grew more modestly to 50 per year.

176 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.

allocated: distributed or assigned for a particular purpose
marked: clearly noticeable or significant in degree
steadily: in a regular and even manner
surpassing: exceeding or going beyond a previous level
modestly: to a relatively small or limited extent
proportion: a part or share in relation to whole

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Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?

The proportion of food budgets allocated to restaurant meals rose significantly over the period, while the frequency of eating out at both fast food and sit-down establishments also increased, with fast food becoming the dominant choice by 2000.

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.