essay task 1 line graph

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IELTS Writing Task 1 – Line Graph

Updated On Jan 25, 2024

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IELTS Writing Prediction Questions for 2024

IELTS line graphs

In IELTS Writing task 1 of the academic section, there will be a visual representation or a diagram on which you have to write a paragraph. One of these visual representations may be pie charts.

Sometimes, in the IELTS examination , you are asked to explain a Line graph. The IELTS line graph shows how data changes over time. These line graphs will have 2 axes, one is X-axis and another is Y-axis. 

The X-axis shows the time period and the Y-axis shows what is being measured. The line graph highlights the trends when the data goes up and down. You should take only 20 minutes to complete this task and it should be a 150-word essay.

Line graph – An example:

Types of Line Graphs:

There are three types of line graphs. They are:

• Simple line graph
• Multiline graph (or) Polyline graph
• Compound line graph

Simple Line Graph:

Definition: These types of graphs have just a single line plotted on them.

Sample Answer

The given image depicts a line graph representing the trend in the occurrence of X disease in Someland from 1960 to 1995.

The line graph represents the presence of X disease in Someland in varying numbers at different time intervals until it is wiped out entirely from the place.

It is clear from the line graph that the number of people affected by X disease did not cross 100 between 1960 -1965. The number of affected individuals began rising after the year 1965 and reached 200 in 1970 and 500 in 1975 respectively. The occurrence of X disease remained stagnant between 1975-1980 at 500 affected individuals. After the year 1980, the number of cases took a downward trend, falling down to almost 350 in 1985 before being completely eradicated by the year 1990. The number of people affected by X disease in Someland has been zero from 1990 till 1995.

Multiline graph (or) Polyline graph Task 1:

Definition: They are commonly used for comparison. These types of graphs have more than one line. ( on the same axis)

The graph portrays the consumption of three kinds of spread, namely, Margarine, Lowfat and reduced spreads and butter, over 26 years, from 1981 to 2007.

It is evident that butter and margarine were the primary spreads used until the introduction of low-fat and reduced spreads.

The staple spread from the early 1980s till the early 1990s was butter. The consumption of margarine followed a fluctuating trend over the years, from 1981 to 1986. The consumption decreased but then rose till 1991 and remained stagnant till 1996 after which it started declining. The use of low-fat and reduced spread began from 1996 and rose sharply from the first year till 2001 after which its preference decreased.

With regards to quantity, butter peaked at about 160 grams after which it followed a downward trend. The quantity of Margarine was within 80-100 grams for 20 years till 2001 after which it fell to 40 grams in 2007. The number of low-fat spreads crossed 80 grams in 2001 after which its consumption quantity fell.

Compound line graph:

Definition: It is an advanced version of the multi-line graph. The area between two lines is shaded indicating the size of that part.

The given graph shows the frequency of three different kinds of vehicles, which are, vans, trucks and tricycles on a road at different times of the day.

It is clear from the graph that at any point in time, the number of vans on the road are the highest among the three vehicles, followed by trucks and then tricycles. The peak hour of vans and trucks falls between 2-3 pm.

The number of vans on the road increases from 1-2 pm till 2-3 pm and then gradually decreases. The number of trucks on the road remains the same till 2-3 pm after which their number also starts declining. The number of tricycles is highest at 1-2 pm and then it follows a downward trend all throughout the day.

The road in question is dominated by vans for most of the day and trucks are also quite frequent during the afternoon. The number of tricycles are less as compared to the other two types of vehicles.

Tips for IELTS Writing Task 1 Line Graph 2022

• In the introduction part, you can paraphrase the question asked or the topic of the essay.
• When you explain the overall trend, identify the main feature and explain it.
• Ensure that each paragraph has examples that are percentages or numbers to support the sentence written as an explanation. 
• You can look into the various lessons available on the line graph in order to answer the complex questions.
• The last tip is to practice as much as possible so that you get a good hold on what to write in the examination when questions become complex.
• You also need to use suitable verbs, nouns, adverbs, adjectives, prepositions related to time.

Writing the exam without practicing is a waste because you will not be able to understand anything in the exam. It may become complex and test-takers may skip the question which in turn will reduce your IELTS band score .

Here are the 10 examples for the IELTS Writing Line Graph Task 1 2022:

Also check :

IELTS Writing recent actual test

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a line graph?

Is there a dedicated vocabulary for line graph?

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What is the structure used to describe a line graph?

Is conclusion required for writing task 1 – Line graph?

Practice IELTS Writing Task 1 based on report types

Effective IELTS Essay Connectors for Writing Task 2 & Task 1

Janet had been an IELTS Trainer before she dived into the field of Content Writing. During her days of being a Trainer, Janet had written essays and sample answers which got her students an 8+ band in the IELTS Test. Her contributions to our articles have been engaging and simple to help the students understand and grasp the information with ease. Janet, born and brought up in California, had no idea about the IELTS until she moved to study in Canada. Her peers leaned to her for help as her first language was English.

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How to write a line graph for IELTS writing task 1

Learn how to describe a line graph for IELTS writing task 1. IELTS Line graphs are common in writing task 1 along with bar charts, tables, maps, diagrams and pie charts. This lesson was last up-dated in 2018.

The guidelines below will help you structure your line graph answer and focus on the right aspects for a high score.

Steps: How to write IELTS Line Graphs

• try to include all information from the two axis and the names of categories.
• do not divide your key points into different paragraphs. Make sure you include the main increases and decreases shown.
• Use different verbs and nouns
• Use a range of adjectives and adverbs
• Vary your time phrases
• Click here to get a word list: LINE GRAPH VOCABULARY
• Don’t always give from … to … for the amounts, sometimes you can give the difference “it increased by double..”.
• Put numbers or percentages to support your sentences in the body paragraph. Failure to do that will result in a low score.
• Leave an empty line between paragraphs to make them easier to see. This is not a rule, it is a strong recommendation.
• If the line graph contains many lines and a lot of movement, be selective. You are being marked on your ability to select key features.
• Don’t spend more than 20 mins on task 1. You will need a full 40 mins for task 2.
• Write 150 words or more. Aim for about 160-190 words. Don’t write under the word count.
• Click here: IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answers

Line Graph Sample

It is not common to be given only one line in IELTS writing task 1. However, this answer will provide you will an example of vocabulary, layout and general content.

• Source: IELTS Liz

Line Graph Model Answer

The graph illustrates how many people from the age of 65 and above were reported to have contracted influenza in a particular village in the UK from 1985 to 1995.

Overall, the number of cases of elderly people with influenza increased over the period given. The highest number of people with the illness can be seen in 1991.

In 1985, the number of cases of influenza stood at 40 and then rose steadily over the next three years to reach 55 in 1987. In the following year, 1988, the figure dipped slightly to below 50 after which it rose significantly to reach a high of 75 in 1991.

From 1991, there was a decrease to about 60 in 1993 of the number of reported cases of influenza. From this point, except for a slight increase of about 5 cases, the number remained at about 60 at the end of the period.

Focus Points:

Take time to read through the model and pay attention to:

• the content of each paragraph
• the use of verbs, nouns, adverbs and adjectives
• the logical order of information in the body paragraphs

Please note: this is a practice exercise lesson. It is rare for IELTS to give a one-line graph. So, use this to practice language and technique.

Recommended

• IELTS Writing Task 1: Tips & Model Answers

All the best

The line graph illustrates how many number of cases of elderly people over than 65 years, who infected by influenza in some UK village between 1985 to 1995.

Overall, the number of reported people with influenza had been increased over given time. The highest reaching point the influenza cases had been reported was in 1991 for about 75 cases.

is it okay to use [the number of ] more than 4 times

There is no rule that states how many times a certain word can be used. The marking system doesn’t work this way. For example, the word “people” is likely to be repeated a number of times in some IELTS writing task 2 essays and that is fine, even for a high score essay. As long as there is a range of language in your task 1 report and you have demonstrated the skill of paraphrasing, such as “the figure” or “how many”, you can repeat words within reason. IELTS Writing Task 1 is short, roughly between 7 and 9 sentences on average for a high band score report, and within those few sentences you need to show range of vocabulary. So, while there is no rule, I’m sure when you proof read your writing, you can see whether or not you have too much repetition.

