IELTS Writing Task 1 Bar Chart — Band 9 Sample Answer
A bar chart Task 1 requires a clear overview of the main trends, selective use of specific data, and accurate comparison language. This page shows a full band 9 response with examiner commentary explaining exactly what earns the top score on each criterion.
What does a band 9 IELTS Task 1 bar chart answer look like?
A band 9 bar chart response opens with a paraphrased introduction, follows with an overview paragraph stating 2–3 main trends without specific figures, and then develops two body paragraphs with accurate, selected data. The key distinguishing feature at band 9 is the overview — stating the overall picture before diving into detail — combined with precise data language and no grammatical errors.
Quick Facts
- Task type
- Academic Writing Task 1
- Chart type
- Bar chart (two time points)
- Word count
- 167 words
- Predicted band
- 9.0
The chart data
Task 1 Question
The bar chart below shows the average monthly household expenditure (in pounds) on five categories of entertainment in the United Kingdom in 2010 and 2022.
| Category | 2010 (£/month) | 2022 (£/month) |
|---|---|---|
| Dining out | £45 | £68 |
| Sports & fitness | £28 | £41 |
| Streaming services | £5 | £27 |
| Live events | £18 | £16 |
| Cinema | £12 | £7 |
Band 9 sample answer — 167 words
Band 9 Sample Answer — 167 words
The bar chart compares average monthly household spending on five entertainment categories in the UK for the years 2010 and 2022.
Overall, expenditure increased across most categories over the twelve-year period, with dining out and sports seeing the largest absolute rises. The most striking change, however, was the dramatic growth in spending on streaming services, which expanded more than fivefold. Cinema was the only category to record a decline.
Dining out was consistently the highest area of spending, rising from £45 in 2010 to £68 in 2022, an increase of just over 50 percent. Sports and fitness expenditure also grew substantially, climbing from £28 to £41 over the same period.
Streaming services saw the sharpest proportional rise, increasing from just £5 per month in 2010 to £27 in 2022. By contrast, cinema spending fell from £12 to £7. Live events expenditure remained broadly stable, declining only marginally from £18 to £16.
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Why this answer scores band 9 — examiner breakdown
TA
Task Achievement
- +Overview paragraph identifies the key overall trend (most categories up, streaming exceptional, cinema down) without specific figures — exactly what band 9 requires
- +Both years compared accurately across all five categories
- +Data selected intelligently — not every figure listed mechanically, but the most significant patterns highlighted
C&C
Coherence & Cohesion
- +Clear four-paragraph structure: introduction → overview → highest-spending categories → lower-spending + notable changes
- +Cohesive devices used precisely: 'overall', 'however', 'also', 'by contrast', 'over the same period'
- +Each sentence adds a new piece of information rather than repeating what has already been said
LR
Lexical Resource
- +Precise data language: 'expanded more than fivefold', 'climbing from £28 to £41', 'an increase of just over 50 percent'
- +Synonyms for 'increased': 'rose', 'grew substantially', 'climbing', 'expanded' — no word repeated
- +'Broadly stable' and 'declined only marginally' show control of hedging language for small changes
GRA
Grammatical Range & Accuracy
- +Comparative constructions: 'the largest absolute rises', 'the most striking change'
- +Passive voice used where appropriate: 'expanded', 'climbing' — varied grammatical subject throughout
- +Relative clause: 'which expanded more than fivefold' — integrates detail efficiently
- +No grammatical errors across 167 words
How to structure a band 9 bar chart answer
Introduction
Paraphrase the question. Change the vocabulary and sentence structure. Do not copy the task description.
“'The bar chart compares average monthly household spending...' (changes 'shows', 'expenditure', 'United Kingdom')”
Overview (critical for band 7+)
State 2–3 overall trends without using specific figures. This is the single most important paragraph for Task Achievement.
“Most categories increased; streaming grew most dramatically; cinema declined — all stated without numbers.”
Body paragraph 1 — main data
Describe the two or three most significant data points with specific figures. Focus on the patterns that support your overview.
“Dining out (highest overall) and sports (large absolute rise) — specific £ figures and percentage increase included.”
Body paragraph 2 — secondary data
Cover the remaining categories, grouping similar patterns together. Use contrast language where values moved in opposite directions.
“Streaming (exceptional rise) and cinema (only decline) contrasted — 'by contrast' signals the shift.”
Vocabulary that lifts this answer to band 9
These phrases from the sample answer are worth learning as fixed expressions for bar chart tasks.
“expanded more than fivefold”
Precise proportional comparison — stronger than just giving the two figures
“just over 50 percent”
'Just over' signals the writer has calculated and is being precise, not vague
“broadly stable”
Hedging language for small changes — avoids overstating a minor shift
“declined only marginally”
'Only marginally' downplays a small fall — shows range and judgement
“largest absolute rises”
'Absolute' distinguishes total amount from percentage — precise lexical choice
“the most striking change”
Opens the overview pivot — flags that streaming data is exceptional before giving numbers
Check your own Task 1 answer — instant band score
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Frequently Asked Questions
The overview should state 2–3 main trends without using specific figures. Look for the overall direction of change (did most categories increase or decrease?), the most dramatic change, and any exception to the general pattern. In a bar chart comparing two years, the overview typically states which categories grew, which declined, and which changed most markedly.
No. You should describe all the categories, but you do not need to describe every single bar in equal depth. Group similar patterns together ('dining out and sports both increased substantially'), highlight the most significant data points, and avoid listing every figure mechanically. Selective, well-organised data presentation scores higher than exhaustive but unstructured description.
Use past tense for both years if both are in the past ('spending rose from £45 in 2010 to £68 in 2022'). If the chart shows a recent year and a present figure, use present tense for the most recent data. Never mix tenses within a single sentence describing the same time point.
Use precise comparative language: 'twice as high as', 'approximately three times greater than', 'significantly higher than', 'marginally lower than'. Always support comparisons with specific figures from the chart rather than making general statements. Examiners reward accuracy — if the chart shows £45 and £68, say 'rose from £45 to £68' rather than 'increased considerably'.
The minimum is 150 words. Unlike Task 2 (250 words), Task 1 is expected to be shorter. Most band 9 responses are 165–185 words. Writing significantly more does not improve your score and increases the risk of errors and repetition.
No. Task 1 is a descriptive and analytical task — you describe and summarise the data. You should not include your personal opinion about whether the trends are good or bad, or suggest reasons for the trends unless explicitly asked. Task Achievement requires objective, data-based description.
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