Pie Chart Vocabulary for IELTS Task 1: Structure, Tips & Examples

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When preparing for IELTS writing task 1, it is crucial to grasp the vocabulary words used and the types of questions asked. By familiarising yourself with pie chart vocabulary, you can enhance your ability to interpret and convey the information presented in these visual data representations accurately.

Most students find task 1 pie chart vocabulary tricky. Here, you are expected to write a short report based on the visual data, mainly represented as percentages. 

In this blog, we’ll share detailed information about the IELTS Pie Chart Task 1 Vocabulary and some handy tips to crack it.

Pie Chart Vocabulary in IELTS

A pie chart is a circular graph that represents data as slices of a whole. Each slice corresponds to a specific category or part, and the size of each slice reflects the proportion of that category relative to the whole. These charts are commonly used to show percentages or proportions. It is commonly used in the IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 to visually represent data.

In this task, you may be asked to describe and compare one or more pie charts in a report of at least 150 words. The duration of Task 1 is 20 minutes.

The pie chart vocabulary for IELTS writing task 1 can be overwhelming for some students. Knowing what it takes to ace the test can help you attain a good score in this module. 

Before anything, you must know the marking scheme, which is divided into four parts.

IELTS Writing Task 1 Band Descriptors

The band descriptors of the IELTS Writing Task 1 assess your writing skills, focusing on your ability to use appropriate and varied language to describe data accurately. This is particularly important for pie chart task 1 vocabulary because understanding and using the correct vocabulary words for pie charts is essential for interpreting and communicating data effectively.

Your response is assessed across four key criteria:

1. Task Achievement

This section checks how well you understand visual data and your ability to spot and describe the main features and key details.  It includes highlighting the key features, a definite opinion, and answering all parts of the task.  This involves using vocabulary related to proportions, percentages, and relationships in the pie chart.

2. Coherence & Cohesion

Here, your writing skills are assessed based on how well you use linking words, paraphrasing, conjunctions and connectors.  It emphasises the importance of organising your response logically and clearly. Furthermore, the number of paragraphs is also taken into account. This requires knowing the vocabulary for transitions, comparisons, and summarising key points.

3. Lexical Resource

This section evaluates your vocabulary range, including spelling, proper implementations of collocations, and word formation.  You should have a strong command of terms related to describing pie charts, such as parts, percentages, trends, and comparisons.

4. Grammatical Range and Accuracy

This section checks your grammatical accuracy. It focuses on how well you use vocabulary for quantities, percentages, and comparisons when describing pie charts. This involves the use of tenses, proper sentence construction, the correct use of punctuation, and simple and compound sentences. 

Each of these four criteria is marked from a score of 1 to 9. It accounts for 25% of marks in your writing test. Hence, to attain a good score in Pie Chart Vocabulary, you must use them smartly.

Read more about IELTS Task 1 Marking Criteria: Writing Band Score Calculation Guide.

IELTS Writing Task 1 Pie Chart Vocabulary

When describing pie charts in IELTS Writing Task 1, it is crucial for you to use a varied and precise vocabulary to clearly convey the information and demonstrate your good command over the English language. 

Here is an overview of essential vocabulary and phrases to help you effectively describe and analyse pie charts. This includes a range of vocabulary that you can implement:

Percentages to Fractions

Percentage	Fraction
80%	Four-fifths
75%	Three-quarters
70%	Seven in ten
65%	Two thirds
60%	Three-fifths
55%	More than a half
50%	Half
45%	More than two-fifths
35%	More than a third
25%	A quarter
20%	A fifth
15%	Less than a fifth
10%	One in ten
5%	One in twenty

Percentages to Qualifiers

Percentages	Qualifiers
77%	Just over three quarters/ approximately three quarters
49%	Just under a half / nearby a half
32%	Almost a third

Percentages with Similar Phrases

Majority/ Minority	Percentage
A vast majority	75-85%
A significant proportion	65-75%
A majority	10-15%
A minimal number	0.05

On the other hand, when describing increases/ decreases, candidates must use these words below: 

• Noun phrase+ Verb + Adverb 

E.g. The price of tomatoes fell very sharply. 

• There+ be+ noun+ in +noun phrase 

E.g. There has been a sharp decrease in the price of leather goods. 

Top 50 Pie Chart Vocabulary Words for the IELTS Writing Task 1

Here are the top 50 vocabulary words that will help you to interpret and understand the data given in the pie chart.