Thanks a billion dear Liz.

You’re welcome 🙂

You are doing a wonderful job, Liz. May God always keep you healthy, happy, and prosperous. I have been teaching for the past 27 years and I still see that there are only a handful who are committed to teaching. You really are one of those. Kudos, Liz.

Thanks. That’s a really kind comment.

Thanks a million.💝💝💝

Hi, Liz. Please evaluate.

The graph illustrates the number of people aged 65 years and above with influenza in a particular village in UK between year 1985 to 1995.

Overview, the number of infected aged people with influenza increased over the years. In the year 1991,the highest number of people with the case were reported, whereas the lowest case was reported in 1985.

In 1985, the number of cases of influenza stood at 40 and then rose steadily to 55 in 1987. There was a slight fall in the number to 50 in the subsequent year afyer which it leveled off to hit a high of 75 in 1991.

Between 1991 to 1993, there was a drop from 75 to 60 in the number of people reported to be infected with influenza. The number remained constant at 60 from 1993 to the final year except for a slight increase of 5 cases reported in 1994.

Please Evaluate. The graph illustrates the number of people above the age of 65, who got infected by influenza flu in a particular village in the UK from 1985 to 1999. Overall, the number of cases of influenza increased over the time span, the least number of cases was 40 in the starting year while the maximum number was 75 in the year 1991. At the beginning of the period, the number of people infected with flu was 40, which increased to 55 in 1987 before dipping down to just below 50 in 1988. Afterwards the figure got a increment till it reached a high of 75 in the year 1991. After the year 1991, the cases of influenza saw a drop till they reached 60 in 1993 . From this point a slight increment (about 5 cases)was seen in the number in the year 1994 but in the last year figure dropped to 60.

Hi Liz thanks a bunch for your beneficial tips and answers. Honestly I’ve got a problem!! Is the “overview” of writing task 1 necessary? I mean we don’t have to use any numbers in it??? Cause i’m really confused. I live in Iran and I’ve taught to prepare my writing in just 3parts including: Introduction 2 or 3 body paragraph and Conclusion! Without overview. WHAT SHOULD I DO??

The overview is the most important paragraph for academic writing task 1. It contains a summary of the key features. This means you collect and describe all key features in that paragraph. The numbers and detail, you present in the body paragraphs. See my model answers and tips about the conclusion: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-1-lessons-and-tips/

Thank you Liz. It’s really effective.

Hello Liz, Thank you very much for the content that you produce. I’m using it as a main source for my IELTS preparation. I’m struggling a lot with identifying key features of a graph. Not sure why, but I usually end up writing too much information in an overview. Do you have any suggestions or tips on how to properly identify the key features for the overview? Thank you in advance.

Give a bird’s eye view – what goes up or down over the period. Then mention which might be higher or lower. Those are two key features that are in most line graphs. Another option is to add an unusual key feature – ie when lines show opposite trends (but this isn’t common). So, the two common key features I mentioned will be two sentences – one each. Your task is to simplify what you see – not complicate it.

thank you liz.Your lessons are too helpful.

Hi , Can you please let me know that is it ok to use brackets in your writing tasks ?

See my model answers for writing task 1 on this page to learn your answer: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-1-lessons-and-tips/

Hi liz, Somebody told me that, for graphs ‘Overall Statement’ should put at last, rather than within introduction or second paragraph. To what extent it is right??

There are no rules about this. The examiner will mark you based on logical organisation. Your overview statement can come before or after the smaller detail. This means it comes before or after the body paragraphs.

Mam, as you said before, I would prefer “overall” just after the Introduction paragraph. thank you so much for your worthful lessons! All of the classes are excellent and it means a lot…

Hello liz I couldnot find your answers for all the writing task 1 ,i had found it once,but now i could’nt find it again rather those in the home page..please help me this..that is really usefull for me.

Go to the red bar at the top of each page and click on the words: Writing Task 1. All main pages are accessed through the red bar.

Thank you so much for your valuable guidance. I request you to provide one more example on line graphs which has 3-5 lines so that it would be better to learn and write in the exam. I also want to inform you that I am planning to appear for my IELTS in the month of October and your website is the only source for me to study. So I request you to help me in this and i hope that it would be better for others also. Looking forward to get positive response from your side. Thanks again in the advance.

IT’s certainly something I will put on my list of things to do, but I’ll actually be taking a break in September and possibly October too. Only a few reading or listening lessons will be posted during that time as well as updated topics.

and plateau word good for line graph

If you don’t know it, don’t use it.

Hello Liz mam, I’ve a question. Can we use both verb+adverb and adjective+noun in a line graph or we have to choose only one pair for whole graph. Thanks in advance.. Abdul….

You should alternate so that you demonstrate your language skills.

Dear Liz, It is possible in Writing task 1 just have 1 body paragraph ?

If you want a good band score, then you need to demonstrate the skill of organising paragraphs. See the band score requirements.

Excuse me, Why ‘the origin number’? I think that should be ‘the original number’

Thanks for spotting it. It’s a typo. Liz

Dear madam,can we mention dates in overview paragraph.what I mean is that mentioning time phrases ” at the beginning of the period,during mid years,at the end of the period” while describing key changes would’nt be better instead of writing specific dates such as,1999,2000 or it does’nt affect much.

https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-liz-news/

hey Liz thnas for everthing

Hi Liz, Question about the intro, how come it is “over 10 years” when it is from 1983-1992? Thanks, Joharra

The word “over” does not mean “more than” in this context. It refers to over the period. There are 10 years given. Liz

Hi Liz, Just a follow up question. So the counting of years should start at the first given year, which is 1983? However, 1983 + 10 = 1993. In the line graph it is 1992. There was another essay says 26 years (1981-2007) which is correct when being added (1981 + 26 = 2007). Just really curious. Do you have any explanations about this? And one last question, should the overview be in a separate paragraph or part of the intro? Thanks a lot! Joharra

You can count it on the graph, not by doing calculations. Just look at the graph and count. Liz

Thanks! that makes everything clear 🙂

Hi Liz, thank you so much for you free lessons, thank you for teaching me that overview contains the key features or the highest or the lowest point ..but i am still struggling to understand the real content of overview, I would like to ask about your overview above, you wrote” Overall, the number of cases of disease X remained below 200 over the period given except for a considerable surge between 1989 and 1991 when the figures doubled.” -In 1991, the number of cases is actually 350 which is not double of 200, so, is it still fine or accurate to say that” the figure doubled”? or should we say ”…the figure almost doubled?because it is doubled in 1989 (400 cases) but not in 1991 (350 cases). or does the accuracy of information we give in overview is not 100% required?

My last question is about Grammar, would you please explain a bit more when we put ”s” in ”figures”? One student wrote ”’The figures rose steadily in the next four years, to reach its first peak in 1987” and you asked to take off ”s” in figure. when we should not put ”s” like”figure”?thank you.

The overview contains a description, so if we write “it doubled” as a description it is fine. But you can certainly make it clearer by writing “it more or less doubled”. As long as you don’t write “it doubled exactly”. But you need to understand that we are not referring to details. In the first years the numbers were 200 and under, then they reached 400. The description is “doubled”. If you get lost in details, then it isn’t an overview.

Usually, we write about “the figure” rather than using the plural. All the best Liz

Many thanks, God bless you!

I am from Mongolia. I am doing independent study on the preparation of IELTS examination. Thank you for helping the students like me around the world. I would like to kindly ask you to check my writing below in order to let me know my writing skill in task 1.

The line graph illustrates the amount of goods transported in four different ways (road, water, rail and pipeline) in Uk between 1974 and 2002. The units are measured in million tonnes.

