Welcome to the final IELTS Writing Task 1 guide on englishlanguagestudies.com! So far, we have covered single data sources like line graphs, maps, and processes. But what happens when the exam gives you two completely different charts at the same time?
A very common IELTS prompt is the Combination Chart, often featuring a Bar Chart alongside a Pie Chart. When students see this, they often panic and try to write about every single number. That is a trap!
To score a Band 7.0 or higher on a combination prompt, you must demonstrate the ability to select the most important features from both charts and organize them logically without getting overwhelmed.
In this guide, we will break down the foolproof 4-paragraph structure for handling multiple charts, provide a practice prompt, and reveal a flawless Band 9 sample answer. Let’s get writing!
IELTS Academic Writing Task 1
Learn how to link multiple data sources, analyze the combination prompt below, and write your own 150-word response before checking the Band 9 sample.
1. The Practice Prompt
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
The bar chart below shows the main reasons why male and female international students chose to study at a UK university in 2022. The pie chart shows how these students funded their education.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.
[Optional: Insert Bar & Pie Chart Image Here]
Or use the data sets below to practice!
| Bar Chart: Reasons for Studying in the UK (2022) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Reason | Male Students | Female Students |
| Career Opportunities | 45% | 40% |
| Improve English Language | 35% | 30% |
| Personal Interest | 10% | 25% |
| Other | 10% | 5% |
• Family Support: 40%
• University Scholarships: 25%
• Personal Savings: 20%
• Employer Sponsorship: 15%
2. The Perfect 4-Paragraph Combination Structure
The biggest mistake students make with two charts is jumping back and forth between them. The best way to organize your essay is to keep it simple and separate:
Paragraph 1: The Introduction
Write one sentence that paraphrases the prompt. You must introduce *both* charts. Use linking words like “while” or “and.” (e.g., The provided bar chart illustrates the primary motivations for international students… while the pie chart details…)
Paragraph 2: The Overview
Identify the biggest trend from the Bar Chart, and the biggest trend from the Pie Chart. Combine them into 2-3 sentences. Do not use any specific percentages here!
Paragraph 3: Body Paragraph A (The Bar Chart)
Dedicate this entire paragraph solely to the Bar Chart. Compare the men and women. Point out that Career Opportunities was the highest for both, but note the significant difference in Personal Interest.
Paragraph 4: Body Paragraph B (The Pie Chart)
Dedicate this final paragraph solely to the Pie Chart. Start with the largest slice (Family Support) and work your way down to the smallest (Employer Sponsorship).
3. Check Your Work
Set a timer for 20 minutes and write your response. Once you are finished, open the accordion below to read a Band 9 sample answer and see how cleanly the two charts are divided.
🏆 Click Here to Reveal the Band 9 Sample Answer
Sample Response:
The provided bar chart illustrates the primary motivations of male and female international students for choosing to study at a UK university in the year 2022, while the accompanying pie chart delineates the various sources of funding they utilized to pay for their education.
Overall, it is clear that career advancement and language improvement were the dominant reasons for studying abroad for both genders. Furthermore, the vast majority of these students relied on private sources—specifically family support and personal savings—to finance their studies, rather than institutional or corporate funding.
Looking at the bar chart in detail, career opportunities were the leading motivation for both sexes, cited by 45% of men and 40% of women. The desire to improve English language skills was the second most common reason, again favored slightly more by males (35%) than females (30%). Conversely, female students were significantly more driven by personal interest (25%) compared to their male counterparts (10%). For both groups, “other” reasons constituted a minority, at 10% and 5% respectively.
Turning to the financial data in the pie chart, family support was the most significant source of funding, accounting for a substantial 40% of the total. University scholarships provided exactly a quarter (25%) of the students’ financial backing. The remaining costs were covered by the students’ own personal savings, which made up 20%, and employer sponsorships, which constituted the smallest proportion at just 15%.
(238 words)
How did your response compare? The beauty of the sample answer above is its simplicity. By dedicating Paragraph 3 exclusively to the Bar Chart and Paragraph 4 exclusively to the Pie Chart, the essay avoids becoming a confusing mess of numbers. This clear, logical progression is exactly what secures a high score for Coherence and Cohesion.
Always remember: the IELTS examiner doesn’t want you to be a mathematician. They simply want you to find the biggest numbers, the smallest numbers, and present them in clear, academic English!
Let us know in the comments: You have now completed our Task 1 series! Which of the visual prompts do you feel most confident about tackling on exam day?
Check out more IELTS Academic Writing Task 1