IELTS Writing Task 1 pie chart: how to describe it, with Band 7 and Band 9 samples
Last verified 8 October 2026 · 5 min read · ieltspractice.app
Quick answer
In a Task 1 pie chart question, you report and compare the biggest and smallest shares in at least 150 words, in about 20 minutes. Use four parts: paraphrase the question, write an overview without numbers, then two detail paragraphs. Band 7 and Band 9 samples follow.
Photo: Lalmch (Pixabay) — Wikimedia Commons (CC0 1.0)
What does a Task 1 pie chart question look like?
A pie chart is a circle cut into parts. Each part shows a share of a total, and all the parts add up to 100%. In IELTS Academic Writing Task 1, you describe the chart in your own words, without giving reasons or opinions.
Pie chart questions often have two or more pies, for example one for each year. Then you compare the shares inside each pie and the changes between the pies. Our practice task has two pies, one for 2014 and one for 2024.
The café and its sales are invented for practice. They are not real statistics.
Practice task: a café’s sales by product
The pie charts below show the share of a café's sales that came from five products in 2014 and 2024. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
- Coffee — 40%
- Tea — 25%
- Cakes — 15%
- Sandwiches — 12%
- Cold drinks — 8%
| Product | Share (%) |
|---|---|
| Coffee | 40 |
| Tea | 25 |
| Cakes | 15 |
| Sandwiches | 12 |
| Cold drinks | 8 |
- Coffee — 46%
- Tea — 14%
- Cakes — 15%
- Sandwiches — 18%
- Cold drinks — 7%
| Product | Share (%) |
|---|---|
| Coffee | 46 |
| Tea | 14 |
| Cakes | 15 |
| Sandwiches | 18 |
| Cold drinks | 7 |
Write at least 150 words.
How to structure a pie chart answer
Paraphrase the question (1 sentence)
Say what the charts show in your own words. For example, “the share of a café’s sales that came from five products” can become “how a café’s sales were divided among five products”. See our guide to paraphrasing for more ways.
Write an overview with no numbers (2 sentences)
An overview sums up the main points in one or two sentences. Give the biggest share and the biggest changes. Here: coffee was the best-selling product in both years, tea fell sharply, and sandwiches grew.
Detail paragraph 1: the biggest shares and changes
Give the figures for the main items. Here: coffee rose from 40% to 46%, while tea fell from 25% to 14%.
Detail paragraph 2: the smaller shares
Group the rest. Here: sandwiches grew to 18%, cakes stayed at 15%, and cold drinks stayed the smallest share.
How to plan your time in Task 1
IELTS says you should spend no more than 20 minutes on Task 1, and Task 2 counts twice as much. So keep to a simple plan like this one.
Minutes 1 to 3: read and group. Find the main features of the pie charts and decide which items go in each detail paragraph.
Minutes 4 to 6: introduction and overview. Write one sentence that paraphrases the question and two sentences of overview.
Minutes 7 to 16: two detail paragraphs. Add the figures for the main features and compare them.
Minutes 17 to 20: check. Check every number against the pie charts. Then look for small errors, such as “less” for “fewer”, a missing “the” or the wrong tense.
How do I compare two pie charts?
First, find the biggest slice in each pie. Is it the same item in both years? Here, coffee is the biggest slice in both pies, and it grows.
Next, compare the same slice across the two pies. Look for the slices that grew, the slices that shrank and the slices that stayed the same. Tea shrank the most, sandwiches grew, and cakes did not change.
Important: a pie chart shows shares, not amounts. Coffee’s share grew, but the chart does not tell you whether the café sold more coffee. Write “coffee’s share rose”, not “the café sold more coffee”. For a step-by-step method, read how to describe a graph or chart.
| What | What IELTS says |
|---|---|
| The task | Describe visual information (a graph, table, chart or diagram) in your own words |
| Length | At least 150 words |
| Time | About 20 minutes |
| What it tests | A well-organised overview of the visual information |
| Style | An academic or semi-formal/neutral style |
| How to write | Full sentences, not notes or bullet points |
| Marking criteria | Task achievement (Task 1) or Task response (Task 2), Coherence and cohesion, Lexical resource, and Grammatical range and accuracy |
| Task 1 and Task 2 | Task 2 contributes twice as much as Task 1 to the Writing score |
Useful language for pie charts and percentages
Verbs for shares: “coffee accounted for 40% of sales”, “tea made up 25%”, “cold drinks represented the smallest share”. These are more precise than “coffee was 40%”.
Fractions: 50% is half, 25% is a quarter, about 33% is a third, 20% is a fifth and 10% is a tenth. Use “almost”, “just over” or “roughly” when the number is close: 46% is “almost half”.
