Two charts together
When Task 1 gives you two visuals, such as a line graph with a bar chart or a pie chart with a table, you still have 20 minutes and about 180 words. Learn to find the link between the visuals, write one overview that covers both, choose the right paragraph plan and manage your time.
By the end of this lesson you will be able to:
- Identify how two visuals are connected (total and breakdown, change and snapshot, related topics)
- Write one introduction and one overview that cover both visuals
- Choose between three paragraph plans: one per visual, thematic, or unequal split
- Use linking phrases that connect data across the two visuals without inventing causes
- Switch correctly between trend language and comparison language within one answer
- Manage 20 minutes and about 180 words across two visuals
How two visuals are usually connected
Two visuals are never chosen at random. Before writing, decide which relationship the pair has:
| Relationship | Example | What your answer should show |
|---|---|---|
| Total + breakdown | A line graph of total waste, 2000–2020; a pie chart of waste types in 2020 | The overall change, then what the total consisted of at one point |
| Change + snapshot | A line graph of enrolments over ten years; a bar chart of subjects in the final year | The trend, then detail about the final year |
| Same topic, different measure | A bar chart of the number of students; a table of the percentage who graduated | Both measures, and where they agree or differ |
| Two related topics | A pie chart of what household waste is made of; a table of recycling rates | The connection, e.g. the biggest waste type has one of the lowest recycling rates |
The link is often your best overview material. But report a link only if the data show it. If one graph shows rising temperatures and another shows rising ice-cream sales, you can say both rose. You cannot say one caused the other.
Two visuals often need two kinds of language
A line graph over ten years needs trend language (surged, dipped, recovered). A bar chart of one year needs comparison language (by far the most popular, followed by). Check the time frame of each visual separately, then switch language as you move between them.
Number of international students by level of study, 2014–2024
- Undergraduate
- Postgraduate
| Undergraduate | Postgraduate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 120 thousand | 80 thousand |
| 2016 | 135 thousand | 100 thousand |
| 2018 | 150 thousand | 130 thousand |
| 2020 | 140 thousand | 125 thousand |
| 2022 | 145 thousand | 185 thousand |
| 2024 | 150 thousand | 230 thousand |
Five most popular subjects among international postgraduates, 2024
Students (thousands)
| Postgraduate students | |
|---|---|
| Business | 85 thousand |
| Engineering | 45 thousand |
| Computer science | 40 thousand |
| Health | 25 thousand |
| Social sciences | 15 thousand |
The four-minute analysis for two visuals
- 1
Name each visual's type, time frame and unit
Line graph: 2014–2024, in thousands, which means change, so trend language. Bar chart: 2024 only, in thousands, which is static, so comparison language.
- 2
Find one or two key features in each
Line graph: total numbers grew; postgraduates grew much faster (80,000 → 230,000) and overtook undergraduates by 2022; undergraduate numbers were broadly flat after 2018.
Bar chart: business was far ahead of every other subject (85,000).
- 3
Find the link
The bar chart shows the subjects of the 230,000 postgraduates at the end of the line graph, so business alone accounted for more than a third of them (85 ÷ 230 ≈ 37%). A calculated link like this is a hallmark of a band 8 answer.
- 4
Plan the overview
One idea per visual, ideally connected: postgraduates drove the growth and overtook undergraduates; business dominated these postgraduates' subject choices.
- 5
Choose a paragraph plan, then write
See the three options below. For this task, Plan A (one paragraph per visual) is the natural choice: the visuals show different kinds of data, and the bar chart follows on from the end of the line graph.
