The graph below shows the weekly working hours or men and women omen in in government institutions and private institutions.

Weekly working hours of men and women in government institutions and private institutions - IELTS Writing Task 1

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Write at least 150 words.

A student's answer to this task, and the feedback on it

Written by an IELTSX user under exam conditions and published unedited and anonymously. Band 8 · 224 words.

The pie charts compare the percentages of weekly working hours completed by men and women in the government and private sectors.

Overall, men were more likely to work very long hours (over 46 hours), particularly in the private sector, whereas women mainly worked between 6 and 12 hours per week in both sectors. In addition, only a small proportion of women worked more than 46 hours.

In the government sector, the largest share of men (30%) worked over 46 hours, followed by those working 1–2 hours and 6–12 hours, both accounting for 23%. Meanwhile, 15% worked 31–45 hours, and the smallest group (9%) worked 13–30 hours. By contrast, among women, the most common working pattern was 6–12 hours (35%), while 23% worked 13–30 hours. The figures for 31–45 hours and 1–2 hours were 20% and 18%, respectively, and only 4% worked more than 46 hours.

A similar pattern can be seen in the private sector. The proportion of men working over 46 hours increased to 34%, making it the largest category, while 31–45 hours accounted for 20%. The percentages for 13–30 hours and 6–12 hours were 21% and 20%, respectively, whereas only 5% worked 1–2 hours. Among women, 35% again worked 6–12 hours, followed by 21% working 1–2 hours. Both the 13–30-hour and 31–45-hour groups represented 20%, while just 4% worked over 46 hours.

Examiner feedback

This is an exceptionally strong response that clearly and accurately summarizes the data. It features a logical structure, a wide range of vocabulary, and high grammatical precision. The overview is particularly well-written, identifying the core contrast between male and female working habits.

Task Achievement - 8

- All requirements of the task are fully satisfied, including a clear overview and highlighting of key features. - Data for all categories across both sectors and genders is accurately presented and compared. - The overview identifies the most significant trends effectively without getting bogged down in detail.

Coherence & Cohesion - 8

- Information is logically organized with a clear progression from the general overview to specific details for each sector. - Cohesive devices such as "By contrast," "Meanwhile," and "In addition" are used effectively to link ideas. - Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate different sectors of the data.

Lexical Resource - 8

- A wide range of vocabulary is used fluently to convey precise meanings (e.g., "accounting for," "working pattern," "respectively"). - Skillful use of varied expressions for data description avoids repetition. - Word formation and spelling are accurate with no noticeable errors.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy - 8

- A wide range of structures is used accurately, including complex sentences and comparisons. - The majority of sentences are error-free, and punctuation is well managed throughout. - Tense consistency is maintained well, effectively describing the static data points.

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