Pie chart

Slide 1

In this lesson we will learn

 How to write the Pie chart ?

 How to describe main features ?
 The structure
 Specific vocabulary

Slide 2 . What is the Pie chart ? How does it look like ?

 In IELTS Writing Task 1, pie chart is one of the possible visual data representations you may be
asked to describe. To achieve a score of 7 or higher, your response should clearly and accurately
describe the main features and trends shown in the graph.
Pie chart in real examination may come in this way

Here you must mention the changes (was there a decrease or increase in each category)

Compare categories (which proportion is higher or lower and how much) use specific vocabulary like
twice as much as, threefold increase and etc

Correct usage of tenses (if changes occurred in past then use the past simple, if there is no year
mentioned, then present simple)

If there is a prediction for future then use the expressions like

 With projection for \ until

 With prediction for \until

Slide 3 . Introduction part

The pie chart(s) illustrate(s) WHAT WHEN WHERE

For two given charts = The first pie chart illustrates WHAT while the
second present information about WHAT , WHEN WHERE
Given task must be paraphrased
The given charts illustrate the distribution of online retail sales among
different sectors in New Zealand in two separate years, 2003 and 2013

Instead of writing distribution you can use

Budget Allocation and division
In describing pie chart mentioning the each sector really matters. Here are
synonyms for the word sector
Section \Type \Group \Component \Segment \ Category
Slide 4 . Observe the pie chart

Try to write new introduction for the given chart .

Instead of annual spending you can write expenditure

for each year or allocation of budget for 3 different
years

Your task is to observe the pie chart and answer the

questions what , where, when

IMPORTANT TO KNOW!

Not only active voice can be used, but also passive voice

The given chart shows how much expenditure was spent in the UK
Slide 5 . OVERVIEW = SIGNIFICANT CHANGES

In overview part important to mention

 What is the major and minor category ?
 What have decreased and increased over the period of time?
 Was there dominating or lagging category (отстающая)?
 How the leadership order has been changed at the end compare to the beginning of the
period?

Decreased = books\ film\ music

Increased = travel and clothes

Leader of 2003= travel

Leader of 2013= film\music

Overall, sales in travel and

clothes fell while film\music
and books saw growth. Film\music replaced travel as the largest sector in 2013
Slide 6. Overview part 2

Useful vocabulary

While | Whereas =  During, As, Whilst, At the same time as, Throughout

Slide 7 . Details and Vocabulary

Details should be divided in two paragraphs.
First paragraph – first pie chart
Second paragraph – second pie chart
WHAT TO WRITE IN PARAGRAPHS?
Introduction of the Main Trends: Start by introducing the key trends or patterns shown in the
pie chart. Mention the overall context of the data and any notable observations.
Detailed Description of Categories: Discuss each category represented in the pie chart
individually. Provide specific data points or percentages for each category and describe their
significance. You can highlight the largest and smallest categories, as well as any significant
outliers.
Comparison and Contrast: Compare the relative sizes of different categories and discuss any
notable differences or similarities between them. This could involve identifying which
categories are dominant or minor, and explaining the reasons behind these variations.

Supporting Details or Examples: Include additional information or examples to support your

analysis. This could involve referencing specific data points, trends over time (if applicable), or
external factors that may influence the distribution shown in the pie chart.

Conclusion and Summary: Summarize the main points discussed in the body paragraphs and
draw conclusions based on the analysis of the pie chart data. Highlight any key insights or
trends that emerged from your analysis.

Slide 8 Details
In order to convey the information on the chart, you must use
 Percents = but not with numbers . For example 10%= a tenth , 25%= a forth
 Comparisons of trends by using comparative adjective , as..as structure , not as much\
many as
 Distinctions of trends
Useful vocabulary
Vocabulary: Percentage to Fraction or Ratios

Percentage Fraction or Ratios

80% four-fifths

75% three-quarters

70% seven in ten

65% two-thirds

60% three-fifths

55% more than half

50% half
 45% more than two-fifths

40% two-fifths

35% more than a third

30% less than a third

25% a quarter

20% a fifth

15% less than a fifth

10% one in ten

5% one in twenty

Percentage Qualifiers

77% just over three quarters

77% approximately three quarters

49% just under a half

49% nearly a half

32% almost a third

Percentage Proportion/ number/ amount/ majority/

minority

75% - 85% A very large majority

65% - 75% A significant proportion

10% - 15% A minority

5% A very small number

Vocabulary: Percentage to Qualifiers

Percentages to other phrases

SLIDE 9. Details

 Do not mention all figures, try to categorize similar trends in one group.
 Begin with the largest category or the highest value.
 Gradually move to smaller categories or lower values.
 Ensure each category or value is clearly labeled and described.