Percentage points: when a share goes from 40% to 46%, it rises by six percentage points. A percentage point is the simple difference between two percentages. Do not write “rose by 6%”, because that means something different.
Linking and comparing: “whereas”, “while”, “by contrast”, “the largest share”, “the second largest”, “twice as large as”. For more, see our IELTS linking words. The years here are in the past, so use the past simple: “rose”, “fell”, “stayed”.
Band 7 pie chart sample answer
Here is a Band 7 answer to the café task. It is a good answer, but read the notes to see what holds it back.
Band 7 sample
Academic Task 1Answer to the café pie chart task above.
Our team wrote this sample to show what the public band descriptors describe.
The pie charts show the percentage of sales of five different products in a café in 2014 and 2024.
Overall, coffee was the most popular product in both years.(note 1) Tea became much less popular over the period, but sandwiches became more popular.
In 2014, coffee was 40% of the sales(note 2) and tea was the second with 25%. In 2024, the coffee increased to 46%, which is almost half(note 3) of all the sales. However, tea(note 4) decreased a lot(note 5) to only 14%, so it had the biggest decrease of all the products and it went from second to fourth place(note 6).
Sandwiches were 12% in 2014, and it increased(note 7) to 18% in 2024, so they became the second most popular product. Cakes did not change and stayed in 15%(note 8) in both years. Finally, cold drinks were the smallest part of the sales in both years, with 8% in 2014 and 7% in 2024. In general, coffee and sandwiches became a bigger part of the café’s sales over the ten years.
Notes on this answer
TATask achievement
“Overall, coffee was the most popular product in both years.”: A clear overview with no numbers. It is accurate but short, and “popular” is repeated three times in two sentences.
LRLexical resource
“coffee was 40% of the sales”: Coffee is not a percentage. “Coffee accounted for 40% of sales” is more precise.
GRAGrammatical range and accuracy
“which is almost half”: The rest of the answer is in the past, so this should be “which was almost half”.
CCCoherence and cohesion
“However, tea”: A correct linking word, but most ideas here are joined with “and”, “but” and “so”. “By contrast” or “whereas” would add range.
LRLexical resource
“decreased a lot”: Vague. “Fell sharply” or “fell by eleven percentage points” is more exact.
TATask achievement
“so it had the biggest decrease of all the products and it went from second to fourth place”: Good: a comparison across the products and a change in ranking, both correct.
GRAGrammatical range and accuracy
“Sandwiches were 12% in 2014, and it increased”: “Sandwiches” is plural, so the pronoun (the word that stands for it) should be “they”, or better, “their share increased”.
GRAGrammatical range and accuracy
“stayed in 15%”: Wrong preposition (a small linking word such as at, in or to): “stayed at 15%”.
Why Band 7: The answer covers every product with correct figures and has a clear overview. It is held back by repeated, less precise words and a few small grammar errors.
Band 9 pie chart sample answer
Here is a Band 9 answer to the same task. Notice how it talks about shares, not amounts, and how it uses rankings to compare.
Band 9 sample
Academic Task 1Answer to the café pie chart task above.
Our team wrote this sample to show what the public band descriptors describe.
The two pie charts illustrate how a café’s sales were divided among five products in 2014 and 2024.
Overall, coffee was by far the café’s best-selling product in both years, and its share grew further over the decade.(note 1) The most striking change was the sharp decline of tea, while sandwiches became considerably more important.
In 2014, coffee accounted for 40% of sales(note 2), and tea was the second most popular item, at 25%, a quarter of the total(note 3). By 2024, coffee had increased its share to 46%(note 4), almost half of all sales. Tea, by contrast, fell to just 14%, dropping from second place to fourth.
Sandwiches moved in the opposite direction.(note 5) Their share rose from 12% to 18%, which made them the café’s second largest source of sales in 2024. Cakes held steady at 15%, so they ranked third in both years(note 6), while cold drinks made up the smallest proportion throughout, slipping slightly from 8% to 7%(note 7).
Notes on this answer
TATask achievement
“Overall, coffee was by far the café’s best-selling product in both years, and its share grew further over the decade.”: The overview gives the largest share and its direction, then the biggest change (the fall of tea) and the rise of sandwiches. No numbers.
LRLexical resource
“coffee accounted for 40% of sales”: “Accounted for” is the natural verb for a share of a total.
LRLexical resource
“at 25%, a quarter of the total”: Adding the fraction helps the reader picture the size of the slice.
GRAGrammatical range and accuracy
“coffee had increased its share to 46%”: “Had increased” (the past perfect: had + a past form such as increased) with “By 2024” shows a change that was complete by that year. “Its share” keeps the meaning exact.
CCCoherence and cohesion
“Sandwiches moved in the opposite direction.”: A short first sentence tells the reader what the paragraph is about and links it to the fall of tea.