Three paragraph plans for two visuals
| Plan | Structure | Best when | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
A: one paragraph per visual (most common) | Intro → Overview (both visuals) → Body 1: visual 1 → Body 2: visual 2 | The visuals show different kinds of data, e.g. a trend plus a snapshot | Body 2 can feel disconnected. Open it with a linking phrase such as 'Of these 230,000 postgraduates, ...' |
B: thematic paragraphs | Intro → Overview → Body 1: theme 1, using data from both visuals → Body 2: theme 2 | Both visuals use the same categories, e.g. waste types in a pie and in a table | Harder to plan under time pressure, and easy to blur which figure comes from which visual |
C: unequal split | Body 1 longer for the richer visual; Body 2 shorter for the simpler one | One visual has much more data, e.g. a five-line graph and a three-slice pie | The short paragraph must still cover that visual's key features with data, not just one vague sentence |
The overview: two separate summaries vs one linked overview
Band 6: two disconnected statements
Overall, the number of international students increased. Also, in the bar chart, business was the most popular subject.
Band 8: one overview covering both visuals
Overall, international enrolments grew substantially over the decade, with postgraduates accounting for most of the increase and outnumbering undergraduates by the end of the period. Business was by far the most popular subject among these postgraduates.
Both versions mention a feature of each visual, which is the minimum. The band 6 version is vague (which students? how did the two groups differ?) and joins the visuals with 'Also, in the bar chart', which reads like a list. The band 8 version picks out the key contrast between the two lines and ties the bar chart to the line graph with 'these postgraduates', so the two visuals tell one story.
Check: linking two visuals
7 questions- 1
In the international students task, what is the clearest link between the two visuals?
- 2
Where should the overview go in a two-visual answer?
- 3
Line graph (thousands). Postgraduates: 80 (2014), 125 (2020), 185 (2022), 230 (2024). Undergraduates: 120 (2014), 140 (2020), 145 (2022), 150 (2024).
Postgraduates outnumbered undergraduates in 2022.
- 4
Bar chart: subjects of international postgraduates in 2024 (thousands). Business 85, Engineering 45, Computer science 40, Health 25, Social sciences 15.
Business was the most popular subject among international undergraduates in 2024.
- 5
Of these 230,000 postgraduates, 85,000 studied business, more than a of the total.
- 6
A task shows a line graph of a city's total water use (1990–2020) and a pie chart of water use by sector in 2020. Which plan suits it best?
- 7
Find and correct the mistake:
Postgraduate numbers rose to 230,000 because business is popular.
Answer every question to check.
The line graph shows the number of international undergraduate and postgraduate students at universities in one country between 2014 and 2024, and the bar chart shows the five most popular subjects among international postgraduates in 2024. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
The line graph illustrates changes in the number of international undergraduates and postgraduates at universities in one country from 2014 to 2024, while the bar chart identifies the five most popular subjects among international postgraduates in 2024.
Overall, international enrolments grew substantially over the decade, with postgraduates accounting for most of the increase and outnumbering undergraduates by the end of the period. Business was by far the most popular subject among these postgraduates.
In 2014, there were 120,000 international undergraduates and 80,000 postgraduates. Undergraduate numbers rose gradually to 150,000 in 2018, dipped slightly in 2020 and had recovered to 150,000 by 2024. Postgraduate enrolment, by contrast, grew far more quickly. After a small fall to 125,000 in 2020, it surged to 185,000 in 2022, overtaking the undergraduate figure, and reached 230,000 in 2024, almost three times its 2014 level.
Of these 230,000 postgraduates, 85,000 studied business, more than a third of the total. Engineering and computer science followed, with 45,000 and 40,000 students respectively, while health (25,000) and social sciences (15,000) attracted considerably fewer.
- IntroductionOne sentence, two clauses joined by 'while': one clause per visual, each with its own time frame.
- OverviewOne sentence per visual. 'These postgraduates' links the bar chart to the line graph, so the overview reads as one story.
- Body 1: trend languageRose gradually, dipped, had recovered, surged: the line graph covers ten years, so it needs change verbs. Start, end and turning points only.
- by contrastMoves from the slow line to the fast line and highlights the key difference between them.
- overtaking the undergraduate figureThe crossing point is a key feature of any line graph with two lines.
