Onterra TutorBar chart: daily screen time by age group, 2015 and 2025
A real-format chart task with a band 8 report written from its data, the plan behind it, and the phrases worth keeping. Aim for 150 to 190 words in 20 minutes.
The task
| Average daily screen time (minutes) | 8-12 | 13-15 | 16-18 | 19-24 | 25-40 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 95 | 140 | 175 | 210 | 180 |
| 2025 | 130 | 215 | 260 | 285 | 240 |
Band 8 model answer
177 words. The minimum is 150, and anything under it is penalised on Task Achievement; a strong answer sits between 150 and 190, which leaves time to check the figures.
Why this answer earns band 8
- "In both years it was lowest among the youngest children and highest among young adults aged 19 to 24" gives the overview two patterns that hold across the whole chart, which is the kind of key feature Task Achievement asks you to select.
- "which was the steepest proportional growth of any group" is a relative clause that refers back to the whole preceding idea, a structure that adds range under Grammatical Range and Accuracy.
- "added the most time in absolute terms" separates a biggest rise in minutes from a biggest rise in percentage, and that precise vocabulary is Lexical Resource at band 8.
- "nearly five hours" converts 285 minutes into a unit a reader can picture, and the conversion is correct, so it shows interpretation without risking accuracy under Task Achievement.
- "Every group except the youngest therefore gained at least an hour a day" closes the report with a conclusion linked by "therefore", the Coherence and Cohesion move that shows the paragraphs add up to something.
The plan, reusable on any chart of this kind
- Introduction (1 sentence, 20-30 words): the measure, the unit, the groups compared and the two years.
- Overview (2 sentences, 25-35 words): the direction that holds for every group, and which group was lowest and highest in both years. No numbers.
- Body 1 (65-75 words): the younger three groups in age order, with both years and one comparison between groups.
- Body 2 (50-60 words): the two older groups, then one sentence that draws a conclusion across all five.
Phrases worth learning
| in absolute terms | to separate the biggest change in raw numbers from the biggest in percentage |
| the steepest proportional growth | to name the largest percentage rise among several groups |
| peaked at | for the highest value a group reaches |
| nearly five hours | to turn minutes into a unit that is easier to picture |
| an increase of one third | to express a rise as a fraction when it is exact |
Here the age bands are labelled with hyphens on the chart, so you must write them out in words (8 to 12) rather than copy the symbol. More importantly, check each percentage rise before you call it the steepest: the biggest rise in minutes is not always the biggest in proportion, and confusing the two is an easy way to lose Task Achievement.
Questions about this answer
What band is this model answer?
It is written to band 8, and the notes under it quote the answer's own words to show why.
How long should a Task 1 answer be?
Aim for 150 to 190 words in 20 minutes. This model answer is 177 words, and anything under 150 is penalised on Task Achievement.
What is the most common mistake on Task 1?
Writing under the 150 word minimum, which is penalised on Task Achievement, or running out of time to check the figures.