This model answer is for an IELTS Pie and Bar Chart combined.
Writing about two charts together can sometimes confuse candidates, so take a look at the graphs and model answer and see how you can successfully tackle this type of task.
| You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. The pie chart shows the percentage of persons arrested in the five years ending 1994 and the bar chart shows the most recent reasons for arrest. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words. |
Model Answer
The pie chart illustrates the percentage of males and females who were arrested from 1989 to 1994, while the bar chart compares the main reasons that the different genders were arrested most recently. It is evident from the charts that males were arrested more than females and that public drinking was the most common reason for arrest for both.
To begin, the proportion of males arrested was much greater than for females. 32% were arrested compared to only 9% for women. Turning to the reasons for the most recent arrests, there were some clear differences between men and women. Men were twice as likely to be arrested for drunk driving than women, at 26% and 14% respectively. Breach of order, theft, and other reasons were also slightly higher for men, with all these offenses standing in the range of 12-18% for both sexes.
Interestingly though, women experienced a higher percentage of arrest rates for assault and public drinking. The figures for assault were fairly similar at approximately 18%, whereas public drinking represented the main reason for arrest, with women at a massive 38%, compared to 31% for men. In a small percentage of cases, no answer was given.
(198 Words)
Comment about the task
One of the biggest problems IELTS candidates can have is not knowing how to write about two charts, such as a pie and bar chart, together.
The best thing though is to simply describe one and then the other rather than trying to link them together.
Evaluation of the model answer
Task Achievement: Band 8
- The response accurately describes the key details from both the pie chart and bar chart, including the arrest rates and reasons for arrest by gender.
- Specific figures such as “32% were arrested compared to only 9% for women” and “public drinking represented the main reason for arrest, with women at a massive 38%, compared to 31% for men” show that the response effectively summarizes the data.
- The overview is clear and the main trends are identified. There is no major omission of relevant details.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 8
- The structure is logical, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion.
- Cohesive devices such as “to begin,” “turning to,” and “interestingly” are used effectively to organize the information.
- The flow of information is smooth, and comparisons between males and females are well-made.
Lexical Resource: Band 7.5
- Vocabulary is used appropriately and varied with terms like “proportion,” “massive,” and “main reason for arrest.”
- Some phrases could be improved for greater clarity or sophistication, such as “Breach of order, theft, and other reasons were also slightly higher for men” (rephrased as “Men also showed slightly higher arrest rates for breach of order, theft, and other offenses”).
- There are no major lexical errors, but further variation could add sophistication.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 8
- The response uses a good range of grammatical structures, including comparatives, complex sentences, and passive forms (e.g., “the proportion of males arrested was much greater”).
- There are no significant grammatical errors, and sentence structures are used correctly.
- Minor improvements in complexity (e.g., using more varied sentence patterns or advanced forms) could further elevate the score.
Overall Band: 7.5-8
This is a well-written response with clear reporting of the data, appropriate structure, and accurate grammar. More sophisticated sentence structures and lexical variety would push the score closer to an 8.
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