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Academic Task 1 — pie chart: Pie chart — Household expenditure. This page gives the exam question and a band 9 model answer, with tips on selecting and comparing the key data. Aim for at least 150 words in about 20 minutes.
The pie chart below shows how households in one country spent their money in 2024.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.
The pie chart breaks down household spending in a single country into five categories for the year 2024.
Overall, housing accounted for the largest share of expenditure, while the smallest proportion was spent on miscellaneous items. Together, housing, food and transport made up roughly three quarters of total spending.
Housing represented 35% of household budgets, making it the dominant expense. Food was the second largest category at 22%, followed by transport at 18%. These three essential areas collectively consumed 75% of income.
Leisure activities accounted for 15%, which was noticeably higher than the remaining “other” category at 10%. Although leisure spending was less than half the housing figure, it still exceeded transport costs by a small margin when comparing the two non-essential groupings. No other categories were shown.
Pie charts show proportions of a whole. Use fraction/percentage language and compare slices (twice as much, the majority, the smallest segment). If two pie charts appear, compare the same categories across time.
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