Vocabulary	Category	Usage
account for	proportion	The largest slice of the pie chart accounted for 45% of the total expenditure.
comprise	composition	The pie chart is comprised of six equal segments representing different age groups.
constitute	composition	Students constituted the largest group in the university population, making up 60% of the total.
represent	proportion	The green segment represents the proportion of people who prefer tea over coffee.
make up	composition	Women make up 52% of the workforce, as illustrated in the pie chart.
percentage	proportion	The percentage of people who own a car has increased significantly in recent years.
proportion	ratio	A large proportion of the budget was spent on education, as shown in the pie chart.
share	proportion	An equal share of the market was held by three major companies.
majority	proportion	The majority of respondents chose pizza as their favourite food, according to the pie chart.
minority	proportion	A minority of people preferred classical music, as indicated by the smallest slice of the pie chart.
significant	emphasis	A significant proportion of the population lived below the poverty line.
substantial	emphasis	A substantial amount of money was spent on healthcare, as evidenced by the largest segment of the pie chart.
negligible	emphasis	The proportion of people who spoke French was negligible, as shown by the tiny slice of the pie chart.
evenly	distribution	The pie chart shows the resources were evenly distributed among the four departments.
equally	distribution	The pie chart illustrates the data equally divided into six categories.
slightly	comparison	The proportion of people who owned dogs was slightly higher than those who owned cats.
marginally	comparison	There was a marginally larger share of the market for smartphones compared to tablets.
considerably	comparison	The figure for online shopping was considerably lower than in-store purchases.
dramatically	comparison	The proportion of people using public transportation has dramatically increased in recent years.
sharply	comparison	The share of traditional media has fallen sharply due to the rise of digital platforms.
steadily	change	The percentage of people with university degrees has steadily increased over the past decade.
gradually	change	The proportion of people working from home has gradually declined since the end of the pandemic.
fluctuated	change	The figures for unemployment rates fluctuated over the business cycle.
remained stable	change	The proportion of people choosing to retire early remained stable for several years.
peaked	change	The number of tourists visiting the country peaked in the summer months.
reached a plateau	change	The figure for GDP growth reached a plateau in the third quarter.
doubled	change	The proportion of people using smartphones doubled in just five years.
tripled	change	The number of electric vehicles on the road tripled within a decade.
halved	change	The figure for smoking rates has halved among young people in recent years.
declined	change	The proportion of people reading newspapers has declined due to the rise of online news.
decreased	change	The number of students enrolling in humanities courses decreased significantly.
rose	change	The figure for global temperatures has risen steadily over the past century.
increased	change	The proportion of people working part-time increased rapidly during the economic downturn.
highest	extreme	The highest proportion of energy consumption was attributed to residential buildings.
lowest	extreme	The lowest figure for unemployment was recorded in the technology sector.
leading	position	The leading cause of air pollution was vehicle emissions.
following	position	Following this, the second largest category of waste was plastic.
dominate	proportion	The tech industry dominated the market share, accounting for 60%.
negligible	emphasis	The impact of traditional media on the younger generation is negligible.
conversely	comparison	Conversely, the proportion of online shoppers has increased significantly.
fraction	proportion	A small fraction of the population owns a yacht.
segment	composition	The largest segment of the pie chart represents the spending on housing.
slice	proportion	A small slice of the pie chart is dedicated to healthcare expenditure.
a large portion	proportion	A large portion of the budget was allocated to education.
a small portion	proportion	Only a small portion of the respondents agreed with the proposal.
plummet	change	Sales plummeted after the release of the negative product review.
soar	change	The company’s profits soared due to the successful launch of the new product.
dominant	proportion	The dominant factor in the market is the price of raw materials.
trivial	emphasis	The cost of transportation was a trivial factor in the overall budget.
disproportionate	proportion	There was a disproportionate number of men in senior management positions.
equal distribution	distribution	The pie chart shows an equal distribution of funds among the four departments.

This comprehensive list of vocabulary can be used to describe various aspects of pie tasks such as segment size, comparison of different segments, and key changes over time. 

You should practise these pie chart vocabulary to effectively describe pie charts in IELTS Writing Task 1.

Also Read: IELTS General Writing Task 1: IELTS General Letter Writing Format 2024

Steps to Structure Your Answer for Pie Chart Questions 

The IELTS Writing Task 1 involves describing visual information in a report format. This task checks how well you can interpret and describe data presented in various forms, such as pie charts, bar graphs, line graphs, tables, diagrams, or maps. For a pie chart, in particular, the task requires you to summarise and compare information depicted in the chart.

Below is a detailed step-by-step guide on how to structure your answer for the pie chart vocabulary band 9 score.

Step 1: Prepare and choose which points will be written first 

Candidates must choose which points they must mention first. This includes:

• Choose and report the main features of the chart. 
• Study the pie chart to understand what it is showing. 
• Write about the synonyms or related words under the IELTS pie chart diagram.
• Identify the most significant and smallest sections of their pie charts. Try to understand what this data represents and check percentages. 
• Note down the time, dates, and measurements associated with each segment.

The main purpose is to summarise all the information from the pie chart before you move to step 2.

Step 2: Organising the information into two groups 

The information must be divided into two separate paragraphs. This involves identifying:

• Major trends 
• Exceptions  
• Major groups 
• Group Information
• Other similar ideas

By organising data into groups, you can report main features and make relevant comparisons. This can help you to prepare for IELTS writing task 1 and to write in a clear, coherent and cohesive way.

Step 3: Follow the four-paragraph model 

Organising your paragraphs effectively is crucial for achieving a high band score in IELTS Writing Task 1, especially when describing pie charts.

You can structure the answer by following the four-paragraph model:

Paragraph 1: Introduction 

In the first paragraph, summarise what the pie chart is about in one or two sentences. You can also paraphrase the pie chart tile. Mention the time frame (if any) and the main topic of the pie chart(e.g., “The pie chart illustrates…”). Make sure to include all the information.

