IELTS Writing Task 1 Pie Chart: How to Compare Two Pies for Band 7+

The 4-step pie chart method

Step 1 — Paraphrase both pies, naming the categories and the time period.

Step 2 — Give an overview that names the biggest shift. Example: 'Digital channels tripled their share while print fell by two-thirds.'

Step 3 — Group categories by behaviour (rose, fell, stable). Cover each group once with one or two specific figures per group.

Step 4 — Close on a single thematic takeaway. Don't repeat the data — synthesise.

The 4 most common pie chart mistakes

Describing each pie separately

Compare across pies. The question is the change, not the static picture.

Repeating 'percentage' / 'percent'

Use proportion language: share, accounted for, a third, a clear majority, just over half.

Missing overview

Two overview sentences. The most striking shift is the single most important sentence in your answer.

Tiny slices that don't matter

Skip slices under 5 percent unless they have changed dramatically. They dilute the overview.

Band 8 model answer (pie chart)

The two pie charts show the share of total advertising spend by medium in Country X in 2000 and 2020.

Overall, traditional media — particularly print and television — lost a substantial share of advertising revenue to digital channels over the twenty-year period, while outdoor advertising remained roughly stable.

In 2000, television was the dominant medium, accounting for 38 percent of total ad spend, followed by print at 28 percent and outdoor at 15 percent. Digital channels made up just 4 percent. By 2020, the picture had changed dramatically: digital had grown to 42 percent, becoming the new leader, while television had fallen to 22 percent and print to just 9 percent. Outdoor advertising held its ground at 16 percent, the only traditional medium to gain share. Radio remained a small share at around 11 percent in both years.

Estimated Band 8.0180 wordsNo grammar errors2-sentence overview

High-scoring proportion vocabulary

Fractions

roughly a third / a quarter
just under half
just over a fifth
the vast majority
a small but significant share

Verbs

accounted for / made up
represented / constituted
comprised / held
captured / absorbed
generated / contributed

Change

rose / fell by ten percentage points
doubled / tripled its share
halved / lost half its share
remained broadly stable at
swapped places with

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I describe two pie charts in IELTS Task 1?▾

Paraphrase both charts, give an overview that highlights the biggest shift, then describe what changed in 2–3 grouped categories (e.g. 'transport fell sharply while digital services rose'). Avoid describing each pie separately — the comparison is the point.

What vocabulary is best for pie charts?▾

Use proportion language: 'accounted for', 'made up', 'represented', 'constituted', 'a small / moderate / significant share of'. Replace percentages with fractions where natural: 'roughly a third', 'just under half', 'a clear majority'.

Do I need to mention every slice?▾

No. Cover the 2–3 largest slices, the 2–3 most changed, and ignore anything under 5 percent. Mentioning every slice is a Band 6 mistake.

How do I get a Band 8 on pie charts?▾

Two overview sentences, three body paragraphs grouped by theme, and precise proportion language throughout. End with a single closing comparison (e.g. 'overall, traditional formats lost a quarter of their share to digital formats').

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