TATask achievement
“so they ranked third in both years”: Even an unchanged share is compared: cakes kept the same rank.
GRAGrammatical range and accuracy
“slipping slightly from 8% to 7%”: An -ing phrase adds a detail at the end of the sentence, with no extra “and”.
Why Band 9: Every product is covered, the overview is clear and the comparisons use ranks and fractions. The vocabulary is precise and the grammar is varied and error-free.
What makes the Band 9 answer better?
Both answers are accurate and well organised. The Band 9 answer gives a fuller overview, with the largest share, the biggest change and the rise of sandwiches. It uses verbs made for shares, such as “accounted for” and “made up”, and it never repeats the same word to describe change.
The Band 7 answer has a few small errors and repeats “popular” and “increased”. These do not stop the reader from understanding, which is why it still reaches Band 7. How IELTS Writing is scored explains the four criteria in more detail.
In plain words: Task Achievement is how well you report the main points. Coherence and Cohesion is how easy your answer is to follow, including linking words. Lexical Resource is your vocabulary, and Grammatical Range and Accuracy is your grammar.
| Criterion | Band 7 descriptor | Band 9 descriptor |
|---|---|---|
| Task Achievement (TA) | “(Academic) It presents a clear overview, the data are appropriately categorised, and main trends or differences are identified.” | “All the requirements of the task are fully and appropriately satisfied.” |
| Coherence & Cohesion (CC) | “Information and ideas are logically organised and there is a clear progression throughout the response. A few lapses may occur.” | “The message can be followed effortlessly. … Paragraphing is skilfully managed.” |
| Lexical Resource (LR) | “The resource is sufficient to allow some flexibility and precision.” | “Full flexibility and precise use are evident within the scope of the task.” |
| Grammatical Range & Accuracy (GRA) | “A variety of complex structures is used with some flexibility and accuracy.” | “A wide range of structures within the scope of the task is used with full flexibility and control.” |
Describe this pie chart: write at least 150 words, then get a graded practice
Write your own answer to the pie chart task above in about 20 minutes, and check it against the Band 9 sample. Then open Writing practice and choose Task 1. The app gives you one of its own practice questions and grades your answer on the four criteria.Start a free Writing practice
Check your word count
IELTS asks for at least 150 words in Task 1. To check your length, paste your answer into our IELTS word counter and choose Task 1. Aim a little above 150 words, and keep time for Task 2, which counts for more.
Common mistakes in pie chart answers
Amounts instead of shares. A bigger slice does not always mean more sales. Talk about shares and percentages.
One pie at a time. Describing the 2014 pie and then the 2024 pie, with no comparison, misses the main point. Compare the same item across both pies.
Every slice in the same pattern. “Coffee was 40%, tea was 25%, cakes were 15%” is a list. Group the slices that grew, fell or stayed the same.
“Increased by 6%”. When a share goes from 40% to 46%, say it rose by six percentage points, or simply give both figures.
More Task 1 guides
- Bar chart: Band 7 and Band 9 samples
- Table: Band 7 and Band 9 samples
- Multiple charts: Band 7 and Band 9 samples
- Line graph: Band 9 sample answer
- How to describe a graph or chart
- How to describe a map
- How to describe a process diagram
- General Training: informal letter, with samples
- General Training: semi-formal letter, with samples
Frequently asked questions
How do you write a pie chart answer in IELTS Writing Task 1?
Use four parts. Paraphrase the question in one sentence. Write an overview of the biggest shares and changes with no numbers. Then write two paragraphs of details that compare the slices and give their percentages.
How many words should a pie chart answer be?
IELTS asks for at least 150 words in about 20 minutes. Two pies with five slices each give you ten percentages, and comparing the main shares fills that length. IELTS warns that a longer Task 1 answer may leave you less time for Task 2, which counts twice as much. Both samples here are between 150 and 210 words long.
How do I describe two pie charts?
Compare them, do not describe them one by one. In the overview, say what stayed the same and what changed most. In the details, follow each important item from the first pie to the second.
Should I write percentages or fractions?
Use both. Give the exact percentage from the chart, and add a fraction such as “a quarter” or “almost half” when it helps the reader. Always keep the exact figure for the main items.
Do I have to mention every slice of the pie chart?
Usually you can mention most of them, because pie charts have few slices. But IELTS says you have to include the most important points, and some minor points or details may be left out. Group small slices together.
Is the café chart a real IELTS question?
No. It is an original practice question that our team wrote in the style of the test. The café and its sales shares are invented. Use the two pies to practise comparing shares, then try a graded question in Writing practice.
Sources
- IELTS (ielts.org): IELTS Academic format, Writing
- IELTS (ielts.org): Writing band descriptors (PDF, updated May 2023)
Facts on this page last checked against these sources on 8 October 2026.
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