A pie chart task asks you to compare proportions of a whole. The examiner wants the largest and smallest segments highlighted and meaningful comparisons made, especially when there is more than one chart. Each question below provides the chart(s) to describe.
The one rule
Lead with the largest and smallest segments, then compare across charts when there’s more than one.
On test day
It's one of the recognised Task 1 formats, so it's fair game on test day — but you can't reliably predict which one you'll be given. Treat every format as likely and practise across all of them rather than betting on a single type.
Templates
Learn the shape, not a script. A reliable structure for pie chart questions saves planning time, but a memorised answer bolted onto the wrong prompt is penalised. Adapt the structure to the exact question in front of you.
Marking
Against the four official IELTS Writing criteria — task achievement, coherence and cohesion, lexical resource, and grammatical range and accuracy. Getting the format right mainly protects your task achievement score; the other three come down to your language.
Practice volume
Enough to make the format automatic, then stop drilling it in isolation. Once you can structure a pie chart response without thinking, your time is better spent on the language criteria that actually move your band.
More Task 1 Academic types
Attempt any pie chart question in the exam workspace — 20 minutes on the clock, then a band for all four criteria in about 60 seconds. Starts with a 3-day free trial.
“The pie chart shows the main sources adults use to access news in 2022.”