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Academic Task 1

IELTS Academic Writing Task 1: Recycling rates (bar chart)

Question type: Academic Task 1: bar chart

The question

The bar chart below shows the percentage of four materials that was recycled in three countries in 2022.

Percentage of each material recycled, 2022
0%20%40%60%80%100%PaperGlassPlasticMetalCountry A, Paper: 75%Country B, Paper: 55%Country C, Paper: 68%Country A, Glass: 80%Country B, Glass: 40%Country C, Glass: 62%Country A, Plastic: 30%Country B, Plastic: 12%Country C, Plastic: 35%Country A, Metal: 60%Country B, Metal: 45%Country C, Metal: 70%
  • Country A
  • Country B
  • Country C
View the data as a table
Country ACountry BCountry C
Paper755568
Glass804062
Plastic301235
Metal604570

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Write at least 150 words.

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How to approach it

  1. There is no time period, so compare instead of describing trends. Look for the highest and lowest in each group.
  2. Overview: plastic was recycled least everywhere, and Country B was lowest for every material.
  3. Organise by country or by material, but keep to one method throughout.

Model answer

177 words (minimum 150). Written to show the features of a Band 8-level answer.

The bar chart shows the proportion of paper, glass, plastic and metal that was recycled in three countries in 2022.

Overall, plastic was recycled far less than any other material in all three countries. Country A had the highest recycling rates for paper and glass, while Country B recycled the least of every material.

In Country A, glass was the most widely recycled material, at 80%, followed by paper at 75% and metal at 60%. Country C had similar figures for paper, at 68%, but it recycled less glass, at 62%, and more metal. In fact, at 70%, Country C had the highest rate of metal recycling of the three.

Country B lagged behind in every category. Just over half of its paper, 55%, was recycled, and the figures for metal and glass were 45% and 40%, the latter being half the rate in Country A. Plastic recycling was low everywhere. Country C recycled 35% of its plastic and Country A 30%, but in Country B the figure was only 12%, the lowest in the whole chart.

Useful language from this answer

far less than any other
a strong comparison in the overview
the most widely recycled material
a superlative with an adverb
lagged behind in every category
being lower than the others throughout
just over half
describing a figure slightly above 50%
the latter being half the rate in
comparing the second of two figures

Common mistakes with this question

  • Missing the overview. A report without a clear summary of the main features cannot score above Band 5 for Task Achievement.
  • Using trend language such as 'increased' or 'fell'. The chart shows one year, so only compare.
  • Listing all twelve figures in order. Select the highest, the lowest and the most striking differences.

Now write your own answer

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This model answer was written by TestWise Prep to show the features of a high-scoring answer. It is not official IELTS material. Use it for ideas and language, not to memorise.