Overall, over the period, the highest amount of goods was transported by road while the least amount of goods was transported by pipeline. Interestingly, all the amounts of goods were increased over the 28 years except the amount of rail transportation which almost reached back to it’s original number.

In terms of the road, the amount of goods was transported, it began about 70 million tonnes which rose steadily over the following 18 years to reach over 80 million tonnes in 1992. In the following 4 years, there was a gradual decline after which it grew up to nearly 100 million tones. Likewise, about 39 million tonnes of goods was transported through water in the first year and then the figure fluctuated slightly and rose to about 65 million tones. Similarly, in 1974, the figure of the pipeline transportation stood at about 5 million tonnes and there was a steep fluctuation until it leveled out from 1995 to 2002.

On the other hand, the amount of goods was transported by train was 40 million tonnes in 1974 which was followed by slight changes and reached at just above it’s beginning figure of 40 million tonnes.

Please read my notice: https://ieltsliz.com/posting-writing/ Thanks Liz

how to write bar graph

There is a free video and other lessons for bar charts on this page: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-1-lessons-and-tips/ Liz

Hello How can apply this sentence structure. Subject+ verb + proposition + indirect object + direct object. In graph and essay

You will find sentence structure lessons for line graphs on this page: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-1-lessons-and-tips/ Thanks Liz

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How To Write an IELTS Line Graph Essay

Here is the 5 steps process I recommend for planning and writing   IELTS line graph essays:

1)  Analyse the question

2)  Identify the main features

3)  Write an introduction

4)  Write an overview

5)  Write the details paragraphs

I’m going to take you through the whole process step-by-step as we work on a practice question.

Many students are reluctant to spend time on steps 1 and 2 as they want to spend as much of the 20 minutes allowed for the essay as possible actually writing it. However, it is essential that you do them as they are the key to writing a high-scoring IELTS line graph essay.

Before we begin, here’s a model essay structure that you can use as a guideline for all IELTS Academic Task 1 questions.

Ideally, your essay should have 4 paragraphs:

Paragraph 1  – Introduction

Paragraph 2  – Overview

Paragraph 3  – 1 st  main feature

Paragraph 4  – 2 nd  main feature

Now that we have all these tools we need, we’re ready to begin planning and writing our IELTS line graph essay.

Here’s our practice question:

The graph below shows radio and television audiences throughout the day in 1992.

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

Write at least 150 words.

Source: Official IELTS website

Step 1 –  Analyse the question

The format of every Academic Task 1 question is the same. Here is our practice question again with the words that will be included in all questions highlighted .

The  graph below shows radio and television audiences throughout the day in 1992.

Every question consists of:

• Sentence 1 – A brief description of the graphic
• Sentence 2 – The instructions
• The graphic – chart, graph, table, etc.

Sentence 2 tells you what you have to do.

You must do 3 things:

1.     Select the main features.

2.     Write about the main features.

3.     Compare the main features.

All three tasks refer to the ‘ main features ’ of the graphic. You  do not  have to write about everything. Just pick out 2 or 3 key features and you’ll have plenty to write about.

Step 2 – Identify the Main Features

The graphic in IELTS line graph questions should not be difficult to interpret. Each question has been created to  test your language skills, not your mathematics ability.

All you are looking for are the main features. These will usually be the easiest things to spot. There will be lots of information in the graphic to help you identify them.

Here are some useful questions to ask?

• What information do the 2 axes give?
• What are the units of measurements?
• What are the time periods?
• What can you learn from the title and any labels?
• What is the most obvious trend?
• Are there any notable similarities?

(I give more detail on how to use these questions, plus downloadable checklists for identifying the main features of all 7 different types of IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 questions, in the lesson on  How To Understand & Analyse Task 1 Questions .)

So, what main features stand out in our practice graphic?

Here's our IELTS line graph again.

The timeline will give you the biggest clues as to the most significant trends. Look for general trends.

There are 2 main features/trends in this line graph:

Main feature 1:  The peak time for TV audiences is in the evening (8 pm).

Main feature 2:  The peak time for radio audiences is in the morning (8 am).

The general trends you select will be the starting point for your essay. You will then go on to add more detail. However, with just 20 minutes allowed for Task 1, and a requirement of only 150 words, you won't be able to include many details.

We’re now ready to begin writing our essay. Here’s a reminder of the 4 part structure we’re going to use.

Step 3 – Write an Introduction 

In the introduction, you should simply paraphrase the question, that is, say the same thing in a different way. You can do this by using synonyms and changing the sentence structure. For example:

Introduction (Paragraph 1): 

The line graph illustrates the proportion of people in the UK who watched TV and listened to the radio over 24 hours from October to December 1992.

This is all you need to do for the introduction.

Step 4 – Write an Overview (Paragraph 2)

In the second paragraph, you should report the main features you can see in the graph, giving only general information. The detail comes later in the essay. You should also make any clear comparisons you spot.

This is where we write about the general trends. Here are the ones we picked out above.

Now form these ideas into two or three sentences with a total of around 40 words. State the information simply using synonyms where possible. No elaborate vocabulary or grammar structures are required, just the appropriate words and correct verb tenses.

For example:

Overview  (Paragraph 2): 

Overall, a significantly greater percentage of the TV audience watched in the evening while radio had the most listeners in the morning. Over the course of each day and night, more people watched TV than listened to the radio.

Step 5  – Write the 1st Detail Paragraph

Paragraphs 3 and 4 of your IELTS line graph essay are where you include more detailed information about the data in the graphic. In paragraph 3, you should give evidence to support your first key feature. Don’t forget to make comparisons when relevant.

Here is our first main feature again:

And this is an example of what you could write:

Paragraph 3 :

Less than 10% of people watched TV between 1 am and 12 noon but at 4 pm this figure increased rapidly, reaching a peak of almost half the population at 8 pm. After this, the graph records a sharp decline in viewers, reaching a low of only a tiny percentage by 3 am.

Step 6  – Write the 2nd Detail Paragraph

For the fourth and final paragraph, you do the same thing for your second key feature. 

Here’s an example of what you could write:

Paragraph 4 :

Radio, on the other hand, shows a very different trend. The most popular time for listeners to be tuned in was just after 8 am when around 27% of the population was listening. After a brief peak, the numbers dropped steadily to barely 2%, apart from fluctuations at around 4 pm and 10.30 pm. The percentage of listeners remained low overnight before beginning a rapid ascent from 6 am to the 8 am high.

Here are the four paragraphs brought together to create our finished essay.

Finished IELTS Line Graph Essay

This sample IELTS line graph essay is well over the minimum word limit so you can see that you don’t have space to include very much detail at all. That’s why it is essential to select just a couple of main features to write about.

Now use what you’ve learnt in this lesson to practice answering other IELTS line graph questions. Start slowly at first and keep practicing until you can plan and write a complete essay in around 20 minutes.

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Ielts academic writing task 1 – all lessons.

IELTS Academic Writing  –  A summary of the test including important facts, test format & assessment.

Academic Writing Task 1  – The format, the 7 question types & sample questions, assessment & marking criteria.  All the key information you need to know.

Understanding Task 1 Questions  – How to quickly and easily analyse and understand IELTS Writing Task 2 questions.

How To Plan a Task 1 Essay  –  Discover  3 reasons why you must plan, the 4 simple steps of essay planning and learn a simple 4 part essay structure.

Vocabulary for Task 1 Essays  –  Learn key vocabulary for a high-scoring essay. Word lists & a downloadable PDF.

Grammar for Task 1 Essays   – Essential grammar for Task 1 Academic essays including, verb tenses, key sentence structures, articles & prepositions.

The 7 Question Types:

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IELTS Academic Writing Task 1: Line Graph with Model Answer (Band 9)

On IELTS test day, you may encounter line graphs in the Academic Writing Task 1 section. To help you understand what components make up a good response to a line graph question, let’s take a look at a model band 9 essay .

To see why this essay is band 9, see our scorer commentary after the model essay below, and check out the official IELTS rubric for Task 1 (PDF) .

