IELTS Task 1 bar chart: Reasons for absence from work
The main features of this bar chart: Illness and family responsibilities are the two leading reasons throughout, while stress is the least common. Illness declines, person needs increase, and stress increases overall despite a 2005 dip.
6 students’ answers below, each marked by Axiom, from band 5.5 to 7.0. Updated on 22 July 2026.
The question
The chart below shows the results of three surveys on absenteeism in a particular European country in the years 2000, 2005 and 2010. The results show the reasons people gave for not going to work.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparison where relevant.
Show the data
| 2000 | 2005 | 2010 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illness | 44 | 40 | 35 |
| Stress | 6 | 4 | 12 |
| Personal needs | 13.5 | 20 | 23 |
| Family responsibilities | 27.5 | 26 | 26 |
| Unexpected problems | 8 | 14 | 13 |
What your overview should cover
An answer reaches the higher Task Achievement bands only with a clear overview of the main features, not every number. For this bar chart, that means:
- Illness and family responsibilities are the two leading reasons throughout, while stress is the least common.
- Illness declines, person needs increase, and stress increases overall despite a 2005 dip.
- Family responsibilities change little; unexpected problems peak in 2005 before a small fall.
Students’ answers on this question, marked by Axiom
Real answers, shared without their writers’ names, newest first. Each opens with its revisions marked in place. Estimated by AI. It isn’t an official IELTS score.
Overall band, an AI estimate: 6.5
Answer #6
Task achievement 7.0, coherence 7.0, vocabulary 7.0, grammar 6.0
The bar chart compares five distinct reasons for absenteeism in one European country in the years 2000, 2005 and 2010. Overall, while the most common reason was illness…
Overall band, an AI estimate: 7.0
Answer #5
Task achievement 7.0, coherence 7.0, vocabulary 7.0, grammar 8.0
The chart illustrates the results of three surveys on absenteeism in a European country in 2000, 2005, and 2010. It presents the reasons employees provided for missing…
Overall band, an AI estimate: 6.0
Answer #4
Task achievement 7.0, coherence 6.0, vocabulary 6.0, grammar 5.0
The bar chart gives information about the results of three surveys on absenteeism in a European country between 2000, 2005 and 2010. The results show the different…
Overall band, an AI estimate: 5.5
Answer #3
Task achievement 6.0, coherence 5.0, vocabulary 6.0, grammar 5.0
The bar graph gives information about three distinct type of surveys results on absenteeism and workers reasons for why they were not going to go in certain one European…
Overall band, an AI estimate: 7.0
Answer #2
Task achievement 8.0, coherence 7.0, vocabulary 7.0, grammar 7.0
The bar chart illustrates the reasons for not going to work in a certain European country between 2000 and 2010. Units are measured in percentages. Overall, it can be…
Overall band, an AI estimate: 7.0
Answer #1
Task achievement 7.0, coherence 7.0, vocabulary 7.0, grammar 7.0
The bar chart compares the proportional of results by their surveys on absenteeism in one European country between 2000, 2005 and 2010. Overall, there was upward trends…
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