If you see a Bar graph in your IELTS Writing Task 1, Don’t worry! I’m here to guide you step by step. Let’s learn how to write a perfect answer for bar graphs — step by step, together.
The Structure You Should Follow
To get the highest score, just follow this easy structure:
- Introduction
- Overview
- Body Paragraphs
- Body Paragraph-1
- Body Paragraph-2
Let’s break it down step by step using a real example.
The bar chart shows the divorce rates in two European countries from 2011 to 2015.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Step 1: Understand the Question
Before you start writing, take a moment to analyze the chart. Ask yourself:
- ✅ What is the chart about?
- 📍 What are the title and labels showing?
- 📊 What are the units?
- 📆 What is the time frame?
- 🔍 What trends do I see — increases, decreases, fluctuations?
Taking 1–2 minutes to really understand the chart will help you write with clarity and accuracy.
Step 2: Write an Introduction
This part is simple. Just paraphrase the question in your own words using 1–2 sentences.
✅ Include:
- Mention: What graph shows, Where it happens and When it occurs
- Identify: Subject, Verb and Tense (Question tense and Correct tense to answer)
Useful Expressions:
- “The bar graph compares…”
- “The bar graph illustrates…”
- “The bar graph gives information about…”
- “The bar graph provides information about…
- The bar chart shows
- The bar chart/graph depicts…
- The bar graph/chart indicates…
From the question:
| How to start | The bar chart illustrates |
| What the graph is about | the percentages of divorces |
| Where it happens | Finland and Sweden |
| When it occurs | 2011 and 2015 |
| How to paraphrase? | Use synonyms or change the sentence structure from the question. shows → illustrates divorce rates → percentages of divorces two European countries → Finland and Sweden from 2011 to 2015 → between 2011 and 2015. |
And this is a possible way to write your introduction:
The bar chart illustrates the percentages of divorces in Finland and Sweden between 2011 and 2015.
Step 3: Write an Overview
Now, look at the graph and try to summarize the key features of the chart.
✅ Include:
- Overall or General key trends.
- Noticeable trends (increasing, decreasing, fluctuations), or any natural/common patterns.
- Highest/lowest points
- Do not write any numbers ex: percentages, etc.
Start your overview like this:
- Overall, it can be seen that…
- It is clear that…
- Overall, …
- Overall, in general…
| From the graph: Sweden’s rate decreases and Finland’s rate increases, along with the fact that Finland overtakes Sweden in 2015. |
And this is a possible way to write your overview:
Overall, Sweden experienced a decreasing trend, while Finland showed an increasing trend throughout the period. Both countries showed some fluctuations. Although Finland started with a lower rate, it became higher than Sweden’s by the end of the period.
Step 4: Write Body paragraphs
Now it’s time to explain the trends — clearly, logically, and with numbers. Break your description into 2 or 3 clear paragraphs. You can group the data by:
- Country/places (write one paragraph about each country)
- Similar trends (increase, decrease, fluctuations)
✅ Include:
- Make sure to include numbers in the body paragraph.
- You should start with the beginning of the time period.
- Use a range of linking words, vocabulary, and grammar structures to describe the features. Try not to repeat them.
- Follow the tense from the graph.
- Use different time expressions to describe the passage of time.
| From the graph: We wrote one paragraph for Sweden and one for Finland, and compared the figures when needed. |
And this is a possible way to write your body paragraphs :
Body Paragraph-1
In terms of Sweden, the divorce rate was around 45% in 2011, which was about 8% higher than in Finland. Then, it rose to nearly 50% in 2012. However, the rate gradually declined to about 47% in 2013, dropped again to 45% in 2014, and reached its lowest point of approximately 37% in 2015.
Body Paragraph-2
On the other hand, the percentage of divorces in Finland was less than 40% in 2011, and it dropped slightly in 2012. However, the figure experienced a steady growth during the next two years. It rose to approximately 39% in 2013, then increased by around 3% in 2014. The rate stayed the same in 2015 and became higher than Sweden’s.
Writing about a bar graph doesn’t have to be stressful. With this simple structure and a bit of practice, you’ll feel confident and ready to handle any bar graph question that comes your way!