This particular prompt is a line graph. Your approach to this graph should be the same as your approach to any other Task 1 infographic Take a look at the information and think carefully. What is the best way to summarize the way the information is structured and the main points? From there, how can you best compare the most relevant pieces of information? Finally, how should you structure that summary and comparison? For more advice on how to approach this, see our article on IELTS Academic Task 1 paragraph structure , as well as our main page for IELTS sample questions and practice resources .

Try to do this prompt yourself. Then check out our band 9 model essay below the prompt and compare it to your own work to see how you did.

Model IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 Prompt: Line Graph

The chart below gives information about population growth in three major Australian cities from 1992 to 2016.

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

Model Essay

This line graph shows the change in population for the cities of Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane from 1992 to 2017.

While all cities saw a net increase in annual population growth by 2011, the most dramatic increases happened between 2007 and 2010. In spite of this overall trend, there were a number of rises and falls in growth, with all cities showing a decrease in growth in 2011.

Although it started out with the least annual growth, Melbourne’s growth accelerated the most overall, starting with only a roughly 23k increase in people in 1992, but gaining around 110,000 people in 2017. Brisbane started out with nearly as little growth as Melbourne, but had a lower net gain, rising from slightly over 23k growth in 1992 to a gain of merely 50,000 by 2017. Sydney started out with the highest growth rate at 30,000 in a year, but ended with 105,000 annual growth by the end of the period, just behind Melbourne.

Why does this essay have a band 9 score?

All of Magoosh’s model IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 essays are meant to be band 9. But this model essay is special. Here, we’re going to give you a detailed explanation as to why this is a band 9 essay! Our scoring rationale is based on the band 9 category descriptors in the official rubric for Writing Task 1 .

Task achievement

Per the instructions, this essay summarizes the information by identifying the main features in paragraph one, reporting the general content of the main features in paragraph two, and making relevant comparisons between the cities in the graph in paragraph three. This matches the band 9 descriptor “fully satisfies all the requirements of the task.

The essay organizes its paragraphs clearly, identifying the characteristics of the graph in the first paragraph, reporting the main features in the second, and making comparisons in the third. Each paragraph’s ideas are connected with appropriate linking words, such as “while,” “in spite of,” “although,” and so on. This matches with “clearly presents a fully developed response” in the band 9 task achievement section.

Coherence and cohesion

Coherence and cohesion are tied closely to the points I mentioned above in task achievement. This essay organizes similar ideas closely together in paragraphs without any distracting less relevant details and uses natural-sounding transitions. In doing this, the essay “uses cohesion in such a way that it attracts no attention” and “skillfully manages paragraphing.”

Lexical resource

While this essay does repeat sum specialized terms related to the graph, such as “annual,” it uses a variety of language to describe the same thing when possible. As one example, when describing the beginning point on the graph for each of the three cities in the final paragraph, the essay uses the terms “started out,” “began,” and “initially had.” The means that the essay “uses a wide range of vocabulary,” per level 9 of the rubric.

Not only are the words varied, but they are also very suited to the context and meaning. For instance, sophisticated phrasing such as “net increase” and “the most dramatic increases” appear in paragraph 1. Overly wordy terms such as “the total increase for each year combined” are avoided for the most part. So are slightly awkward-sounding phrases like “the very shocking increases.”

Moreover, the mistakes in word use that do appear in the essay are minor. “Amounts of people” in the first paragraph is overly simple and slightly awkward, but the essay uses the much better term “population” after that initial slip. Similarly, the use of the term “trending” when “trends” would be a more commonly used word with more accurate meaning, is a very minor word form error.

Ultimately, this links to the rubric’s description of “very natural and sophisticated control of lexical features,” where “rare minor errors occur only as “slips.”

Grammatical range and accuracy

This essay shows a level of grammar variety that’s comparable to its variety of vocabulary. The first paragraph consists of a sentence with a relatively simple structure, but with a sophisticated prepositional phrase modifying the noun “change.” The paragraphs that follow have compound sentences (the first sentence of paragraph 2), and the use of a variety of modifying phrases (ex: “with all cities…”, “rising from slightly…”).

There is a minor error in parallel structure in the first sentence of the second paragraph, with a shift from present participle “starting” to past tense “gained.” Together, these aspects of grammar in the essay satisfy the level 9 rubric descriptor “uses a wide range of structures with full flexibility and accuracy; rare minor errors occur only as ‘slips’.”

More Practice IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 Sample Questions and Model Essays

• IELTS Academic Writing Task 1: Process Diagram with Model Answer
• IELTS Academic Writing Task 1: Bar Chart With Model Answer
• IELTS Academic Writing Task 1: Map With Model Answer
• IELTS Academic Writing Task 1: Pie Chart with Model Answer
• IELTS Academic Writing Task 1: Comparing two Graphics with Model Answer

David is a Test Prep Expert for Magoosh TOEFL and IELTS. Additionally, he’s helped students with TOEIC, PET, FCE, BULATS, Eiken, SAT, ACT, GRE, and GMAT. David has a BS from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and an MA from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. His work at Magoosh has been cited in many scholarly articles , his Master’s Thesis is featured on the Reading with Pictures website, and he’s presented at the WITESOL (link to PDF) and NAFSA conferences. David has taught K-12 ESL in South Korea as well as undergraduate English and MBA-level business English at American universities. He has also trained English teachers in America, Italy, and Peru. Come join David and the Magoosh team on Youtube , Facebook , and Instagram , or connect with him via LinkedIn !

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6 responses to “IELTS Academic Writing Task 1: Line Graph with Model Answer (Band 9)”

the numbers you wrote in the essay do not tally with the diagram

Thanks for writing! The essay uses the year 2017 because the graph seems to go beyond 2016. It also uses estimation, which will be necessary in some cases, like this, where the graph does not provide exact numbers and must be interpreted/estimated.

Hope this helps! 😀

“”While all cities saw a net increase in annual population growth by 2011, and the most dramatic increases happened between 2007 and 2010. “”

Wonderful train wreck of a sentence there to start your 2nd paragraph. Don’t you guys proofread your posts?

The key features highlighted in the overview are not even mentioned in the BPs.

We get starting and ending points in the BPs with no description of the middle. This is called “mechanical” reporting and closer to a 5 than a 9.

Thanks for pointing out the typo “and” to us–we really appreciate it! I’ll get that fixed up right away!

Note that we go through the scoring towards the end of this article, and we still stand by that.

Thank you! 😀

How this is a band 9 report if there is no Overview paragraph ?

The first paragraph in this essay is “This line graph shows the change in population for the cities of Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane from 1992 to 2017.” While this is only one sentence, it does clearly and accurately summarize the information by identifying the main features, which is what the Task asks students to do.

Happy studying! 🙂

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IELTS Writing Task 1 Line Graph Examples: Here’s a Guide to Master the IELTS Essays

One of the most popular essay topics in the IELTS writing task 1 is explaining the line graph. This is a type of essay where you will have to explain the data given in the form of line graphs. This task is particular to the academic writing and the general candidates need not worry about this.

As you must know that the IELTS writing task 1 line graph is the shorter of the two tasks and needs to be written in 150 words at least. It is also necessary that you finish this task in no more than 20 minutes, as the second task is lengthier and as such, requires more time. Let us get into the details of line graph essays.

Skills Tested in IELTS Task 1

In IELTS writing task 1, you will be asked to describe facts or figures presented in one or more graphs, charts or tables on a related topic; or they may be given a diagram of a machine, a device or a process and asked to explain how it works.

Important Points

You must write in an academic or semi-formal/ neutral style and include the most important and the most relevant points in the diagram.

This task assesses your ability to identify the most important and relevant information and trends in a graph, chart, table or diagram, and to give a well-organised overview of it using language accurately in an academic style.

You will also be judged on how appropriately, accurately and relevantly the response fulfils the requirements set out in the task, using the minimum of 150 words.

