IELTS Writing Task 1: Pie Charts
Study Guide & Practice Module
🎓 Strategy & Band 9 Vocabulary
The Golden Rule: Pie charts represent proportions of a whole. Do not just list percentages; describe how they relate to the total (e.g., "accounted for nearly half", "represented a small fraction").
Essential Vocabulary
- Accounted for / Constituted...
- Made up the largest portion...
- Represented a mere minority...
- Comprised approximately X%...
- A significantly larger share than...
- Three times as much as...
- Almost equal in proportion to...
- The gap between X and Y narrowed...
- Dominant / Predominant
- Marginal / Negligible
- To overtake / To surpass
Energy Production in France
The pie charts below compare the different types of energy production in France in 1995 and 2005.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.
Model Answer (Band 9.0)
~165 wordsThe two pie charts compare the percentage of energy generated from five different sources (Coal, Gas, Petrol, Nuclear, and Other) in France over a 10-year period between 1995 and 2005.
[Overview] Overall, the energy profile of France shifted significantly. While Coal and Gas remained the dominant sources in 1995, by 2005, Nuclear energy and Petrol had become much more prominent, with Coal seeing only a marginal increase.
[1995 Breakdown] In 1995, Coal was the primary source of energy, accounting for 29.80% of the total production. Gas followed closely behind at 29.63%. Petrol and Nuclear energy represented smaller proportions, comprising 29.27% and 6.40% respectively. 'Other' sources made up the remaining 4.90%.
[2005 Comparison] By 2005, the landscape had changed. Coal remained the highest producer but increased only slightly to 30.93%. In contrast, Nuclear energy witnessed a dramatic surge, rising to 10.10%, while Petrol dropped slightly to 19.55%. Notably, Gas production increased moderately to 30.31%, maintaining its position as a major contributor. The contribution from 'Other' sources nearly doubled, reaching 9.10%.