Practice › Task 1
IELTS Writing Task 1: Mixed / multiple charts
How to recognise it
Two different visuals (e.g. a line graph and a pie chart, or a table and a bar chart) on a related topic.
The overview
Give one main point from EACH chart, and link them if there is a clear connection.
Plan (20 minutes)
| Paragraph | What to write |
|---|---|
| Introduction (1 sentence) | Paraphrase both charts in one sentence. |
| Overview (2 sentences) | The key point of chart 1 and of chart 2. |
| Body 1 | Chart 1: selected figures and comparisons. |
| Body 2 | Chart 2: selected figures; link to chart 1 if relevant. |
Think before you write
- What does the visual show, in what units, and over what time or in what places?
- Find the 2-3 key features (biggest, smallest, main trend, biggest change, exception).
- Write the overview sentence first in your head; it decides how you group the body paragraphs.
- Choose only the figures that support those features. Don't describe everything.
Useful language
- Turning to the second chart, …
- This is reflected in…
- Meanwhile, the table shows…
- rose steadily
- fell sharply
- peaked at…
- accounted for…
- the largest proportion…
- Overall, …
- Taken together, the charts show…
Mistakes that cost bands
- Describing only one chart in detail and the other in one line.
- No overview covering both charts.
- Inventing a cause linking the charts (no speculation).
10 practice questions
Original questions written for upband.ai in the style of the exam. Write your answer in 20 minutes, then score it.
The first chart shows the number of electric cars sold in one country from 2015 to 2025; the second shows the reasons buyers gave for choosing an electric car in 2025.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Sales 2015 (thousands) | 10 |
| Sales 2019 | 40 |
| Sales 2022 | 150 |
| Sales 2025 | 420 |
| Reason: lower running costs (%) | 40 |
| Reason: environment (%) | 30 |
| Reason: tax incentives (%) | 20 |
| Reason: other (%) | 10 |
Units: thousands sold / % of buyers
Practise this question →The bar chart shows the number of hours of sunshine per month in a seaside town; the table shows the number of hotel guests per month.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.
| Month | Sunshine hours | Hotel guests |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 60 | 2000 |
| Apr | 150 | 6000 |
| Jul | 260 | 15000 |
| Oct | 110 | 5000 |
Units: hours / guests
Practise this question →The line graph shows the average house price in one city from 2005 to 2025; the pie chart shows the types of homes bought in 2025.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Price 2005 (£ thousand) | 180 |
| Price 2010 | 170 |
| Price 2015 | 240 |
| Price 2020 | 300 |
| Price 2025 | 360 |
| Flats (%) | 45 |
| Terraced houses (%) | 30 |
| Semi-detached (%) | 15 |
| Detached (%) | 10 |
Units: £ thousand / % of purchases
Practise this question →The table shows the number of visitors to a science museum by age group; the bar chart shows visitor satisfaction with four parts of the museum.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Visitors under 16 (thousands) | 120 |
| 16-30 | 60 |
| 31-50 | 90 |
| Over 50 | 50 |
| Satisfaction: exhibitions (%) | 85 |
| Satisfaction: café (%) | 55 |
| Satisfaction: shop (%) | 60 |
| Satisfaction: signage (%) | 40 |
Units: thousands / % satisfied
Practise this question →The line graph shows the percentage of people working from home in one country from 2018 to 2025; the bar chart shows the main benefits mentioned by home workers.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Home workers 2018 (%) | 5 |
| 2020 | 38 |
| 2022 | 25 |
| 2025 | 22 |
| Benefit: no commute (%) | 60 |
| Benefit: flexible hours (%) | 45 |
| Benefit: fewer distractions (%) | 20 |
| Benefit: saving money (%) | 35 |
Units: % of workers / % mentioning
Practise this question →The pie chart shows how a city's transport budget was spent in 2025; the line graph shows the number of bus passengers from 2020 to 2025.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Roads (%) | 40 |
| Buses (%) | 25 |
| Cycling (%) | 15 |
| Rail (%) | 20 |
| Bus passengers 2020 (millions) | 30 |
| 2022 | 34 |
| 2024 | 41 |
| 2025 | 45 |
Units: % of budget / millions
Practise this question →The bar chart shows average hours of sleep for different age groups; the table shows the percentage of each group using a phone in bed.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.
| Age group | Hours of sleep | Phone in bed (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 13-17 | 6.5 | 90 |
| 18-29 | 6.8 | 80 |
| 30-49 | 7.0 | 55 |
| 50+ | 7.3 | 30 |
Units: hours / %
Practise this question →The line graph shows the number of tourists visiting an island from 2000 to 2025; the table shows hotel room prices in 2000 and 2025.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Tourists 2000 (thousands) | 50 |
| 2010 | 120 |
| 2020 | 80 |
| 2025 | 200 |
| Budget room 2000 (€) | 40 |
| Budget room 2025 (€) | 70 |
| Luxury room 2000 (€) | 150 |
| Luxury room 2025 (€) | 320 |
Units: thousands / € per night
Practise this question →The bar chart shows the percentage of energy a household saved after installing four improvements; the pie chart shows how many households installed each one.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.
| Improvement | Energy saved (%) | Households installing (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Loft insulation | 20 | 40 |
| Double glazing | 12 | 25 |
| Solar panels | 30 | 10 |
| Smart thermostat | 8 | 25 |
Units: % saved / % of households
Practise this question →The table shows the number of students at a language school by nationality; the bar chart shows their average test score improvement after one term.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.
| Nationality | Students | Average score gain (points) |
|---|---|---|
| Group A | 120 | 8 |
| Group B | 80 | 12 |
| Group C | 60 | 10 |
| Group D | 40 | 15 |
Units: students / points
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