Further Assessment

• You will be assessed on how your response organises and links information, ideas and language with appropriate use of cohesive devices (for example, logical connectors, pronouns and conjunctions) to assist in making the conceptual and referential relationships between and within sentences clear.
• You will also be judged on your use of a range of vocabulary and grammatical devices and its accuracy in terms of the specific task.

How to Structure IELTS Writing Task 1 Line Graph Essays?

Structuring a line graph essay is not a big deal. All you need to remember is that you do not need a conclusion here. As this isn’t a discursive essay, so conclusions do not serve any purpose. Here is an IELTS sample essay to know how you can structure a line graph essay:

Paragraph 1 (Introduction)

• Sentence 1- Paraphrase Question

This paragraph should be one sentence long and demonstrates your ability to paraphrase. You should do this by using synonyms.

Paragraph 2 (Overview)

• Sentence 1- Overview of the first main feature
• Sentence 2- Overview of the second main feature
• Sentence 3- Make general comparison, if appropriate

An overview is a general statement, highlighting the most important information in the table. It should not include any numbers. This is just a summary of the main features. You can use numbers to support your answer in paragraphs 3 and 4.

The examiner is testing your ability to identify the most important information and then summarise it. Important information could include general trends, increase/ decreases, differences, comparisons etc.

Paragraph 3 (Details of significant feature 1)

• Sentence 1- Supporting details
• Sentence 2- Supporting details
• Sentence 3- Supporting details/ comparison details, if appropriate

In this paragraph, you take the first general statement from paragraph 2 and support it with details from the graph. The examiner is looking for your ability to choose the correct data and ability to describe data, trends, comparisons etc.

You then repeat this process for paragraph 4, only this time you describe the second sentence in paragraph 2.

Paragraph 4 (Details of significant feature 2)

There may also be three significant features, in which case you can adjust the structure slightly.

You must remember not to write a conclusion. Conclusions are for opinion or discursive essays and you are not expected to do this in task 1.

Also Read :  9 Practical IELTS Letter Writing Tips: Guide to General & Academic Writing

IELTS Writing Task 1 Line Graph Example Essay Question

Source: Cambridge English IELTS Past Papers.

The IELTS writing task 1 line graph gives information from a 2008 report about the consumption of energy in the USA since 1980 with projections until 2030.

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

IELTS Sample Essays Answer

The line graph shows energy consumption by fuel type in the United States from 1980-2008, with projected use until 2030.

Overall, fossil fuels have been the dominant type and will continue this trend into the future. Nuclear and renewable energy sources have represented a small but significant proportion of total energy use and despite small projected gains; it is projected that they will continue doing so.

Main Information

Petrol and Oil commanded the biggest share with 35 quadrillion units (35q) in 1980, rising to approximately 40q in 2008 and this trend is set to continue with a projected value of nearly 50q in 2030. In 1980 natural gas and coal came in second and third, with around 16q and 20q respectively. However, coal overtook natural gas in 1990 and despite some fluctuation, is set to be the second most used fuel in 2030 with just over 30q. It is predicted that natural gas will level off and remain relatively constant at about 25q.

Nuclear and the renewable energies all represented around 4q in 1980 and fluctuated up until 2008.  It is speculated that nuclear energy will reach 10q by 2030 and solar/wind around 5q, with hydropower dropping and then remaining constant at approximately 2q.

Academic writing task 1 is a writing task which has a defined input and a largely predictable output. It is basically an information-transfer task that relates narrowly to the factual content of an input diagram and not to speculative explanations that lie outside the given data.

You can take help of any good IELTS online training programs for enhancing your skills in this topic. A proper IELTS online preparation will help you with the most important part and that is choosing the correct information. If you know what to put into the essay and have a concrete structure, you are absolutely good to go!

Also Read : Duolingo Test Scores Explained: Comparison with IELTS and TOEFL

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I was looking for this article for the preparation of graphs and how to write essays, this was very useful, what are you looking for?

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IELTS Line Graph (Writing Task One Academic)

Line graphs are the most common IELTS academic task one question type. They can also be one of the hardest types to answer. On this page, you can check out my sample answer for an especially tricky line graph question and find out why it is worth a band nine.

IELTS Line Graph Band Nine Sample Answer

This question below is my band nine answer for a fairly famous task one question. Once you’ve finished, keep scrolling to find out why it would get a band nine and for some extra tips.

The graph below shows the population of India and China from the year 2000 to the present day with projections for growth to the year 2050. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

This graph demonstrates how the number of people in China and India have and will change over time. The graph starts with historical data going back to the year 2000 and continues with predictions up to 2050.

Overall, the population of India will overtake that of China in 2030 and continue to grow through to 2050. Meanwhile, China’s population will peak in the late 2020s before gradually declining.

At the beginning of the graph, in the year 2000, the population of China was 1.25 billion people. According to the graph, this has been growing and will continue to grow to a peak of just over 1.4 billion. After this time, the population will begin to steadily decline, reaching a low point of just under 1.4 billion by 2050.

On the other hand, the population of India has been increasing steadily since the year 2000 and will continue to grow into 2050. In the year 2000, the population of India was 1 billion, far lower than China’s. India’s population will overtake China’s in 2030 when both are just over 1.4 billion people. Its population will continue to grow to 1.6 billion in the year 2050, although this growth will become more gradual over time.

Why is this essay band nine?

At first glance, this looks like quite a hard line graph to write about. After all, you only have two lines to talk about, which means some test takers could run out of things to say. To make things worse, the tenses used to describe this graph are quite complex.

Using perfect continuous tense

When we want to describe something that has been happening non stop for an extended period of time and which are still happening now, we can use the present perfect continuous tense. We often use this tense with ‘for’ and ‘since’. For example:

• I have been living in London since 2020.
• They have been studying hard for the IELTS exam for a year.
• She has been watching that TV show for the last five hours.

To be honest, this is quite a rare tense, but it comes in handy for questions like this. In the essay, I’ve used it for:

• According to the graph, this has been growing and will continue to grow to a peak of just over 1.4 billion.
• On the other hand, the population of India has been increasing steadily since the year 2000 and will continue to grow into 2050.

For both of these sentences, I’ve combined the present continuous with the future tense. This is less clunky than something like ‘The population of India, has grown, is growing and will grow.’

Good Task One Structure

The structure of this answer is exactly how it should be. It has:

• An introduction telling you what the graph is about.
• An overview which gives the key points without going into detail or giving any numbers.
• Two body paragraphs both with a clearly defined topic.

Related posts

IELTS Writing Task 1 – Line Graph Essay 1

In this post, we will look at a  Writing Task 1 Academic line graph essay  example from the IELTS writing task 1 Academic Test. Students often ask if the questions are repeated year after year and the answer is no, but the type of chart or graph can be.

There are so many questions written each year, you may find you practice answering various questions on different topics. It is best practice to learn how to answer each one of the various types of writing task 1 questions , from bar charts, line graphs, maps, process etc.

If you would like to learn how to structure a charts and graphs essay  please click the button below >

Take a look at the IELTS Writing Task 1 Academic essay example  below >>

*This line graph question and answer were provided by a student. IELTS Achieve did not design this question*

The line graph displays three varieties of fast foods (Hamburger, pizza and fish and chips) purchased by Australian teens over a 25-year period.

Overall, both pizza and hamburger consumption rose steadily as the years progressed until it remained steady by the year 2000, while fish and chips started strong at the beginning of the time period, then gradually plummeted reaching its lowest point at the end of 2000.

On the one hand, Australian teenagers didn’t opt to eat pizzas in 1975, as below 10 instances were recorded, however, as the years passed by, an upward trend can be observed in the number of pizzas consumed by Australian youths, as it reached its highest peak in 2000 at over 80 times per year. Similarly, the same can be said for eating hamburgers, below 20 hamburgers were consumed in 1975, this steadily increased until it reached its maximum peak at 100 hamburgers consumed per year by the year 2000.

