English Men and Women Living Alone and the Numbers of Bedrooms in These Households
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
The bar chart below shows the proportions of English men and women of different ages who were living alone in 2011. The pie chart compares the numbers of bedrooms in these one-person households.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.
Get your personalised IELTS Essay Feedback from a former examiner
Download IELTS eBooks, get everything you need to achieve a high band score
Sample Answer 1
The bar chart provides a breakdown of English men and women of different ages who were living alone in 2011, while the accompanying pie chart illustrates the distribution of the number of bedrooms within their one-person households.
Overall, older women were more likely to live alone than their male counterparts, while younger men were more prone to solitary living compared to younger women. Additionally, most individuals living alone resided in homes with one to three bedrooms, with two-bedroom properties being the most prevalent.
Focusing on the bar chart, the proportion of women living alone increases with age, especially after the age of 65, where nearly 70% of such individuals are female, far exceeding the percentage of males. In contrast, younger age groups show a reversed trend, with more men opting for single-person households, particularly among those aged 35 to 49, where men represent a significant majority. A similar pattern can be seen in the 16-24 and 25-34 age groups, with men consistently outnumbering women. In the 50-64 age group, however, the percentage of men and women living alone is equal.
The pie chart reveals that the majority of single-person households consist of two or three bedrooms, with two-bedroom homes accounting for 35.4% and three-bedroom residences making up 29.8%. One-bedroom properties are also common, representing 28% of the total. Larger homes, including those with four or more bedrooms, are rare among single occupants, with just 5.3% having four bedrooms and only 1.4% featuring five or more.
Download IELTS eBooks, get everything you need to achieve a high band score
Sample Answer 2
The bar chart illustrates the proportions of English men and women of different ages who were living alone in 2011, while the pie chart provides information about the number of bedrooms available in these one-person households.
In general, older women were more inclined to live independently compared to their male counterparts, whereas younger men showed a greater tendency to live on their own than younger women. Additionally, most one-person households were comprised of homes with one to three bedrooms, with two-bedroom accommodations being the most common.
Delving into the bar chart, it is clear that the trend of living alone shifts notably with age. For individuals over 65 years, women dominate the figures, making up a much larger share compared to men. This gap becomes particularly significant for the 75-84 and 85-and-over categories, where women outnumber men considerably. Conversely, men are more represented among younger age brackets, especially those aged between 35-49, where their share peaks. In the 16-24 and 25-34 groups, men also outstrip women, showing a preference for solitary living during their youth. The only age range with an equal proportion of both genders living alone is 50-64.
The pie chart reveals that two-bedroom residences make up the highest portion of single-occupant homes, followed closely by three-bedroom ones. One-bedroom homes are also frequent among these households, while properties with four or more bedrooms are uncommon. Notably, only a very small fraction of these single-occupant residences feature five or more bedrooms.
Sample Answer 3
The bar chart demonstrates the proportions of English men and women of different ages who were living alone in 2011, while the pie chart displays the distribution of the number of bedrooms in their one-person households.
A significant pattern emerges in both visuals: older women were more likely to live by themselves than their male counterparts, and younger men were more inclined toward independent living compared to younger women. Additionally, the majority of these single-occupant residences consisted of one to three bedrooms, with two-bedroom homes forming the largest segment.
In greater detail, the bar chart reveals that among individuals aged 65 and above, women clearly outnumber men in solitary living, especially in the oldest age categories, where female occupancy rises dramatically. In contrast, the trend is reversed for younger age groups, with a higher proportion of men living alone, most notably between the ages of 35 and 49. A similar male dominance is observed in the 16-24 and 25-34 brackets, indicating that men are more inclined to live independently during their younger years. The age group 50-64 is the only category where the ratio of men and women living alone is perfectly balanced.
The pie chart illustrates that two-bedroom homes are the most frequent choice among these households, followed by those with three bedrooms. One-bedroom accommodations also constitute a substantial share, while larger properties with four or more bedrooms are relatively rare. Only a small minority of single-occupant homes contain five or more bedrooms, emphasizing the preference for compact living spaces.
Get your personalised IELTS Essay Feedback from a former examiner
Download IELTS eBooks, get everything you need to achieve a high band score