Task 1 Academic — Pie Chart
Proportion vocabulary · accounted-for language · multi-pie comparison
Topic & Why It Matters
A pie chart asks you to describe how a whole is divided into parts. The examiner is looking for accurate proportion language, clear ranking, and careful comparison between categories. In multi-pie tasks, you must also explain how the composition changes from one year or group to another.
Candidates lose marks when they list slices mechanically, confuse percentages with percentage-point changes, or invent reasons for a category's rise or fall. A strong response reads as a concise comparison of shares, not as a sentence-by-sentence copy of the legend.
Knowledge Points
Structure Template
Four paragraphs, about 155-175 words total. Treat each pie as a separate whole.
| Paragraph | Target | What to Write |
|---|---|---|
| Paragraph 1 — Introduction | 25–35 words | Paraphrase the prompt. State what the pies compare, the categories, the year(s), and the unit, usually percentages. |
| Paragraph 2 — Overview | 30–45 words | Summarise the largest and smallest shares, plus the most important changes across pies. Avoid exact figures here. |
| Paragraph 3 — Body A | 45–60 words | Describe the first pie or the dominant categories. Include exact percentages and rank language. |
| Paragraph 4 — Body B | 45–60 words | Compare the second pie with the first. Focus on increases, decreases, unchanged categories, and any narrowing or widening gaps. |
Vocabulary & Grammar Toolkit
| Expression | Usage Note |
|---|---|
| accounted for [X]% | The core pie-chart phrase for a slice of the whole |
| represented [X]% | A neutral alternative to 'accounted for' |
| made up [X]% | Common and natural; avoid overusing it in every sentence |
| comprised [X]% | Formal, useful for a whole made of several parts |
| constituted [X]% | Formal reporting verb for a proportion |
| the largest share | Use for the biggest slice in a pie |
| the smallest proportion | Use for the smallest slice |
| just over / just under | Use when reading an approximate value around a labelled point |
| roughly a quarter | Natural phrase for about 25% |
| around one third | Natural phrase for about 33% |
| more than half | Use when a slice exceeds 50% |
| less than one tenth | Use when a slice is below 10% |
| rose from X% to Y% | Change language for multi-pie charts |
| fell from X% to Y% | Decline language for multi-pie charts |
| increased by X percentage points | Correct way to describe the difference between two percentages |
| remained unchanged at X% | Use when a slice stays the same |
| narrowed / widened | Describe the gap between two categories changing |
| respectively | Links categories and figures in the same order |
| whereas / while | Compare two categories or years in one sentence |
| by contrast | Signals an opposite movement |
| collectively / combined | Use when adding related slices in one pie |
| a minority share | Useful for small slices without sounding dramatic |
Common Pitfalls
| Mistake | Correction |
|---|---|
| Saying 'percent' when you mean 'percentage points' | A rise from 23% to 29% is a rise of 6 percentage points. It is not simply '6 percent'. |
| Writing every slice in the overview | The overview should report the biggest pattern: largest share, smallest share, and major shifts. Save full details for the body paragraphs. |
| Adding percentages from different pies | Do not write 'cars accounted for 93% in total' by adding 52% and 41%. Each pie is a separate whole. |
| Using trend verbs for one pie only | If there is only one pie, use static language such as 'accounted for'. Use 'rose' and 'fell' only when comparing different times or groups. |
| Ignoring unchanged categories | If a category stays the same, mention it briefly. 'Working from home remained unchanged at 5%' is concise and useful. |
Practice Prompt
Set a 20-minute timer. Write your response before reading the model answer.
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
The pie charts below show how commuters in one city travelled to work in 2010 and 2020.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.
| Mode | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private car | 52% | 41% | -11 pp |
| Public transport | 23% | 29% | +6 pp |
| Cycling | 8% | 15% | +7 pp |
| Walking | 12% | 10% | -2 pp |
| Working from home | 5% | 5% | No change |
Model AnswerBand 7.5+ · 153 words
The two pie charts compare how commuters in one city travelled to work in 2010 and 2020, with figures given as percentages.
Overall, private car travel remained the largest category in both years, although its share fell markedly. By contrast, public transport and cycling became more common, while walking and working from home accounted for relatively small proportions.
In 2010, cars represented 52% of all journeys, far ahead of public transport, which made up 23%. Walking was the third-largest mode at 12%, whereas cycling and working from home accounted for only 8% and 5% respectively.
By 2020, the proportion travelling by car had declined to 41%, but it still exceeded every other category. Public transport rose to 29%, narrowing the gap with car use to 12 percentage points. Cycling also increased, reaching 15%, almost double its 2010 figure. In contrast, walking slipped slightly to 10%, while working from home remained unchanged at 5%.
Annotated Commentary
Each paragraph is quoted, then broken down by examiner criteria. Notice how the answer separates the two pies but still compares the most important movements.
Self-Check
Answer these from memory before looking back. If you cannot answer all, re-read the relevant section.
- Why should you not add the same category across two separate pie charts unless total numbers are given?
- A share rises from 18% to 26%. Should you write '8 percent' or '8 percentage points'? Why?
- Write one sentence comparing private car and public transport in 2020 using 'whereas' or 'while'.