On the other hand, fish and chips started out as being very popular.  An average of a whopping 100 fish and chips were eaten in 1975 though it slightly decreased in 1980 (almost 80 times) then slowly rose again after 5 years ( 1985, 90 times) nonetheless it continued to decrease as the years passed by wherein the year 2000 it plummeted and reached its lowest peak at nearly 40 fish and chips.

Word count – 231 / Band score – 8

• Task Achievement  – The answer provides a paraphrased question, to begin with, followed by an overview that gives the reader key information.    
• Coherence and Cohesion  – The answer has been divided into clear logical paragraphs.      
• Lexical Resource  – There is evidence of paraphrasing, synonyms and some less common words. 
• Grammatical Range and Accuracy  – The answer has no grammatical errors. The sentences are mainly made up of multiple clauses and have a variety of structures. 

We hope you found this post useful in helping you to study for the IELTS Test . If you have any questions please let us know in the comments below or on the Facebook page.

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Academic Writing Task 1 Sample Essays and Answers

Home  »  IELTS academic task 1  »  Academic Writing Task 1 Sample Essays and Answers

This is your very best resource for writing task 1 IELTS academic sample answers.

The resources are organised into different task types so you can look at several IELTS writing task 1 samples for three common diagrams. Read IELTS Writing Task 1 sample answers and questions to learn how you can describe pie charts, bar charts & line graphs.

There may be a lot of IELTS writing task 1 samples (academic) with hints and tips online, but how can you know you are looking at the very best resources? Some of the ‘perfect’ essays online have been written by non-experts, and while they may be useful to you, they should not be taken as a definitive guide to this section of the test.

Improve your IELTS writing and achieve a great band score on the academic paper with these useful links and model answers.

Each sample answer demonstrates the type of writing skills you will need to successfully complete the IELTS writing module for IELTS writing task 1 and IELTS writing task 2.

Take a look at some  IELTS academic writing task 1  sample questions with IELTS sample charts to help you prepare for your  IELTS exam .

Each bar chart,  pie chart  and line graph question comes with a sample answer to show you how to describe and compare factual information. This may involve describing differences between monthly spending in two countries over a given period or the number of pupils attending different schools.

You will give an overall perspective and may need to describe an upward trend or a slight difference. There are strategies to help you with each particular graph.

Bar charts – IELTS academic writing task 1 samples with extra hints and tips

Bar chart of international student enrolment in British universities 2009-2014

Bar chart of average monthly revenue from retail telecommunication subscribers

Bar chart of increase in total consumption

Bar chart of life expectancy (2006)

Bar chart of percentage of eligible voters registered for each race by state and year

Bar chart of average weekly attacks

Bar chart of pet Owners

Bar chart showing foreign direct investment in Australia over 3 years

Bar chart describing expected city visits by country of origin for 2018 (thousands/year)

Bar chart IELTS academic task 1 sample essay 15: Average life expectancy per country

Bar chart describing calorie sources for UK males at different life periods. Percentage of total intake.

IELTS academic task 1 sample essay 29: Water service reading

IELTS academic task 1 sample essay 28: Waste hauling truck trips

Bar chart IELTS academic task 1 sample essay 4: Book sales by genre across time

IELTS academic task 1 sample essay 27: Unemployment rate in Asia

Bar chart IELTS academic task 1 sample essay 24: Power consumption (per location) for July 2015

Bar chart IELTS academic task 1 sample essay 23: Passenger served per airport terminal

Bar chart IELTS academic task 1 sample essay 21: Hazardous waste inventory 2014

Bar chart and line graph IELTS academic task 1 sample essay 20: Genset diesel monitoring

Bar chart IELTS academic task 1 sample essay 17: Coastline coverage by country

Bar chart IELTS academic task 1 sample essay 12: 5-year carbon dioxide emission in Japan

Bar chart IELTS academic task 1 sample essay 13: Active military manpower per country

Bar chart IELTS academic task 1 sample essay 9: Toyota car sales – Quarterly monitoring

Writing task 1 pie chart sample answers

Pie chart IELTS academic task 1 sample essay 2: 2014 world food consumption

Pie charts of council expenditure by three regions in the UK, 2014

Pie chart IELTS academic task 1 sample essay 11: 2014 deaths due to neurological condition

Pie chart IELTS academic task 1 sample essay 16: Billing distribution for the month of August 2015

Pie chart IELTS academic task 1 sample essay 18: Daily activity distribution per day

Pie chart IELTS academic task 1 sample essay 3: 2014 age distribution in Asia

Line graphs sample answers for task 1

Take a look at our IELTS writing task 1 line graph examples to help you get a  better score  for the academic writing task on your IELTS test. IELTS writing task 1 can be challenging but with practice you will get better and better. The resources below include an IELTS writing task 1 sample answer pdf.

Line graph IELTS academic task 1 sample essay 26: Thermal conductivity of material at 25C

Line graph IELTS academic task 1 sample essay 7: January 2015 temperature variation in the Philippines

Line and bar chart IELTS academic task 1 sample essay 5: Common budget items chart

Jump to a band 7 or it’s FREE

Line graph IELTS academic task 1 sample essay 1: Stock market quarterly watch 2014

Line graph IELTS academic task 1 sample essay 25: Production output for 3rd quarter of 2015

Line graph IELTS academic task 1 sample essay 14: Approval ratings of US President Churchill (10-year term)

Line graph IELTS academic task 1 sample essay 8: Temperature calibration data

PDF 30 academic task 1 essays

Line graph IELTS academic task 1 sample essay 22: Income tax comparison per civil status

As well as using the task 1 sample answers above, take a look at our IELTS writing  academic task 1 tutorials  to help you better prepare for your  IELTS exam and achieve a good IELTS writing band score for IELTS writing task 1. There are plans and tips for using tenses and paraphrasing in this writing section and lots of other resources.

Improve your task achievement, use high-level lexis and avoid common grammar mistakes. We’ll help you write the perfect IELTS writing task 1 overview paragraph, make sure you are able to describe the main features of your chart or diagram and give you the lexical resources you need to be successful. It’s important that you look at all the data but select the most important features in IELTS writing task 1.

Why not choose a writing task 1 sample question and try to do it by yourself? Then you can check the model answer for feedback. You probably won’t have time to attempt to write essays for every task 1 sample answer but you will be able to read all the IELTS task 1 writing samples by clicking on the links.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How to write ielts writing task 1.

• If you are unsure, re-read some IELTS task 1 sample answers to be clear about the layout you need to use.
• Take 3 -4 minutes to plan what you’re going to write
• Take a step back and see the big picture. Understand what you need to do with that graph, chart, map or diagram in task 1.
• Decide the main points to include.
• Check for any possible comparisons
• Choose your language i.e. words and sentence structures

Read  this article  for more tips.

Which tense to use in IELTS writing task 1?

This depends on the data in the graph, chart, map or diagram. First, look at the title given and the x and y axes to see if there are any dates used.  The writing task 1 academic samples can give you lots of different examples.

• if the year is before the present year (i.e. 1999), use the past tense
• if the year is after the present year (i.e 2020), use the future tense
• if there is no year, use the present simple tense

Read  this article  for more details and extra writing task 1 samples.

Tutorials for Academic Task 1

• How to get band 9 in task 1
• 5-step plan for task 1
• How to paraphrase in task 1
• Academic task 1 marking criteria
• Five essential writing skills for task 1
• What tense to use in task 1
• How to describe percentages
• Vocabulary to describe a map

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Writing Task 1 Line Graph Sample Answer (US Consumption of Energy)

Below is a sample Task 1 question on line graphs. It uses the following structure.

Paragraph 1

Paraphrase question

Paragraph 2

Overview  of 2 main features. You will notice that I have included no numbers and used very general language.

Paragraph 3

Details of the first main feature. Here I have gone into more detail about the first general point I mentioned in the previous paragraph.

Paragraph 4

Details of the second main feature.

