proportion
A part or share of a whole.
ExampleA large proportion of students chose online courses in 2025.
ExampleThe proportion of commuters using buses fell steadily after 2018.
Usage Scenarios
Task 1 share of a whole
Use proportion when the chart shows a part of a total group, especially percentages, pie charts, survey results, or demographic groups.
ExampleA large proportion of students chose online courses in 2025.
Trend in a group share
Use it when the important point is not the raw number, but how much of the whole group one category represents.
ExampleThe proportion of commuters using buses fell steadily after 2018.
Usage Guide
Use proportion when you describe a share of a total group in IELTS Task 1. The total must be clear before the sentence is meaningful.
High-value patterns include the proportion of students, a large proportion of households, and the smallest proportion of respondents.
Do not use proportion for a raw number. If the chart gives 500 students without a total group or percentage, number may be more accurate.
Word Forms & Word Building
Proportion is built from pro- plus portion; portion means a part or share, so proportion is a part measured against the whole.
Proportional uses the adjective suffix -al, and disproportionately adds dis- plus -ly to show an uneven relationship.
In Task 1, proportion often works with of: the proportion of students, a large proportion of households.
The word family is about relationship to a total, not just a raw number.
Meaning Boundaries
Proportion vs number
A number is a raw count. A proportion is a share of a whole, so the total group must be clear.
Proportion vs percentage
A percentage is one way to express a proportion. Proportion is broader and can describe shares without using the percent symbol.
Best IELTS context
Use proportion in Task 1 when describing pie charts, survey shares, demographic groups, or parts of a total.
Memory Tricks
Store proportion as share of a whole. Before using it, identify the total group and the part you are describing.
Use the safe frame the proportion of + plural noun + verb, such as the proportion of students rose.
In Task 1, pair proportion with pie charts, survey groups, age bands, or percentages.
Common Traps
Do not use proportion when you only mean a raw number.
Be careful with subject agreement: the proportion of students was high, but students were numerous.
Make the whole group clear; a proportion always belongs to a total.