Comparison of Males Preferring Watching vs. Participating in Sports
IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 - Bar Graph

IELTS Writing Task 1 Question
The column graph shows the percentage of males in a particular country who prefer watching sports to males who prefer participating in sports. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant.

Common Questions for the Bar Chart
1. Graph Type: Bar Graph
2. Title: Comparison of Males Preferring Watching vs. Participating in Sports
3. What are the units of measurement?: Percentage of males
4. Who: Males in a specific country
5. When: Not specified
6. Where: A specific country (unspecified)
7. Topic: Preferences for watching versus participating in sports among males
Comparison Showing and Trends
Comparison 1: Popular Sports for Watching
Details:
1. Football and horse riding/racing are the most popular sports to watch (40%).
2. Basketball follows at 36%.
3. Rugby and badminton are equally popular for viewing, with 27% each.
Comparison 2: Popular Sports for Participation
Details:
1. Fishing is the top choice for participation, with 50%.
2. Basketball and badminton are equally popular, with 25% participation each.
3. Football is the least preferred for participation.
Key Observation
Fishing is unique, being the most popular sport for participation but the least favored for watching.
Sample Answer
The bar chart compares the percentage of males in a particular country who prefer watching sports to those who enjoy participating in sports.
Overall, while football and horse riding/racing are the most watched sports, fishing stands out as the preferred sport for participation, highlighting a clear difference in preferences between viewing and engaging in sports.
In terms of viewership, football and horse riding/racing are the most popular, with 40% of males enjoying these sports. Basketball is close behind, with 36% preferring to watch it. Rugby and badminton share equal popularity, accounting for 27% each of male viewers. On the other hand, fishing is the least popular sport for viewing.
Regarding participation, fishing dominates as the most popular activity, with 50% of males choosing to take part in it. Basketball and badminton are equally preferred by 25% of participants each. However, football is the least favoured sport for participation despite being a popular choice for spectatorship.
Top 27 Vocabularies
Vocabulary | Meaning | Synonyms | Examples | Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
Spectatorship | The act of watching or observing sports | Viewership, Audience | Football has the highest level of spectatorship. | Noun |
Participation | The act of taking part in an activity | Engagement, Involvement | Fishing has the highest participation rate. | Noun |
Proportion | A part or share of a whole | Percentage, Fraction | An equal proportion of males watch rugby and badminton. | Noun |
Dominate | To have the most significant preference | Lead, Prevail | Fishing dominates participation rates among males. | Verb |
Preference | A greater liking for one option over others | Choice, Inclination | Preferences for viewing and participating differ greatly. | Noun |
Dominance | The state of having the greatest influence or importance | Supremacy, Control, Power | Fishing shows dominance in participation. | Noun |
Engagement | The act of being involved or participating | Involvement, Commitment | Sports engagement is higher in fishing than in football. | Noun |
Viewership | The audience or the act of watching | Spectatorship, Audience | Football and horse racing lead in viewership. | Noun |
Activity | An action or task in which someone participates | Task, Action, Pursuit | Fishing is the most popular outdoor activity for participation. | Noun |
Dominant | Having the most control or influence | Leading, Predominant | Fishing is the dominant activity for participation. | Adjective |
Trend | A general direction in which something is developing | Pattern, Movement, Tendency | There is a trend toward participation in fishing. | Noun |
Predominant | Most common or widespread | Principal, Dominant, Leading | Football is the predominant sport for viewership. | Adjective |
Equal | Being the same in quantity, size, or value | Identical, Even, Balanced | Basketball and badminton share equal popularity in viewership. | Adjective |
Statistical | Related to data or numbers | Numerical, Quantitative | The statistical data shows fishing’s popularity in participation. | Adjective |
Popularity | The state of being well-liked or enjoyed | Fame, Appeal, Recognition | Football enjoys immense popularity worldwide. | Noun |
Frequency | How often something occurs | Rate, Occurrence, Regularity | Football viewing frequency is very high. | Noun |
Engagement Rate | A measure of participation or involvement | Participation level | Fishing has the highest engagement rate among males. | Noun |
Rate | The frequency or level of occurrence | Speed, Ratio, Level | Basketball has a high rate of viewership. | Noun |
Impact | The effect or influence of something | Influence, Effect | Fishing’s impact on participation trends is significant. | Noun |
Varied | Showing variety or differences | Diverse, Mixed, Different | Participation rates are varied across different sports. | Adjective |
Significance | The importance or value of something | Importance, Weight | The significance of football in spectator sports is clear. | Noun |
Contribution | The act of giving or adding to a larger whole | Input, Addition, Role | Each sport makes a unique contribution to overall participation. | Noun |
Contrast | The difference between two or more things | Difference, Dissimilarity | There is a stark contrast between viewing and participation. | Noun |
Common | Frequently encountered or usual | Ordinary, Frequent, Usual | Basketball is a common sport for both participation and viewership. | Adjective |
Choice | The act of selecting between alternatives | Option, Selection, Decision | The choice of sport varies significantly by individual. | Noun |
Involvement | The state of participating or being engaged | Engagement, Commitment | Involvement in sports is higher for fishing than for football. | Noun |

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