You will notice that I have written a lot more about the first feature. I did this because I think the most used fuels and more significant. You will also notice that I shortened ‘Quadrillion units’ to ‘q’. This is acceptable if you tell the examiner this by putting it in brackets, as I have done.

Don’t look at the answer yet try to do the question without any help and then compare it with my answer.

The graph below gives information from a 2008 report about energy consumption in the USA since 1980, with projections until 2030.

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

Source: Cambridge English IELTS Past Papers.

The line graph shows energy consumption by fuel type in the United States from 1980-2008, with projected use until 2030.

Overall, fossil fuels have been the dominant type and will continue this trend into the future. Nuclear and renewable energy sources have represented a small but significant proportion of total energy use, and despite small projected gains, they are projected to continue doing so.

Petrol and Oil command the biggest share with 35 quadrillion units (35q) in 1980, rising to approximately 40q in 2008, and this trend is set to continue with a projected value of nearly 50q in 2030. In 1980 natural gas and coal came in second and third, with around 16q and 20q, respectively. However, coal overtook natural gas in 1990 and, despite some fluctuation, is set to be the second most used fuel in 2030 with just over 30q. It is predicted that natural gas will level off and remain relatively constant at about 25q.

Nuclear and renewable energies all represented around 4q in 1980 and fluctuated up until 2008.  It is speculated that nuclear energy will reach 10q by 2030 and solar/wind around 5q, with hydropower dropping and then remaining constant at approximately 2q.

I hope you have found this useful and if there are other questions you would like me to answer, just let me know in the comments section below.

For a more detailed post, visit how to answer IELTS task 1 chart questions .

You may also find my grammar guide for IELTS task 1 useful. It has lots of phrases to help you describe data.

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How to Describe Line Graphs for IELTS Writing Task 1

Posted by David S. Wills | Sep 28, 2016 | IELTS Tips , Writing | 2

The IELTS Writing Task 1 often features a line graph. Describing a line graph is not as difficult as it seems. In fact, there are a few things to remember to help you gain a band 7.0 score.

You can learn these two structures and, with only a little bit of variation, you can describe almost any trend.

Interest rates decreased significantly.

Subject (what you’re describing) + verb + adverb

There was a significant decrease in interest rates.

There was + adjective + noun + (what you’re describing)

You can use these formulas to describe most trends in line graphs. Here are some more examples.

Unemployment levels dropped slightly.

The price of gas increased suddenly.

There was a steady decline in attendance.

As you can see above, you can use verbs or nouns to describe changes given that you alter the grammar of the sentence. This is useful for avoiding repetition. For example, read the following passage:

Interest rates increased from 5% to 6% and then increased again from 6% to 8%. They decreased to 4% and then increased once more to 7.5% before decreasing back to 5%.

It sounds awfully repetitive! Let’s trying mixing it up:

Interest rates increased from 5% to 6% and then rose again from 6% to 8%. They fell to 4% and then there was an increase once more to 7.5% before dropping back to 5%.

Here are some comparable pairs:

Keep in mind that if you use the verb + to then you must follow with a number. Also, most of those words can be used interchangeably, except for “boom” which suggests a large, sudden increase.

Being Specific

There’s a big difference between the right word and the nearly right word… In the IELTS, getting a higher band can be achieved by using more specific and accurate language . Instead of simply saying that something went up or went down, try using adverbs and adjectives to say how it went up or down.

Here’s a list of some useful words:

They can be used together thusly:

More Information About Line Graphs

If you want to see how you can use the above language in a report on line graphs, you should take a look at this helpful YouTube video:

If you need help describing line graphs, check out our writing correction service .

About The Author

David S. Wills

David S. Wills is the author of Scientologist! William S. Burroughs and the 'Weird Cult' and the founder/editor of Beatdom literary journal. He lives and works in rural Cambodia and loves to travel. He has worked as an IELTS tutor since 2010, has completed both TEFL and CELTA courses, and has a certificate from Cambridge for Teaching Writing. David has worked in many different countries, and for several years designed a writing course for the University of Worcester. In 2018, he wrote the popular IELTS handbook, Grammar for IELTS Writing and he has since written two other books about IELTS. His other IELTS website is called IELTS Teaching.

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Hi David. Is it better to use past tense in the summary sentence in the last video? Thanks!

Either is possible here. Because I introduced the line graph as a line graph rather than referring to the data it represents, I felt the consistency in tense was important. However, from the perspective of the data, the past simple would be correct.

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IELTS with Mark Teacher

How to write ielts task 1 academic ‘dynamic graphs’.

There are 3 main types of diagrams in Writing Task 1 Academic: a.) Dynamic graphs <–  we’re talking about this one b.) Static graphs c.) Diagrams   ( Maps , Processes ) 

In this post I will show you how to write about  dynamic graphs.

If you want to practise the grammar and vocabulary of Dynamic Graphs, my 19-page workbook can help you make fewer mistakes and write longer, high-band sentences , click here to learn more

Want expert feedback on your own IELTS Task 1 Dynamic Essays? 

The essay structure for every type of Task 1 is basically the same. 

Structure: Task 1 – Academic 4 paragraphs 1.) Summary / Introduction 2.) Overview 3.) Body 1 4.) Body 2

What are dynamic graphs? 

Dynamic graphs are graphs, charts or tables that contain data in 2 or more time periods. 

For example:

The data is measured in 5 time periods – every 10 years from 1967 to 2007.

In this graph the data is measured in 3 time periods – every 5 years from 2005 to 2015. 

In this graph, the data is measured in 2 time periods. In 2005 and in 2015.

In contrast, this is a Static graph because there is only data in one time period . In fact, there is no time period mentioned. In this case, you should approach the graph as a static graph.

Looking for more graph examples? My IELTS Writing Task 1 Workbook for Dynamic Graphs features 16 custom-made graphs and tables to help you practise the specific language and grammar for this type of task. 

1.) Dynamic Summary / Introduction

The introduction paragraph in Task 1 only needs to be 1 or 2 sentences. In your introduction, you should present the main purpose of the graph to the reader in your own words . This means paraphrasing the official IELTS diagram description if you can. 

Here is a sentence-making structure that presents the purpose of a dynamic graph.

Dynamic Tasks show data in 2 or more time periods and in English grammar time should come at the start or at the end of a sentence . 

Here are some examples that use the table above: 

The chart below shows the number of international students at a British University over a period of time.

• The line graph illustrates the amount of international students + from different continents + at a UK university + across a 30-year time period . 
• The line graph explains the number of students from overseas + at a university in the UK + over a 30-year time span .  
• The line graph shows how many students + from Asia, Africa, Europe and North American attended + a British university + from 1995 to 2015 .

Here are some more examples with dynamic graph example: 

The table shows the obesity rate in one country over a period of time.

• The line graph illustrates the rate of obesity + among 4 age groups + over 34 years . 
• The line graph shows obesity rates + between 18 to 74 year olds + over a 34-year time span . 
• The line graph outlines the percentage of obese people + in 4 different age groups + between 1971 and 2005.

You try! – Write an introduction sentence for this dynamic task. Use the table above to help you. 

The table shows average calorie intake in the United States over a period of time. 

Click here to see my examples (47 More Words)

• The table reveals the average amount of calories consumed + by Americans + between 1970 and 2010.  
• The table shows the median calorie intake + in the United States + over a 40-year time span . 
• The table illustrates how many calories Americans consume on average + over 4 decades .

2.) Dynamic Graph Overview

The purpose of the overview paragraph is to give a short summary of the main features. Since dynamic graphs feature data over many years , the main overall features are usually changes . These changes include the most notable increases or decreases over a time period. 

Importantly, you should describe these changes in words – do not use any numbers or data points from the graph. 

So don’t say: “There was a [50%] increase”    Say : “The numbers rose [by half] .”

