2_1

DEFINITION AND TIPS
• In Academic Task 1 of the Writing module, you are expected to write a short descriptive
report based on visual information or data. This visual information may be presented as pie
charts. Pie charts are circular charts divided into sectors or ‘pie slices’, usually illustrating
percentages. The size of each pie slice shows the relative quantity of the data it represents.
Together, the slices create a full circle. They are commonly used in the business world and the
mass media, and are less common in scientific or technical publications.
• Pie chart essay is all about comparison.
• Write your essay in the past tense.
• There are two charts, so you should write a paragraph for both of the charts.

3.

USEFUL WORDS AND PHRASES
• In comparison - в сравнении
• To compare - сравнивать
• Quarter - четверть
• Third - треть
• Half - половина
• The largest proportion - наибольшая часть
• The highest percentage - наивысший процент
• The majority - большинство
• The minority - меньшинство

4.

SAMPLE TASK
• The pie charts below show the most common advantages and disadvantages of Bowen
Island, according to a survey of visitors.
• Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make
comparisons where relevant.

5.

MODEL ANSWER
• The two pie charts illustrate how different industry sectors contributed to the economy of
Turkey percentagewise in the years 2000 and 2016.al to everyone.
• Overall, at the beginning of the period construction contributed the least to the economy of
Turkey and agriculture was the most significant economic sector. In comparison, at the end
of the period healthcare and education became the largest economic segment and the lowest
contribution was made by financial, business and other services.
• Construction sector accounted for 3% of Turkey's economy in 2000, and experienced a more
than threefold increase to one-tenth in 2016. Economic income from trade, utilities and
transportation was 14% in 2000 and experienced a slight growth of 2% in 2016. At the
beginning of the period, manufacturing and finance, business and other services made up 8%
and 5% of Turkey's economy, respectively, and these figures rose to 12% and 8% in 2016.
Agriculture, which comprised almost a quarter of Turkey's economy in 2000, fell to 14% in
2016. In 2000 economic outputs from government and leisure and hospitality sectors were at
12% and 17%, respectively, and both decreased by 3% after 16-year period. In contrast,
contribution from healthcare and education sector remained constant in both years at 17%.

6.

FILL THE GAPS
• The two _____ illustrate how different industry sectors contributed to the economy of Turkey percentagewise in the years
2000 and 2016.
_____, at the beginning of the period construction contributed the least to the economy of Turkey and agriculture was the
most significant economic sector. In _______ , at the end of the period healthcare and education became the largest economic
segment and the lowest contribution was made by financial, business and other services.
• Construction sector accounted for 3% of Turkey's economy in 2000, and experienced a more than ________ increase to onetenth in 2016. Economic income from trade, utilities and transportation was 14% in 2000 and experienced a slight
__________ of 2% in 2016. At the beginning of the period, manufacturing and finance, business and other services made up 8%
and 5% of Turkey's economy, respectively, and these figures rose to 12% and 8% in 2016.
• Agriculture, which __________ almost a quarter of Turkey's economy in 2000, fell to 14% in 2016. In 2000 economic outputs
from government and leisure and hospitality sectors were at 12% and 17%, _______ , and both decreased by 3% after 16-year
period. In contrast, contribution from healthcare and education sector remained ________ in both years at 17%

7.

SAMPLE TASK
• The pie charts below show the most common
advantages and disadvantages of Bowen
Island, according to a survey of visitors.
• Summarise the information by selecting and
reporting the main features, and make
comparisons where relevant.

8.

SYNONYMS FOR "THINK"
• "Think" is an extermely overused and basic word, which you should avoid by all means.
• Here are some useful replacements:
I.
Consider
II.
Believe
III. Be of the opinion

9.

SYNONYMS FOR "ADVANTAGE"
• Benefit
• Strong point
• Plus
• Dignity

10.

SYNONYMS FOR "DISADVANTAGE"
• Drawback
• Downside
• Snag
• Minus

11.

MODEL ANSWER
• The pie charts provide information about the opinions of visitors on what aspect they are satisfied with and
not satisfied with Bowen Island through a survey.
• Overall, it can be clearly seen that there are several advantages and disadvantages of the island. Interestingly,
most visitors complain about the high cost of living, however, the people and the scenery make the Bowen
Island worth visiting.
• According to the pie chart, a quarter of the visitor believes that the lack of entertainment is the biggest
downside of the island, while another quarter doesn’t like the weather and food quality (15% and 10%
respectively). Besides, exactly half of the visitors find living expenses on the island is too expensive.
• Even with these disadvantages, the majority of visitors(42%) are satisfied with the people while approximately a
third of them vote for the beautiful scenery of the island. Furthermore, around 10% of the visitors find both the
culture and the good accommodation are another attraction aspect of the island.

12.

LINKING WORDS
• Regarding/concerning/as for/with respect to - касательно
• Turning to the first chart - обращая внимание на первую диаграмму
• According to the pie chart - в соответствии с круговой диаграммой
• Even with these disadvantages - даже с этими недостатками

13.

"RESPECTIVELY" STRUCTURE
• You can use "respectively", when you have already mentioned 2 subjects before and want
to give some additional information about both of them.
• Examples:
1.
Austria and Belgium are the most environmentally friendly of the fifteen
countries, recycling around 60% and 50% of their waste respectively.
2.
Apple and Google are the most successful of the five tech companies, recording profits of $45
billion and $20 billion respectively.

14.

WRITE AN ESSAY WITHIN 20 MINUTES
• The pie graphs below show the result of a survey of children's activities.The
first graph shows the cultural and leisure activities that boys participate in,
whereas the second graph shows the activities in which the girls participate.
• Write a report describing the information shown in the two pie graphs.
• Write at least 150 words.

15.

MODEL ANSWER
• The two pie charts draw the conclusion of a survey of boys' and girls' cultural and leisure activities.
• Overall, equal quantities of both sexes enjoyed listening to music, but a dramatically larger number of girls liked reading. There
were also many differences in terms of the children's preferred sports.
• Turning to the first chart, we can observe that boys prefer playing computer games (34% participation rate) than taking other
activities. Playing basketball comes as the second most popular leisure, practiced by almost a third of male children. Basketball is
followed by soccer, which is exercised by 17%. Skateboarding and listening to music are less preferable activities, chosen by 11%
and 10% of boys respectively. Reading, the least popular cultural activity among boys, represents only two percent.
• Taking a closer look at the second chart, we can see that girls' most preferred activity is dancing, being 27% of the total. In
contrast to the boys' preferences, reading is chosen by more than a fifth of all girls. Although percentage of female children who
play computer games is roughly twice less than that of boys (16%), this activity is third most popular on the girls' chart. With a
slight difference between computer games and netball, the latter is practiced at 15% rate. Similarly to skateboarding popularity
among boys, 11% of girls go in for gymnastics. Listening to music comes as the least popular leisure, with a proportion of 10%,
equal to those on the first chart.

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