IELTS Writing Task 1

Question

The two circle charts compare the average household expenditures in two Asian countries, namely Japan and Malaysian, in 2010. Overall, the lower fraction of expenditure is devoted to health care in both countries.

To begin, the costs for housing are relevant in Malaysia, amounting to one-third of the total, while the Japanese devote only 21% of their overall expenditures. The greatest share is spent on other goods and services, which amounts to 29%, three percentage points more than in Malaysia. Instead, the expenditures for food see the converse situation, with Japan three percentage points lower than the other Asian country, amounting respectively to 24% and 27%.

The lowest proportions are devoted to health care expenditures and transport. In this case, the percentages for Japanese households are double the Malaysian ones for the two categories. Specifically, families spend 6% and 20% on health care and transport in Japan, while in Malaysia these fractions are about 3% and 10%.

AlpheccaStars · Accepted Answer

Please read my advice for Task 1 essays. There is no such thing as a "circle chart." Learn the proper names of these figures, tables and graphs. (In the second link.)

IELTS TASK 1: Hints, Tips And Advice

Vocabulary Words For Task 1: Reference Post

AlpheccaStars · Answer

The two circle charts compare the average household expenditures in two Asian countries, namely Japan and Malaysian, in 2010. Overall, the lower fraction of expenditure is devoted to health care in both countries.

Read my advice about a good outline for Task 1 essays. Each paragraph has one topic sentence. The Task 1 topics are 1) describe the figure, 2) describe the main features and 3) describe some important details.

Your "main features" is not very distinct. They need to be clearly expressed. There should be two or three of them.

To begin, the costs for housing are relevant in Malaysia, amounting to one-third of the total, while the Japanese devote only 21% of their overall expenditures. The greatest share is spent on other goods and services, which amounts to 29%, three percentage points more than in Malaysia. Instead, the expenditures for food see the converse situation, with Japan three percentage points lower than the other Asian country, amounting respectively to 24% and 27%.

The lowest proportions are devoted to health care ~~expenditures~~ and transport. In this case, the percentages for Japanese households are double the Malaysian ones for the two categories. Specifically, families spend 6% and 20% on health care and transport in Japan, while in Malaysia they ~~these fractions~~ are about 3% and 10%.

AlpheccaStars · Answer

Sample essay:

The two pie charts, one for Japan and the other for Malaysia, compare average household spending in 2010 broken down into five categories: housing, transport, food, health care, and other.

Overall, Malaysians spent a disproportionately large percentage of their money on food and housing compared to the Japanese. But the budget for transport expenses was twice as much in Japan. The smallest category in both countries was health care.

In detail, Malaysian families allocated 61% of their budget to the top two categories, housing (34%) and food (27%). In Japan, these same two categories represented less than half, 45%. Most of that difference was due to housing, which was 13% less in Malaysia. Transportation was relatively more expensive in Japan, 20% compared to 10%. And this same 2:1 ratio applied also to health care, 6% in Japan versus 3% in Malaysia. The Japanese budgeted 3% less on food, but 3% more on other goods and services, so the total of these two categories was the same in both countries. It was more than half of the total expenditures (53%).

Here are some alternative ways to write the first paragraph:

The 2010 average household expenditures for Japanese and Malaysians are shown in the two pie charts. Each chart has five budget categories: housing, transport, food, health care, and other.

The percentages of average family expenses, allocated among five categories, are shown on these two pie charts, one for Japan and another for Malaysia. The data is from 2010 and the categories are: housing, transport, food, health care, and other.

The two pie charts compare the average household budgets for 2010 in Japan and Malaysia broken down into five categories: housing, transport, food, health care, and other.

IELTS Writing Task 1

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