IELTS writing task 1 - bar graph sample

IELTS academic writing task 1 bar graph sample

IELTS academic writing task 1 question 1-sample answer

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

The bar graph below shows the percentage of tourists to Thailand who visited four different attractions in Bangkok.

Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Write at least 150 words.




IELTS writing task 1 - bar graph sample
IELTS writing task 1 – bar graph sample

How to write an answer for IELTS writing task one?

You get about 20 min in the IELTS test to complete this task.

Step 1: Read the question and look at the graph or picture carefully. Notice what are the data points on the x-axis and the y-axis.Look at the major changes in the data, it could be varying levels of increase or decrease.

Step 2:  Write the opening statement by paraphrasing either the question itself or by stating what the graph shows. Look at the sample answer to understand how.

Step 3:
Write each point that you notice such as the total number of …/a percentage of… and the changes like this “there was an increase / decrease / a change in …./ ….remained steady etc.
Accurately represent the data, make sure all your numbers and trends are correct.

Step 4: Finally, write the conclusion by looking at the overall picture. It should not be individual trends but the overall conclusion. Look at the sample answer. It should give you a fair idea.



IELTS writing task 1 sample answer for bar graph 1

Model answer

The bar graph shows the proportion of tourists to Thailand who had visited Bangkok zoo, Sea world, wax museum and China town in Bangkok between 2014 and 2017. Wax museum was clearly the most popular among all tourists to Thailand while the Bangkok zoo had the least number of visitors. In 2014, 50 percent of all tourists visiting Thailand went to the Bangkok zoo. Between 2014 and 2017 there was a dramatic decrease in the numbers. In 2015 and 2016 less than 25 percent of all tourists went to the zoo. It further fell to under 10 percent by 2017.
Percentage of tourists visiting Wax museum and china town consistently increased while those going to the zoo and sea world steadily decreased between 2014 and 2016. It went up from less than 50 percent to over 80 percent and from under 20 percent to 100 percent respectively whereas the decline in visitors to the zoo was from 50 percent to less than 30 percent.
Overall, there was an increase in the total percentage of visitors to the wax museum over the period of the last 4 years and a striking decline in the number of visitors going to all the other three attractions in Bangkok.

You may be interested in the

personalized IELTS training course

IELTS test modules explained




Leave a Comment