IELTS Pie Chart Tips and Strategies to Ace in the Writing Task 1

 The table presents the data on the police budget from which the money came, and the two pie charts describe the distribution of the amount of money in the consecutive years 2017 and 2018 in an area of Britain.

Overall, the police budget was primarily funded by the national government, showing an upward trend over the two years. Most of the budget was allocated to salaries, though the percentage allocated to technology saw a notable increase.

Looking into more detail, the highest amount of money on the police budget belonged to the ‘national Government’, 175.5 million pounds in 2017, and it kept rising to 177.8 million pounds. This was followed by ‘Local Taxes’, at 91.2 million pounds in 2017; after one year, it increased significantly to 102.3 million pounds.

 In terms of how the money was spent, the majority of the police budget goes to salaries which were for officers and staff, dropping slightly from 75% in 2017 to 69% in 2018. Meanwhile, the proportion of ‘Buildings and transport’ remained constant, at 17% each year. An opposite pattern can be seen in the category of technology, its figure rose sharply from 8% in 2017 to 14% in 2018, which was always the lowest rate during the given period.

This is an answer written by a candidate with a Band 7.5 score, here is the expert’s comment.

 In the IELTS Writing Task 1, the examiner's feedback is based on four assessment criteria: Task Achievement, Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource, and Grammatical Range and Accuracy. 

• Task Achievement: This is a strong response. The candidate provides a clear overview at the end of the first paragraph. Full details are given for the first two sources of the budget but, to achieve a higher rating, key features in the table could be more fully extended.
• Coherence & Cohesion: Information is presented in the order of the table first and then the charts, logically. 
• Lexical Resource & Grammatical Range of Accuracy: There is a wide range of vocabulary [figure rose sharply | during the given period] with accurate spelling, although there are occasional errors in word choice. The candidate should include a wider range of vocabulary to ensure that the comparisons are as clear and detailed as possible.

The table displays the sources of police funding in a region of Britain in 2017 and 2018. The pie charts show how that money was spent in each year. Overall, most of the funding came from the national government, which slightly increased over time. Salaries took the largest share of spending, although the budget for technology rose significantly in 2018.

In both years, the national government provided the largest portion of the police budget. It contributed £175.5 million in 2017 and rose modestly to £177.8 million in 2018. Local taxes followed, increasing from £91.2 million to £102.3 million, which marked the most notable growth. Other sources remained stable at £38 million in both years.

Spending patterns shifted somewhat between the two years. The majority of the budget went to salaries, which made up 75% in 2017. This figure declined to 69% in 2018. In contrast, the allocation for technology doubled from 8% to 14%, reflecting a growing focus in that area. Meanwhile, buildings and transport received a steady 17% share in both years. It can be seen that while the funding saw only slight increases, the allocation of resources changed, especially with more investment in technology.

Firstly, you should read the question carefully and take time to understand the graph, the data it represents and its features before writing your answer. 

The above graph includes the sources of police budgets (table chart) and how the money was spent (pie chart) over two consecutive years.

After thoroughly reading the task prompt, spot the key features—the highest figure, the lowest figure, an unchanged trend, or any noticeable change—and make comparisons where relevant. 

For example:

The Pie chart shows that the primary source of the police budget is the national government, rising from 2017 to 2018. There was a significant rise in the local tax contributions from 2017 to 2018. Salaries consistently make up the biggest proportion of the budget, though with a slight decrease.  There was a sharp rise in budget allocation for technology.

By this step, you have a clear outline of which data points/key features you will be including in your answer. When you start writing the report, begin with a strong introduction by rewording the task question. For example: “The table presents the data on the police budget from which the money came, and the two pie charts describe the distribution of the amount of money in the consecutive years 2017 and 2018 in an area of Britain.”

PRO TIP: In the introductory paragraph, always paraphrase the question, that is, say the same things in different words. You can do this by using synonyms and changing the sentence structure.

After writing the introduction, you should aim to write the major trends (highest trend/lowest trend/changed figure/unchanged figure) of the graph. Here, you will only highlight key features and any noticeable comparisons. 

Example: “Overall, the police budget was primarily funded by the national government, showing an upward trend over the two years. Most of the budget was allocated to salaries, though the percentage allocated to technology notably increased."

After highlighting the key features, the following paragraphs (3&4..) will include a detailed analysis of the graph, each will focus on different significant features. For instance:

Paragraph 2 discusses the funding sources (Pie chart):
 “Looking into more detail, the highest amount of money on the police budget belonged to the ‘national Government’, 175.5 million pounds in 2017, and it kept rising to 177.8 million pounds. This was followed by ‘Local Taxes’, at 91.2 million pounds in 2017, after one year, it increased significantly to 102.3 million pounds.”

Paragraph 3 might focus on how the funds were utilised: 
“In terms of how the money was spent, the majority of the police budget goes to salaries which were for officers and staff, dropping slightly from 75% in 2017 to 69% in 2018. Meanwhile, the proportion of ‘Buildings and transport’ remained constant, at 17% each year. An opposite pattern can be seen in the category of technology, its figure rose sharply from 8% in 2017 to 14% in 2018, which was always the lowest rate during the given period.”

By following the above steps, you can write a well-structured response that will cover all aspects of the graph. Here is how you can score high in the IELTS pie chart task.
Read More: How to achieve a band score of 9.0 in IELTS Writing?

Start by carefully reading the question to understand what the pie chart represents. Then, identify key trends and proportions before writing. Follow the typical structure: introduction, overview, and body paragraphs with comparisons and detailed data analysis.

Use precise vocabulary to describe proportions, comparisons, trends, and relationships. Words like "accounts for," "represents," "larger than," and "significantly higher" will enhance your response. Avoid repetition and use varied adjectives and adverbs for more sophisticated descriptions.

No, avoid describing every slice in detail. Focus on key data, such as the largest and smallest segments, and group similar categories together. This will make your response clearer and more concise.

The overview summarizes the main trends or differences in the pie chart. It highlights the biggest and smallest sections or other noticeable patterns. An overview is essential for scoring well, as it shows that you can identify the key features.

Always double-check the data to ensure you’re interpreting the percentages correctly. Ensure that your total adds up to 100%. Mistakes in data interpretation can significantly lower your score.

Some common mistakes include:

• Over-describing every segment
• Not grouping related data
• Failing to include a clear overview
• Repeating the same vocabulary
• Misinterpreting the data (e.g., mistaking percentage values)

Allocate about 20 minutes for Task 1. Spend 3-4 minutes analyzing the chart and planning your response. Write the introduction and overview quickly, then focus on describing the data in the body paragraphs, making sure to keep your response concise.

No, your answer should focus purely on describing the data shown in the pie chart. Avoid adding personal opinions or speculating on reasons for the trends unless the question specifically asks you to do so.

When comparing multiple pie charts, focus on the key differences and similarities between them. Group similar data points and highlight the most significant changes. Be sure to make clear comparisons using terms like “higher,” “lower,” or “more than.”

• Use a range of vocabulary and avoid repetition.
• Group related data logically.
• Include a clear overview with key trends.
• Keep your writing well-structured and avoid unnecessary details.
• Proofread the essay for grammatical errors and clarity.