This IELTS Writing Task 1 post focuses on strategies to write a good answer to a single bar chart. As you can see in this picture, there are very few data to cover an answer with 150 words. So, I’m going to show you the tricky ways to expand your answer here in an organized way. Try to follow the points discussed prior to the model answer. Also, take a look at the vocabulary and bonus tips. Please, consider them important and follow the steps because they will, without any doubt, guide you to cover a good band in Task 1.
First, we need to scan the title and the picture attentively.
The following bar chart shows the comparative selling rates of four types of books at the Ekushey Book Fair 2013. (RB’16, Sb’15)
How to write a good answer to a single bar chart:
As can be seen in the chart, it deals with the number of books sold in a book fair. Before we write the answer, we need to scan the picture well with the intention that no data goes unobserved. Every single feature will assist you to write the answer perfectly.
Ask yourself the following questions:
- What does your writing need to focus on here? Data details for each bar/ column? Or, any trends in sales of books?
Interestingly, there is no trend present here as this is not a column graph. Rather it has four bars showing the number of book sales that happened at the same time. So, it also focuses on public interest in books.
- Does your answer contain 150 words?
As it is a task requirement, you cannot write less than 150 words. If that happens, you will be seriously penalized. So, you need to check the number of words you wrote for this answer.
- Does your answer contain correct numeral information?
This means the representation of numbers in the Task 1 picture. It cannot mismatch with the answer. You will be seriously penalized for providing the wrong information. So, please be careful about the number you are writing.
- Does your answer have clear and solid paragraphing? It must have good paragraphing.
Please follow this link to get an idea of paragraphing for a pie chart/ bar chart.
- Does your answer have any personal opinion, reasons or effects?
Do not include them. You will be penalized if you do so.
- Did you use the right language?
For answering this kind of picture, you have to write some sentences using a degree of comparison/ compare and contrast. To learn more about how to write sentences like this, please follow the link below.
https://ieltsdeal.com/2018/02/17/ielts-writing-task-1-task-2-grammar-for-comparing-and-contrasting/
Now let’s take a look at the model answer which I’ve prepared for you.
Model answer:
This bar chart is a clear illustration of the comparative selling rates of four kinds of books at the Ekushey Book Fair in the year 2013. In general, it is apparent that the maximum share of sales of book types went to novels while the minimum went to Poetry.
As it can be noticed in the chart, people bought approximately 4500 novels which comprised the highest figure in this chart. With a sale of around 500 books less than novels, science fiction took second place in the chart. About 2500 history books were also sold in the book fair and thus it gained the third position. Only around 500 poetry books were traded at this fair which was the lowest figure in the chart.
In fine, it is fairly apparent in the chart, people who visited the Ekushey Book Fair in 2013 showed their maximum interest in book types like novels and science fiction while they showed less interest in poetry.
(160 words)
Vocabulary:
Illustration = picture, diagram, image
Rate = number of selling units (for this chart)
In general = on the whole, overall, as a general trend,
Apparent = Noticeable, evident, visible, clear
Novel = work of fiction
Poetry = poems
History = the study of the past
Science fiction = a broad genre of fiction that often involves speculations based on current or future science or technology.
Figure = number, numeral
Comprise = consist of, include, contain
Highest = maximum
Gain = achieve, attain, get, earn
Traded = bought and sold
Lowest = minimum
Interest = attention, curiosity
Bonus tips:
Learn to paraphrase as quickly as possible. You cannot copy the title of the picture as it is. You must change the sentence formation and use synonyms. Copying the title will result in a penalty. So, rephrasing or paraphrasing the title will not only change the look of the introduction but also prize you with a good start and you will surely get a good band.