- almost three times its 2014 level230 ÷ 80 ≈ 2.9. A multiple turns two figures into a relationship.
- Of these 230,000 postgraduatesThe linking phrase that opens Body 2 connects the snapshot to the end of the trend. This one phrase is the difference between two reports and one.
- Body 2: comparison languageBy far the most popular, followed, respectively, considerably fewer: the bar chart shows one year, so there are no trend verbs here.
- BalanceBody 1 is longer because the line graph holds more information. The bar chart still gets every key feature, supported with data.
- LengthAbout 175 words: enough to cover both visuals fully without eating into Task 2 time.
The second common pairing: pie chart + table
Pie + table pairs often show two related topics: what something is made of (the pie) and how each part performs or changes (the table). The link is usually a contrast between them: the biggest slice in the pie may have one of the lowest figures in the table, or the other way round. Find that contrast and put it in your overview.
For this pairing:
- Plan A (pie paragraph, then table paragraph) is safe and clear.
- Plan B (thematic) can be stronger when both visuals use exactly the same categories. For example, Body 1 covers the large waste types (their share and their recycling rates) and Body 2 covers the small ones.
Remember the language switch: a pie for one year needs proportion language (almost half, a fifth), and a table comparing two years needs change language (rose from ... to ..., more than tripled).
Phrases that connect two visuals
| Purpose | Useful phrases |
|---|---|
Introducing both visuals | The line graph shows ..., while the bar chart illustrates ... / The pie chart and the table together provide information about ... |
Moving to the second visual | Turning to the bar chart, ... / As for recycling rates, ... / The table provides more detail about ... |
Linking data across visuals | Of these 230,000 postgraduates, ... / This largest category was also ... / Despite making up almost half of all waste, ... |
Contrasting the visuals | Although food waste was the largest category, it had one of the lowest recycling rates. |
Referring back | the former / the latter; this figure; these students; over the same period |
Writing Task 1 practice
150+ words · 20 minThe pie chart below shows the composition of household waste in one city in 2024, and the table shows the percentage of each type of waste that was recycled in 2014 and 2024.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.
Composition of household waste, 2024
2024
- Food waste
- Paper and cardboard
- Plastic
- Glass
- Metal
- Other
| Category | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Food waste | 45% |
| Paper and cardboard | 20% |
| Plastic | 15% |
| Glass | 8% |
| Metal | 5% |
| Other | 7% |
Percentage of each type of waste recycled, 2014 and 2024
| Type of waste | 2014 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Food waste | 5 | 18 |
| Paper and cardboard | 40 | 62 |
| Plastic | 8 | 21 |
| Glass | 35 | 55 |
| Metal | 50 | 70 |
| Other | 2 | 4 |
Units: %
Self-check before submitting
- ☐ My introduction describes both visuals in one sentence (e.g. '..., while the table compares ...').
- ☐ My overview covers both visuals: food waste was the largest share but among the least recycled, and recycling rates rose for every type.
- ☐ In the pie paragraph, I ranked the main slices with fractions (almost half, a fifth) and grouped the small ones.
- ☐ In the table paragraph, I gave 2014 and 2024 figures for the main types and identified metal as the most recycled.
- ☐ I wrote at least one sentence linking the two visuals (e.g. 'Despite making up almost half of all waste, food waste ...').
- ☐ I described changes in recycling rates with 'from ... to ...' or 'percentage points', not 'rose by X%'.
- ☐ I used proportion language for the pie and change language for the table.
- ☐ I gave no causes or opinions (e.g. why food waste is hard to recycle).
- ☐ My answer is roughly 170–200 words, in the past simple, with % used correctly.
Final quiz: two visuals together
11 questions- 1
Which introduction best covers both visuals in the waste task?
- 2
Pie chart 2024: Food waste 45%, Paper and cardboard 20%, Plastic 15%, Glass 8%, Metal 5%, Other 7%. Table, recycling rates 2014 → 2024: Food 5 → 18, Paper 40 → 62, Plastic 8 → 21, Glass 35 → 55, Metal 50 → 70, Other 2 → 4.
