IELTS Writing Task 1 Vertical Bar Graph Learning Lab

What is expected?

In a vertical bar graph, the height of each bar shows the size of each category. Your report should compare categories, identify the most and least significant figures, and support your description with data.

Intro

Introduce what the graph compares, including the unit and time period where relevant.

Overview

Give the main picture: which category is highest, which is lowest, and what broad pattern is visible.

Body

Group similar bars and compare them using accurate numbers.

Avoid

Do not explain causes or make personal comments. Describe only what the graph shows.

Writing structure

Paragraph 1: Introduction — paraphrase the task.

Paragraph 2: Overview — summarise the key pattern.

Paragraph 3: Body 1 — describe the largest categories.

Paragraph 4: Body 2 — describe the smaller categories and comparisons.

Useful language: ranked first, accounted for, followed by, considerably higher, roughly twice as high as, the smallest figure.

Guided example

Monthly sales of school items

Number of items sold in April 2026

Pens

Notebooks

Folders

Rulers

Model structure

Introduction: The bar chart compares sales of four school items in April 2026.

Overview: Overall, pens were the best-selling item, while rulers recorded the lowest sales. Writing materials were sold in much higher numbers than folders and rulers.

Body 1: Pens ranked first, with 95 items sold, followed by notebooks at 80.

Body 2: Sales of folders were much lower, at 45, while rulers had the smallest figure, at only 30.

Practice vertical bar graph

Task: The bar graph below shows the number of visitors to five public places in a town in one week.

Visitors to public places

Number of visitors in one week

Park

Library

Museum

Sports centre

Theatre

Public place	Visitors in one week
Park	96
Library	82
Museum	64
Sports centre	48
Theatre	26

Introduction Overview Body Paragraph 1 Body Paragraph 2 Full response

Word count: 0

Self-check checklist

I wrote a clear introduction that paraphrases the task. I included an overview with the highest and lowest places. I mentioned the park as the highest figure at 96 visitors. I mentioned the theatre as the lowest figure at 26 visitors. I compared at least two places. I included accurate numbers from the graph. I avoided opinions, reasons, and recommendations. I organised the answer into clear paragraphs.

Your score

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