Time Spent on Activities by Working Adults in 1958 and 2008

IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 - Pie Chart

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IELTS Writing Task 1 Question

The charts below show the percentage of time working adults spent on different activities in a particular country in 1958 and 2008.

104- Time Spent on Activities by Working Adults in 1958 and 2008

Common Questions for the Activity Time Charts

1. Graph Types: Pie charts

2. Title: Time Spent on Activities by Working Adults in 1958 and 2008

3. What are the units of measurement?: Percentage (%)

4. Who: Working adults in a particular country

5. When: Years 1958 and 2008

6. Where: A specific country (unspecified)

7. Topic: Daily activity distribution of working adults

Process Showing and Trends

Comparison 1: Working Hours

Details:

1. 1958:
o Time spent sleeping: 33%
2. 2008:
o Time spent sleeping: 42% (increase of 9%)

Comparison 2 : Sleeping Hours

Details:

1. 1958:
o Time spent sleeping: 32%
2. 2008:
o Time spent sleeping: 25% (decrease of 7%)

Comparison 3 : Leisure Activities

Details:

Going Out:

1958: 19%
2008: 6% (decline of 13%)

Relaxing at Home:

1958: 8%
2008: 13% (increase of 5%)

Traveling to Work:

1958: 2%
2008: 8% (increase of 6%)

Playing Sports or Hobbies:

1958: 6%
2008: 6% (no change)

Overall Comparison

Details:

1. Working hours increased significantly, indicating a trend towards longer workdays.

2. Sleeping hours decreased, suggesting a shift in lifestyle that may require more waking hours for work.

3. The decline in time spent going out with friends and family reflects changing social habits.

4. Conversely, home relaxing became popular, indicating a preference for home-based leisure activities.

5. Travelling to work saw a notable increase, which might be attributed to longer commutes or increased work commitments.

Sample Answer

The two pie charts illustrate the distribution of daily activities for working adults in a specific country in 1958 and 2008.

In 1958, working adults allocated 33% of their day to work, with a similar proportion of time (32%) dedicated to sleeping. Socializing, such as going out with friends and family, occupied 19% of their time, while other activities, including commuting, hobbies, and relaxing at home, accounted for 16%.

By 2008, the scenario had changed considerably. The percentage of time spent working increased to 42%, representing a 9% rise. In contrast, the amount of time allocated to sleep decreased to 25%. The time spent going out for social activities saw a dramatic decline, dropping to just 6%, while the time dedicated to relaxing at home grew from 8% to 13%. Additionally, the time spent commuting to work increased from 2% to 8%, indicating that individuals were spending more time travelling. Interestingly, the time spent on sports and hobbies remained unchanged at 6%.

Overall, these charts highlight a significant shift in how working adults allocated their time over the 50-year period, with a notable increase in working hours and a growing preference for home-based relaxation.

Top 26 Vocabularies

Vocabulary (type)	Meaning	Synonyms	Examples
Allocation (noun)	The distribution or assignment of resources	Distribution, apportionment	“The allocation of time for working increased significantly.”
Decline (noun)	A decrease or reduction in quantity	Decrease, drop	“There was a significant decline in time spent socializing.”
Trend (noun)	A general direction in which something is developing	Movement, tendency	“The trend showed a shift towards longer working hours.”
Preference (noun)	A greater liking for one alternative over others	Favoritism, inclination	“There was a clear preference for relaxing at home.”
Occupation (noun)	The action of taking up space or time	Engagement, activity	“Socializing occupied a considerable portion of their day.”
Illustrate (verb)	To explain or show something clearly	Depict, demonstrate	“The pie charts illustrate how daily activities changed between 1958 and 2008.”
Proportion (noun)	A part, share, or number considered in relation to a whole	Share, percentage	“A large proportion of time was dedicated to working in 2008.”
Shift (noun)	A change in position, direction, or trend	Change, transition	“There was a significant shift in time spent on social activities.”
Increase (verb)	To grow or become larger in size or number	Rise, grow	“The time allocated to work increased by 9% over the 50-year period.”
Hobbies (noun)	Activities done regularly for enjoyment	Pastimes, interests	“The percentage of time spent on hobbies remained constant over the years.”
Relaxation (noun)	The act of resting or unwinding	Rest, leisure	“Relaxation at home became a more prominent activity in 2008.”
Commuting (verb)	Traveling to and from work	Traveling, journeying	“The proportion of time spent commuting increased significantly to 8%.”
Scenario (noun)	A description of how things might happen	Situation, case	“The scenario in 2008 was notably different from 1958 in terms of daily activities.”
Dramatic (adjective)	Sudden and striking	Significant, remarkable	“There was a dramatic drop in the time spent on socializing.”
Indicate (verb)	To point out or show something	Suggest, signify	“The rise in commuting time indicates a change in work patterns.”
Pattern (noun)	A repeated or regular way in which something happens	Model, trend	“The pattern of daily activities showed a shift toward more home-based relaxation.”
Dedicate (verb)	To devote time or effort to a particular purpose	Commit, allocate	“Adults dedicated more time to working in 2008.”
Engagement (noun)	The act of being involved in an activity	Involvement, participation	“Social engagement decreased significantly over the 50-year period.”
Comparison (noun)	The act of examining similarities or differences	Contrast, evaluation	“The comparison between 1958 and 2008 shows changing priorities in daily activities.”
Diminish (verb)	To reduce or decrease in size, importance, or intensity	Lessen, decline	“The time spent on sleeping diminished from 32% to 25%.”
Allocation (noun)	The process of assigning resources or time	Assignment, distribution	“The allocation of time for commuting increased significantly.”
Highlight (verb)	To emphasize or make something noticeable	Emphasize, underline	“The charts highlight a growing preference for relaxing at home.”
Notable (adjective)	Worthy of attention or significant	Remarkable, noteworthy	“There was a notable increase in working hours between 1958 and 2008.”
Preference (noun)	A greater liking for one thing over another	Inclination, favor	“Adults showed a strong preference for spending time at home in 2008.”
Consistent (adjective)	Unchanging or remaining steady over time	Constant, stable	“The time spent on hobbies was consistent at 6% in both years.”
Evolution (noun)	The gradual development or change of something	Progression, transformation	“The evolution of daily routines reflects changes in work and lifestyle priorities.”

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