IELTS Writing Task 1 pie chart: question, model answer and language
Pie charts show shares of a whole, so the language is about proportions: a third, a quarter, the largest share, percentage points. Most IELTS pie chart questions give you two or more pies to compare. Try this one in 20 minutes first.
Updated 2026-10-23
What a pie chart question asks you to do
Each pie divides a total into parts. When there are two or more pies, they almost always represent different years or different places, and the main features are the biggest shares and the biggest changes between pies.
Before you write, find:
- the largest and smallest slice in each pie;
- the slice that changed most between pies, and in which direction;
- any change in ranking (a slice that was largest and is no longer).
A structure for two pie charts
| Paragraph | Content |
|---|---|
| Introduction | What the pies show, where and when |
| Overview | The biggest change(s) and the largest category at each point |
| Body 1 | The first pie: largest to smallest, with figures |
| Body 2 | The second pie, described as changes from the first |
An alternative is to give Body 1 to the categories that grew and Body 2 to those that shrank. Choose whichever makes the comparisons easier to write.
Practice question
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
The pie charts below show how the average household in one country spent its money in 1990 and 2020.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.
The figures are invented for practice.
Band 9 model answer
The two pie charts compare how the average household in one country divided its spending between five categories in 1990 and 2020.
Overall, the most significant change was a shift from food to housing. Food was the largest expense in 1990, but by 2020 housing had taken its place, accounting for over a third of the budget. The shares spent on leisure and transport also grew, while the "other" category shrank.
In 1990, food took 30% of household spending, followed by other items at 25% and housing at 22%. Transport and leisure were the smallest categories, at 14% and 9% respectively.
Thirty years later, the share spent on housing had risen by 12 percentage points to 34%, whereas the proportion going on food had halved to 15%, making it only the fourth-largest expense. Spending on other items fell slightly, to 21%. Meanwhile, transport rose modestly to 17%, and leisure, although still the smallest category, increased to 13%.
Word count: 157
Why this answer scores highly
Task Achievement. The overview identifies the key change, the swap between food and housing at the top, plus the direction of every other category. The body gives every figure, which is reasonable here because there are only ten.
Coherence and Cohesion. Body 2 is written as a set of changes from Body 1, so every sentence compares. Thirty years later, whereas and meanwhile guide the reader without being mechanical.
Lexical Resource. The answer uses a range of share vocabulary: took 30% of, accounting for, the share spent on, the proportion going on, halved. It uses "percentage points" correctly.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy. The past perfect (had risen, had taken its place) correctly marks change up to 2020. Participle clauses (accounting for…, making it…) add range.
Language for proportions
| Figure | Natural expression |
|---|---|
| 50% | half |
| 34% | just over a third |
| 25% | a quarter |
| 21% | around a fifth |
| 13% | roughly one in eight |
| 9% | less than a tenth |
Useful verbs: account for, make up, represent, take up, comprise. Note that comprise takes no "of": "Housing comprised a third of spending."
Common mistakes on pie charts
- Treating each pie as a separate task. If you never compare, you cannot reach band 7 for Task Achievement.
- Mixing up percent and percentage points. 22% to 34% is a rise of 12 percentage points, not "12%".
- Overusing "percentage". Vary with share, proportion, portion and fractions.
- Missing the ranking change. If the largest slice changes between pies, it belongs in the overview.
Before you hand it in
- Does your overview mention the biggest change and the largest slice?
- Have you compared the pies in every sentence of the second body paragraph?
- Are your fractions accurate?
Next, try a table question, or see how proportions appear in a bar chart.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between percent and percentage points?
If a share goes from 22% to 34%, it rose by 12 percentage points, which is an increase of about 55 percent. Use 'percentage points' for the simple difference between two percentages to avoid being inaccurate.
Should I compare the pies or describe each pie separately?
Compare them. Describing one pie and then the other in separate paragraphs is acceptable, but the second paragraph must refer back to the first. The strongest answers organise around the biggest changes.
Can I use 'per cent' and '%' in IELTS Writing?
Both are fine. Be consistent, and do not start a sentence with a numeral: write 'Thirty per cent of…' or rephrase the sentence.