This task is particularly hard. There are two graphs vastly different from each other, although they are both about one group of people. 

The first graph is a comparison task. That is, our job is to compare categories. In this dataset, generally, there are two major categories and a minor one: 

a) those who chose to work and

b) those who opted to study – 

c) with a few overlaps and one miscellaneous group (unknown) in between. 

So, in body paragraph 1, we can summarize the data in 3-4 sentences like this:

• Employment (full or part-time)

• Postgrad study (full or part-time)

• The remaining groups 

• Unemployed 

• Those with unknown paths

Obviously, when we write the paragraph, we must add details (figures) and highlight the differences. For instance, those who chose to work full-time (52%) far outweigh gig-seekers (approximately 5 to 1). This description highlights the difference between full-time and part-time employees and is supported by data. 

However, the table is a different beast. There are four classes of salaries arranged in increasing order and three types of employment. This is a correlation task. 

In the first two types (freelancers and public servants), as the salary increases, the proportion of employed anthropologists also increases. Also, in the two highest salary groups, a massive 80% can be seen. 

The third employment type (private companies) is somewhat different. The correlation is less significant, and in the two higher-end salaries, only 55% of employment is reported. 

🔵🔵 IELTS Writing Task 1 – the academic module - can be frustrating. It requires training because we must learn how to make sense of random data. Seeing the bigger picture, categorizing the data, and summarizing are only part of the task. Before anything, we must recognize the type of task. 

There are five types in the task 1 subtest, which you must master: 

1. Trend and comparison 

2. Correlation and comparison

3. Comparison 

4. Process 

5. Mixed type.