Here it is possible to divide the information into 2 paragraphs .

1 paragraph – description of
2003
2 paragraph - description of
2013
In 2003, the travel sector
represented the largest
proportion of online sales,
accounting for over one-third
of the total sales share (36%).
Selling clothes came in
second, comprising almost a quarter of online sales, followed closely by films and music at
21%. Books made up the smallest category at 2% less than films and music
Ten years later, all four sectors experienced changes, with the films and music sector
showing the most significant growth. It went up markedly to 33% and overtook
the travel sector, which fell notably by 7%, although it still held the second-biggest
share of online sales. Turning to the remaining sectors, books increased slightly
reaching 22% whereas sales in the clothes sector dropped substantially from 24% to
16%.

Slide 10. Details

In 1981, the combined spending on teachers'

and other workers' salaries accounted for 68%
of the total expenses, whereas resources and
furniture and equipment were equally
distributed at 15%. Insurance expenses made
up only 2% of the total expenditure

Numbers in percentages must be replaced with

specific vocabulary.

In 1991, the proportion of the budget allocated to teachers' salaries increased to 50%, while
resources expenditure rose to 20%. In contrast, other workers' salaries decreased to 22%, and
furniture and equipment expenditures reduced to 5%. The school's insurance expenses
remained relatively low, accounting for only 3% of the budget.

Slide 11 . Details
By 2001, teachers' salaries remained the highest expense category at 45%, followed by
furniture and equipment, which had increased significantly from 5% to 23%. Other workers'
salaries experienced a substantial decrease to 15%, and insurance expenses rose to 8%.

Slide 12. Guidelines for a good answer

 Does the report have a suitable structure?

 Does it have an introduction, body and conclusion?
 Does it include connective words to make the writing cohesive within sentences and
paragraphs? Does the report use suitable grammar and vocabulary?
 Does it include a variety of sentence structures?
 Does it include a range of appropriate vocabulary? Does the report meet the
requirements of the task?
 Does it meet the word limit requirements?
 Does it describe the whole graph adequately?
 Does it focus on the important trends presented in the graphic information?

Slide 13 . Useful vocabulary and grammar

Comprise \ account for \ make up \ constitute = құрайды/ составляет
Dominate \ surpass\ overtake \ outnumber – when one category is more than another
Grammatical structures that must be used
1. Noun phrase + (be) + comparative adj + than + noun phrase
➔ [Cars made in Japan] [were] [much cheaper than] [German cars]

2. Noun phrase + (verb) + (adverb + more/less/fewer)

➔ [Old people] [spent] [notably less time eating out]

3. (adverb) [More/fewer/less NOUN] + than + noun ➔

[Fewer women than men] chose outdoor activities

4. The (superlative adj) = the most, the least; the adj.+ est
➔ The highest proportion of donors were senior aged citizens

5. Twice as many/much as =екі есе көп/ в два раза больше

6. Three/four… times more/less than = в три/четыре… раза больше/меньше
➔ Russia produces twice as much waste as Kazakhstan ➔ Sweden and Norway recycle three times
more waste than the whole of Europe

7. Far more/less; Slightly more/less =біраз көбірек\ азырақ, гораздо больше/меньше; чуть
больше/меньше
➔ Kyrgyzstan produces far more dairy products than Kazakhstan, but slightly less than Uzbekistan.
 8. (not) as many/much as = «(не) столько же сколько и»
➔ China exports as much as the former Soviet Union ➔ The former Soviet Union’s amount of export
increased, but not as much as China’s