Food waste was the most recycled material in 2024.
- 3
Pie chart 2024: Food waste 45%, Paper and cardboard 20%, Plastic 15%, Glass 8%, Metal 5%, Other 7%. Table, recycling rates 2014 → 2024: Food 5 → 18, Paper 40 → 62, Plastic 8 → 21, Glass 35 → 55, Metal 50 → 70, Other 2 → 4.
The city produced more plastic waste in 2024 than in 2014.
- 4
Table, recycling rates 2014 → 2024: Food 5 → 18, Paper 40 → 62, Plastic 8 → 21, Glass 35 → 55, Metal 50 → 70, Other 2 → 4.
Every type of waste had a higher recycling rate in 2024 than in 2014.
- 5
Choose TWO sentences that link the two visuals in the waste task.
Select 2.
- 6
The recycling rate for food waste more than between 2014 and 2024, from 5% to 18%.
- 7
Match each paragraph plan with the task it suits best.
Plan A: one paragraph per visualPlan B: thematic paragraphsPlan C: unequal split - 8
Put the stages of a 20-minute two-visual answer in order.
Drag the cards (or use the arrows) into the correct order.
- 1Analyse both visuals and find the link (about 4 minutes)
- 2Check numbers, units, articles and tenses (about 3 minutes)
- 3Write two body paragraphs (about 11 minutes)
- 4Write the introduction and the overview (about 2 minutes)
- 9
Find and correct the mistake:
Overall, food waste was the largest category because people waste a lot of food.
- 10
Five minutes remain. You have written the introduction and a body paragraph on the line graph, but no overview and nothing on the bar chart. What should you do?
- 11
Which overview statement goes beyond the data in the international students task?
Answer every question to check.
Key takeaways
Vocabulary for linking two visuals
Saved as flashcards with a free accountillustrate
verb/ˈɪləstreɪt/
To show or explain something using a chart, picture or example.
চিত্রের মাধ্যমে দেখানো
The pie chart illustrates the composition of household waste in 2024.
composition
noun/ˌkɒmpəˈzɪʃn/
The different parts that something is made of, and their proportions.
গঠন; উপাদান-বিন্যাস
The composition of household waste changed little over the period.
breakdown
noun/ˈbreɪkdaʊn/
A division of a total into its separate parts.
বিস্তারিত বিভাজন
The bar chart gives a breakdown of postgraduates by subject.
outnumber
verb/ˌaʊtˈnʌmbə(r)/
To be greater in number than another group.
সংখ্যায় ছাড়িয়ে যাওয়া
By 2022, postgraduates outnumbered undergraduates.
surge
verb / noun/sɜːdʒ/
To increase suddenly and by a large amount; a sudden large increase.
হঠাৎ ব্যাপক বৃদ্ধি
Postgraduate enrolment surged to 185,000 in 2022.
the latter
noun phrase/ðə ˈlætə(r)/
The second of two things just mentioned.
শেষোক্তটি
Undergraduate and postgraduate numbers both rose, but the latter grew far faster.
the former
noun phrase/ðə ˈfɔːmə(r)/
The first of two things just mentioned.
প্রথমোক্তটি
Metal and glass were both widely recycled, the former at 70% in 2024.
despite
preposition/dɪˈspaɪt/
Without being affected by; used to show contrast (followed by a noun or -ing form).
সত্ত্বেও
Despite making up almost half of all waste, food waste was rarely recycled.
consistently
adverb/kənˈsɪstəntli/
In the same way every time, or throughout a period.
ধারাবাহিকভাবে
Metal was consistently recycled at the highest rate.
treble
verb/ˈtrebl/
To become three times as large (British English; 'triple' is also used).
তিনগুণ হওয়া
The recycling rate for food waste more than trebled.
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