top of page

The Percentage of Government Spending on Roads and Transport in 4 Countries- Task 1 Bar Graph Band 9

Updated: Jul 2

You should spend 20 minutes on this task.


The chart below shows the percentage of government spending on roads and transport in 4 countries in the years 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005.


Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant.


Write at least 150 words.


Task 1 Bar Chart Band 9 Sample (The chart shows the percentage of government spending on roads and transport in 4 countries in the years 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005.)

Get your personalised IELTS Essay Feedback from a former examiner


Download IELTS eBooks, get everything you need to achieve a high band score



Sample Report 1

The bar graph illustrates the proportion of governmental expenditure on road and transportation infrastructure across four nations—Italy, Portugal, the UK, and the USA—from 1990 to 2005.


Overall, Portugal emerges as a consistent frontrunner in the allocation of budgetary resources to transport infrastructure, leading in all years except 2000. In contrast, Italy and the UK experienced significant volatility in their spending patterns, ultimately trending downwards, while the USA demonstrated a rising commitment to transport infrastructure, particularly in the latter half of the observed period.


In the initial year of 1990, the disparities in spending were stark: Portugal allocated nearly 27%, Italy about 22%, and the UK only 10% of their respective national budgets to this sector. Over the ensuing decade and a half, Portugal’s investment displayed a gradual decline, settling at around 20% by 2005, indicating a notable reduction from its initial high.


During the mid-1990s, investment levels in Italy, the UK, and the USA dipped slightly, only to surge by approximately 30% in the next five years. By the end of the period in 2005, except for the USA, each country recorded a decrease in the percentage of their budget dedicated to road and transportation. The USA’s data distinctly reflects an increasing trajectory, prioritizing transportation infrastructure towards the close of the period reviewed.


Download IELTS eBooks, get everything you need to achieve a high band score



Sample Report 2

The presented bar chart delineates the percentage of governmental expenditure on road and transport infrastructure across four countries—Italy, Portugal, the United Kingdom, and the United States—from 1990 to 2005.


Observing the data, Portugal consistently allocated the highest percentage of its budget to road and transport, except in 2000. Italy and the UK showed considerable fluctuations in their allocations, with a general downward trend, while the US displayed a progressive increase in spending in this sector towards the latter part of the period.


Initially, in 1990, the allocations were notably diverse with Portugal investing approximately 27%, Italy around 22%, and the UK a mere 10% of their national budgets in this sector. Portugal's investment saw a declining pattern, decreasing to about 20% by 2005, illustrating a significant reduction over the 15 years.


Conversely, after a decline in the mid-1990s, investments in road and transport by Italy, the UK, and the USA saw a rise of approximately 30% in the subsequent five years. By 2005, however, apart from the USA, all countries experienced a reduction in the portion of their budgets dedicated to this sector. The data from the US indicates a clear prioritization of transport infrastructure in the final years of the survey period.



Sample Report 3

The bar graph shows the proportion of national funds spent by the four distinct countries—namely, Italy, Portugal, the United Kingdom, and the United States—on roads and transportation between 1990 and 2005.


With the exception of 2000, Portugal registered the highest spending on road and transportation sector throughout the 15-year period. Another interesting point is that, whereas Italy and the UK had significant oscillations and subsequently a decline in their road and transport spending, USA saw an increased spending in this sector during the final five years.


In 1990, Portugal, Italia and the UK, respectively, spent about 27, 22, and 10 percent of their national budget for the sake of road and transportation. Portugal's spending in this area dropped by almost 15 percent per five-years throughout this period and, in 2005, it made up barely 20% of the whole national budget, down from almost 27% in the first year, 1990.


The investment on transportation infrastructure in the other three nations, Italy, the UK, and the USA, decreased somewhat in 1995 before increasing by roughly 30% during the next five years. With the exception of the United States, all three of the other nations had a decline in their national proportion of expenditure on road and transportation in 2005.


Get your personalised IELTS Essay Feedback from a former examiner


Download IELTS eBooks, get everything you need to achieve a high band score

bottom of page