Cambridge IELTS 15 Test 4 Writing Task 1: Anthropology Graduates
Cambridge IELTS 15 · Test 4 · Academic Writing Task 1Mixed charts
The pie chart shows what Anthropology graduates from one university did after finishing their undergraduate degree, in percentages. The table shows the salaries of graduates working as anthropologists after five years, broken down into freelance consultants, the government sector and private companies, across four salary bands from $25,000 to over $100,000.
The question
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. The chart below shows what Anthropology graduates from one university did after finishing their undergraduate degree course. The table shows the salaries of the anthropologists in work after five years. Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.
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Key features to report
- Just over half of the graduates (52%) went into full-time work, by far the largest group, and a further 15% took part-time work.
- Further study was less common: 8% did full-time postgraduate study and 5% combined part-time work with postgraduate study.
- 12% of graduates were unemployed, and for 8% the destination was not known.
- In the table, the government sector had the largest share in the top band: 50% earned $100,000 or more, compared with 40% of freelance consultants and 30% of private company employees.
- Freelance consultants and government employees had the same overall picture at the top end, with 80% of each earning at least $75,000, whereas the figure for private companies was only 55%.
- Private companies had the most people on lower salaries: 10% earned $25,000-49,999 (double the 5% in the other two sectors) and 35% earned $50,000-74,999.
Model overview
Overall, most Anthropology graduates went into paid employment, mainly full-time, while relatively few continued their studies or were unemployed. After five years, those working in the government sector were the most likely to earn the highest salaries, whereas private company employees tended to earn the least.
Paragraph plan
- 1
Introduction
Paraphrase both visuals in one or two sentences: the pie chart shows what Anthropology graduates from one university did after their first degree, and the table shows the salaries of those working as anthropologists five years later by type of employment.
- 2
Overview
Give one main point from each visual without figures: most graduates went into work, especially full-time work, and government employees were the most likely to reach the highest salary band while private company employees earned the least.
- 3
Body paragraph 1: the pie chart
Report the destinations: 52% full-time work, 15% part-time work, 8% full-time postgraduate study, 5% part-time work plus postgraduate study, 12% unemployed and 8% not known.
- 4
Body paragraph 2: the table
Compare the three types of employment: 50% of government staff, 40% of freelancers and 30% of private company staff earned $100,000 or more; 80% of freelancers and government staff earned at least $75,000 against 55% in private companies; 10% of private company staff earned under $50,000 compared with 5% elsewhere.
Useful comparisons
- Combine the work categories in the pie chart: 72% of graduates were working in some form (52% full-time, 15% part-time and 5% part-time with study).
- Combine the study categories: 13% went on to postgraduate study, either full-time (8%) or alongside part-time work (5%).
- Compare the top salary band across the three sectors: government 50%, freelance 40%, private 30%.
- Add the two highest bands to show that 80% of freelancers and government employees earned $75,000 or more, against 55% in private companies.
- Contrast the bottom of the table: private companies had 10% earning $25,000-49,999, twice the 5% for the other two sectors.
- Note that the two visuals measure different groups: the pie chart covers all graduates, while the table covers only those working as anthropologists after five years.
Band 8+ model answer
202 words · An original model answer written for ieltswrites, not an official answer. It stays in English, as in the exam.
The pie chart shows what Anthropology graduates from one university did after completing their first degree, while the table gives the salaries of those working as anthropologists five years later, broken down by type of employment.
Overall, most graduates went into paid work, mainly full-time, and only a small minority were unemployed. After five years, government employees were the most likely to earn the highest salaries, whereas those working for private companies generally earned the least.
Full-time work was by far the most common destination, accounting for 52% of graduates, and a further 15% took part-time jobs. Postgraduate study was less popular: 8% studied full-time and 5% combined part-time work with postgraduate courses. Meanwhile, 12% of graduates were unemployed, and the destination of the remaining 8% was not known.
Turning to salaries, half of the anthropologists in the government sector earned $100,000 or more, compared with 40% of freelance consultants and 30% of those in private companies. In both the government and freelance groups, 80% earned at least $75,000, against only 55% in private companies. Private company employees were also the most likely to be in the lowest band, with 10% earning under $50,000, twice the proportion in the other two sectors.
Why this answer scores highly
- Task Achievement
- The answer covers both visuals in proportion, gives an overview with one key point from each, and reports accurate percentages and salary bands, including meaningful combined figures such as 80% earning at least $75,000.
- Coherence and Cohesion
- Each visual has its own body paragraph, and comparisons within the table are linked with compared with, by contrast and whereas, so the reader can follow the data easily.
- Lexical Resource
- Topic-specific vocabulary such as destinations, postgraduate courses, top salary band and freelance consultants is used precisely, and percentages are expressed in varied ways such as just over half and double.
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy
- The answer uses comparative structures, relative clauses and passive forms accurately, with consistent past tenses for both sets of data.
Useful vocabulary
- graduates
- people who have completed a university degree
- destination
- what people go on to do after finishing a course
- undergraduate degree
- a first university degree, such as a bachelor's
- postgraduate study
- study for a higher degree after a first degree
- freelance consultants
- self-employed experts who work for different clients
- the government sector
- jobs paid for by national or local government
- salary band
- a range of pay between a lower and an upper figure
- the top band
- the highest salary range, here $100,000 or more
- a six-figure salary
- a salary of $100,000 or more
- the remaining 8%
- the last part of a total after other parts are mentioned
- account for
- make up a part of a total
- by far the largest
- much larger than any other
- twice as many
- double the number or proportion
Common mistakes
- Describing only the pie chart or only the table, or giving one visual far less attention, when both must be summarised and the overview should cover both.
- Assuming the table describes all graduates; it covers only graduates working as anthropologists after five years.
- Misreading the table rows as percentages of all graduates, for example saying 50% of graduates worked for the government.
- Mixing up the pie chart categories, such as confusing part-time work (15%) with part-time work plus postgraduate study (5%).
- Copying the salary bands awkwardly instead of using clear phrases like between $50,000 and $74,999 or $100,000 or more.
- Explaining why government jobs pay more, which is speculation and not shown in the data.
Frequently asked questions
- Which Cambridge book is this question from?
- This pie chart and table about the destinations and salaries of Anthropology graduates from one university is Writing Task 1 of Test 4 in Cambridge IELTS 15 Academic, published in 2020.
- How should I organise an answer with two different visuals?
- Write one body paragraph for the pie chart and one for the table, and make sure the overview mentions a key feature from each. You do not need to link the two visuals if there is no direct connection.
- Do I need to mention every figure in the table?
- No. There are twelve figures in the table, so focus on the clearest comparisons, such as the top salary band, the combined share above $75,000 and the lowest band.
- How many words should I write for this Task 1?
- Write at least 150 words; about 180-210 words is usually needed to cover two visuals properly in about 20 minutes.
Free and timed, with a live word count, just like the computer-delivered test. Then get an instant AI band score.
The exam simulator runs on a computer. Open this page on a laptop or desktop to practise.