How to write Mixed Charts IELTS Writing Task 1

Mixed Charts IELTS Writing Task 1 is a relatively challenging task that requires candidates to practice extensively in order to perform well in the actual exam. In today's article, PREP will provide an overview of the structure of the Mixed Charts task as well as a sample essay for your reference. PREP hopes that the following knowledge will help Preppies achieve a high band score in Writing!

I. Overview of Mixed Charts IELTS Writing Task 1

1. What is Mixed Charts IELTS Writing Task 1? 

Mixed Charts IELTS Writing Task 1 is a task that consists of two charts representing two different pieces of information. These two charts can be similar or different. To successfully complete the Mixed Charts task, you need to provide information for comparing data, accurately analyze similarities and differences, and finally draw conclusions about the relationship between the two charts.

2. Common types of Mixed Charts IELTS Writing Task 1

Here are some of the most common types of Mixed Charts IELTS Writing Task 1:

• Pie Chart combined with a Table

• Pie Chart combined with a Line Chart

• Pie Chart combined with a Bar Chart

• Line Chart combined with a Table

• Line Chart combined with a Bar Chart

• Bar Chart combined with a Table

• Combination of Line Chart, Bar Chart, and Pie Chart

3. Vocabulary for describing Mixed Charts IELTS Writing Task 1

• In the Introduction:
  • Use the Chart title + illustrates/gives information in relation to/provides data about/compares/describes + content.
  • When introducing the two charts, you can use the structure “While/ Whereas S + V, S + V” to show the contrast between the two different types of information.
• In the Overview, you can use phrases such as: It can be seen that/ It is clear that/ Overall,...
• When referring to each chart in the body paragraphs, you can use phrases such as: Regarding/ With regard to/ Concerning/ As can be seen from/ According to + chart title.

II. Structure of Mixed Charts IELTS Writing Task 1

1. Introduction

Paraphrase the task to provide general information about the two charts.

2. Overview

• Provide a general comment on the key information of each chart in two sentences. For example, mention the highest/lowest figures, main trends, overall changes in each chart. 
• Grouping the highlighted information by chart will show the corresponding body paragraphs.

3. Body paragraphs

• Divide the essay into two separate paragraphs to analyze each chart individually. The first paragraph describes the main features of the first chart, while the second paragraph describes the main features of the second chart.
• The approach of dividing paragraphs based on the two charts is the most common and straightforward. However, if there is a relationship between the data in the two charts, you can choose to divide them based on the relationship between the two types of charts (e.g., dividing them according to the same year).
• Avoid listing too much information and focus on selecting and describing the most significant information/trends.

III. Effective steps to write Mixed Charts IELTS Writing Task 1

IV. Sample essay for Mixed Charts IELTS Writing Task 1

Task: The charts below show the changes in ownership of electrical appliances and the amount of time spent doing housework in households in one country between 1920 and 2019. Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Looking at the first graph, it is clear that the proportion of households possessing these devices increased over time, with every family having both refrigerators and vacuum cleaners by 2019. The most significant change overall was witnessed between 1920 and 1960; whereas the proportion of households with fridges rose markedly from almost none to 90%, those of households with washers and households with vacuums increased more modestly, both reaching 70% in 1960. Afterward, ownership of fridges reached 100% in 1980, and in 2000, ownership of washing machines followed. Ownership of vacuum cleaners slightly dipped to about 65% in 1980 before recovering and reaching its peak of 75% in 2019.

Contrasting the trend of electrical appliance possession, the amount of time that people spent doing housework shrank throughout the period. The first 60 years saw the most notable decline, from 50 hours per week in 1920 to 15 hours in 1980. Then, following another 20-year period of stability, the number of weekly housework hours fell further to its lowest point of about 10 in 2019.

Key vocabulary and useful collocations:

• Possess (v)
• Electrical appliance possession (noun phrase)
• Rise markedly
• Modestly (adv)
• Dip to + data (v)
• Reaching its peak of + data
• Shrink (v)
• Sth. falls further to its lowest point of + data

Grammar structures used:

• Participial clauses:
  • ➡ Looking at the first graph, it is clear that the proportion of households possessing these devices increased over time, with every family having both refrigerators and vacuum cleaners by 2019.
  • ➡ Contrasting the trend of electrical appliance possession, the amount of time that people spent doing housework shrank throughout the period.
  • ➡ Ownership of vacuum cleaners slightly dipped to about 65% in 1980 before recovering and reaching its peak of 75% in 2019.
• Reduced relative clauses: ➡ Whereas the proportion of households with fridges rose markedly from almost none to 90%, those of households with washers and households with vacuums increased more modestly, both reaching 70% in 1960. 
• Adverbial clauses of contrast: ➡ The most significant change overall was witnessed between 1920 and 1960; whereas the proportion of households with fridges rose markedly.

This sample essay demonstrates the application of the Box of Thought method by PREP to help students deeply understand how to approach this task. The information above covers all the knowledge about the Mixed Charts IELTS Writing Task 1. We wish you effective exam preparation and the highest possible scores. Remember to practice daily to develop your writing skills!