Paragraph 2: Overview

In this paragraph, you should provide an overview of the key trends or patterns in the data. Here, you should identify the largest and smallest segments and highlight any major trends or notable points. Write the overview in 2-3 sentences without going into too much detail.

Paragraph 3: Body Paragraph

In this paragraph, organise the remaining segments according to groupings. (e.g., different age groups, product types, etc.). Group similar categories together and discuss their proportions, including the highest and lowest percentages. This part should involve comparisons between different segments, using precise data from the chart to support your points.

Paragraph 4: Conclusion

In this paragraph, conclude your response by summarising the overall findings in two sentences. You can restate the main trends or patterns observed in the pie chart.

Also Read: IELTS General Writing Task 1: 2023 IELTS Writing Samples, Tips & More

Tips for Better Interpretation of Pie Charts Task 1 Vocabulary

Candidates must keep in mind the below-mentioned points while explaining Pie Chart Vocabulary:

• Make comparisons where relevant: When analysing pie chart data or information, you should identify any similarities or differences between different elements. By comparing different aspects of the pie chart, you can get a comprehensive understanding of the pie chart.
• Pay attention and write down the time frame correctly:  The time frame given in the pie chart is important for analysing the data.
• Read the headings and data given on the pie chart carefully: This will give you an idea of the main details and write an explanation of the same. 
• Make sure to use appropriate vocabulary: You should use correct vocabulary and transition words to keep the essay flowing. 
• Do not give your personal opinions: You should refrain from giving any personal opinion or incorrect information.
• Make sure to keep it within 150 words: Don’t exceed the word limit as you can lose marks for it.
• Read the question carefully to understand what tense you must write in. Using correct sentences is important to maintain consistency. For this, you need to determine the date from the pie chart. For ex:
  • If the year is before the present year, then you should use the past tense.
  • If the year is after the present year, then you should use the future tense.
  • If the year is not given in the pie chart, then simply use the present tense.

Dealing with Multiple Pie Charts 

Note: Three trends are present in pie charts, namely up, down, and stable. Most students end up panicking when multiple pie charts appear in the IELTS exam. As a result of this, many may end up losing marks. That is why one needs to know the fundamental principles and how to approach them. 

We have underlined below the same. Along with implementing Pie Chart Vocabulary, you must identify the trends in both images. Comparing and contrasting the data is a must here. 

Next, you must highlight the smallest and largest proportions. You can begin by choosing 2-3 segments which account for the higher percentage in the first pie chart. 

After that, you can highlight how these are changing in the second pie chart. You must follow the same method while writing about the lower percentages. 

Sample Pie Chart Question & Answers 

In IELTS Writing Task 1, you have to identify a diagram and maybe more than one.  You will have only 20 minutes to finish this task. It can be:

• Map 
• Process 
• Table 
• Chart
• Diagram 
• Graph

Sample Question

Tips for IELTS Writing Task 1

To ace Writing Task 1, we have underlined a list of tips that you can implement to attain a good score. Nevertheless, the usage of Pie Chart Vocabulary is essential, but that is not all. You must follow these tips ardently: 

1. Proper time management: You should know how to manage your time effectively, as you only have 20 minutes to impress the examiner with your response.
2. Be conversant with the marking criterion: The 4 key criteria that we have mentioned above are important when you are using vocabulary in your answer. You should use vocabulary which aligns with all 4 criteria.
3. Writing an overview: Your overview paragraph is very important as this is where you need to summarise the main trends. Keep it short in 2-3 sentences. 
4. Key features: You should note down the key features as they can help you in describing the pie chart. For example, specific data or percentages related to each segment.
5. Revise and check for spelling errors or grammatical mistakes:  Pay attention to subject-verb agreement, proper use of punctuation, and consistent verb tenses while writing the essay. This can impact your quality of writing and score.
6. Remember to paraphrase the questions: Paraphrasing is one of the essential skills that you must hone as it is applicable to reading and writing. This will help boost your band score. We have therefore underlined examples for easier understanding: 
   
   Example 1: The question is, “The percentage of the population aged 50 and above in three different states in the USA between 1920 and 2020 is outlined in the graphs below”. One should paraphrase it like this, “The line graphs contrast the proportion of individuals aged 50 and above, as measured over a centenary in three U.S. states”. 
   
   Example 2: The question asks, “Information about the proportion of car ownership between 2000 and 2005 in the USA is given below”. Chart dates must be paraphrased in this way. “The surge in car ownership between 2000 and 2005 in the USA is outlined in the chart”. 

Conclusion

To crack IELTS, you must follow a systematic approach toward pie charts. They must be conversant with Pie Chart Vocabulary. Moreover, as writing is one of the most challenging sections in IELTS, you should do regular and rigorous practice to achieve a firm grip over it. 

Apart from that, the following are the tips mentioned above will help you tackle this section. If you need guidance in preparing for IELTS writing task 1, you can join the Leap Scholar Free IELTS training classes. Get free guidance and a personalised approach.

Frequently Asked Questions