Or, don’t say: “The numbers rose from [1,000 to 2,000].     Say: “The number [doubled]. ” 

Or you can simply say [how much] the number increased or decreased by:

• “The number increased [a little / slightly]  
• “The number increased [a lot / significantly / notably]   

Let’s see some examples using the same Task 1 graphs from earlier: 

Main features : 

• Increases : Asia, North America
• Decreases : none
• Contrasts / Other features : Europe, Africa

– Overall, we can see that enrollments by students from Asian countries doubled throughout the time period, while North American students also grew . However, student numbers from Europe and Africa remained relatively consistent over the 2 decades. 

– Overall, we can see that the number of Asian students at the university enjoyed steady, significant growth over the 20 years , with North American attendance also increasing in the last 5 years of the graph . Meanwhile, both European and African student numbers remained steady throughout the time period .

Here’s another example:

Take a look at the graphic and complete the task. The table shows the obesity rate in one country over a period of time.

Main features:  

• Increases : every group – 30-44 and 45-64 grew the most continuously  
• Contrasts / Other features : 18-29 and 65-74 didn’t change after 1999

– Overall, we can see that every single age group saw an increase in obesity to some extent, with 30-44 year-olds and 45-64 years-olds both increasing continuously and reaching more than double by the end of the time period. Meanwhile, those within the 18-29 and 65-74 age groups also experienced significant rises, though at least their rates seemed to level off from 1999 onwards .   

– Overall, we can see that there was a notable increase in obesity among all age groups in the graph. In particular, 18-29 year-olds saw a three-fold rise over the time period , though at least the trend somewhat stabilised after 1999 . Meanwhile, those aged 30-44 and 45-64 experience a more than two-fold increase throughout the time period . Lastly, the eldest age range, the 65-74 year-olds, jumped by a similar amount , but they too levelled off from 1999 onwards .

You try! – Write an overview paragraph for this dynamic task. Use the table above to help you. The main features have been highlighted for you. 

• Increases : total , grains , added fat the most || added sugar , fruit , meat, eggs and nuts slightly 
• Decreases : dairy , vegetable decreased minimally
• Contrasts / Other features : none
• Overall, we can see that the majority of the food groups contributed towards a higher total calorie intake over the whole time period. The foods to see the biggest rise include grains and added fat, both rising by around a third. Added sugar, fruit, meat, eggs and nuts also added to the average intake. Only two categories accounted for fewer calories by the end of the time period, which were the dairy and vegetable food groups.
• Overall, we can see that the total calorie intake rose, with almost all food groups accounting for a higher calorie total by the end of the 40-year period. The most significant increases were by grains and added fat, while added sugar, fruit, meats, nuts and eggs also contributed, although to a lesser extent. The two exceptions were the dairy and vegetable food groups, whose contributions had dropped by 2010.

3.) Body Paragraphs

Next are the Body paragraphs of your Task 1 report. You can write 2 or 3 Body paragraphs. 

Body paragraphs describe the main features in detail, including specific numbers from the graph. The data and features in the body paragraph should be similar in some way. 

For example, you should describe the increasing categories together in 1 body paragraph.  Then write about the decreasing / contrasting categories in a new body paragraph. 

I usually use my overview paragraph to guide the structure of my body paragraphs. 

Here is the complete example of Task 1 dynamic graphs from before:

Introduction: The line graph illustrates the amount of international students   from different continents at a UK university across a 30-year time period . 

Overview: Overall, we can see that enrollments by students from Asian countries doubled throughout the time period, while North American students also grew . However, student numbers from Europe and Africa remained relatively consistent over the 2 decades. 

Body 1: (increases together)  

In regards to the rising number of enrollments, the number of Asian students at the university is the most striking. In 1995, their numbers were 60, before growing consistently to around 90 in 2005 and eventually reaching 120 by 2015. Meanwhile, though the first half of the time period didn’t show an increase among North American students, in 2010 there was a notable jump in their numbers, rising from 40 to around 70 by 2015. 

Body 2: (Other / Contrasts together)

Concerning the other two continents however, there were few changes. The amount of African students remained unchanged apart from a slight surge in 2010, rising to around 30, before returning to 20 as it had been in all other years. Likewise, European students fluctuated steadily between approximately 50 and 55 across the entire 20-year time span.

Introduction: The line graph outlines the percentage of obese people in 4 different age groups between 1971 and 2005.

Overview: Overall, we can see that there was a notable increase in obesity among all age groups in the graph. In particular, 18-29 year-olds saw a three-fold rise over the time period , though at least the trend somewhat stabilised after 1999 . Meanwhile, those aged 30-44 and 45-64 experience a more than two-fold increase throughout the time period . Lastly, the eldest age range, the 65-74 year-olds, jumped by a similar amount , but they too levelled off from 1999 onwards .  

Body 1: (biggest increase)  

Starting with 18-29 year olds, their overall increase in obesity was the most dramatic, despite still being the lowest among all age groups. In 1971, their obesity rate was only around 7 or 8%, but from 1976 there was a sharp increase, rising from 8% to almost 25% by 2001. After this, the rate remained at around 25% from the remainder of the graph. 

Body 2: (more increases, but new paragraph because Body 1 is already quite long) 

In contrast, not only did 30-44 year-olds and 45-64 years-olds see a huge rise in obesity rates, their numbers continued to climb even after 2001. In the case of the 30-44 age group, their rates doubled from 15 to 30 by 2001, but then climbed once again to 35% by 2005. Likewise, 45-64 year-olds leapt from around 17% to 35% in 2003, before the rate rose even higher to 40% by the end of the graph. 

Body 3: (least eventful category – new paragraph because Body 2 is already long)  

Finally, the oldest group in the graph, 65-74 year-olds, also saw a steep rise in obesity, but followed a similar pattern to the 18-29 years old in the latter part of the time period. They began at around 17%, and rose to just over 35% by 1999. However, similarly to the youngest group, their rates stabilised at that number and did not increase or decrease in the remaining 6 years. 

You try! – Write the body paragraphs for this dynamic task. Use the examples above to help you.

Introduction : The table reveals the average amount of calories consumed + by Americans + between 1970 and 2010.  

Overview : Overall, we can see that the total calorie intake rose, with almost all food groups accounting for a higher calorie total by the end of the 40-year period. The most significant increases were by grains and added fat , while added sugar, fruit, meats, nuts and eggs also contributed, although to a lesser extent. The two exceptions were the dairy and vegetable food groups, whose contributions had dropped by 2010.  

Body 1: (Biggest increases)  

Beginning with the biggest calorie contributors, grains supplied only 430 calories of an American diet in 1970, which had risen to 575 by 1990 and then to 625 by 2010. Similarly, added fat added the most calories of any other food group with 230 more calories, rising from 410 in 1970 to 640 in 2010. 

Body 2: (Slight increases)  

Meanwhile, several other food groups made contributions, although smaller. Added sugar constituted 400 calories per person in 1970, compared with 460 in 2010. In the same time period, fruit rose slightly from 70 to 85 calories on average. Lastly, meat, eggs and nuts saw a mere 15 calorie increase from 1970 to 2010. 

Body 3: (Decreases)  

However, two groups made up slightly less of an average American’s calorie intake than in 1970. Dairy fell from 265 calories in 1970, to 260 in 1990 and then to 255 in 2010. Likewise, the vegetable food group accounts for 5 calories less than in 1970, dropping from 125 to 120 by 2010.  

There you go! A high-band approach, several examples and a reliable framework for you to use in your own IELTS Writing test. 

Again, if you want to practise more dynamic graph vocabulary and grammar, there are 19 pages of custom-made graphs, exercises and examples to help you improve your writing skills. Click here to learn more !

Show m e what you’ve learnt – send me your IELTS essays! 

<– Back to Task 1 Academic example essays and lessons.

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IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 Dynamic Charts (Past to Future) 

Watch the video on how to describe Dynamic Charts - Describing Trends

For diagrams with trends, you should describe the overall trend in each category from start to finish. Don’t include any data (numbers) because you will do this when describing the main features.

Main Features

When describing trends, the main features are the greatest increases and decreases followed by the second greatest ones. Another main feature is when the trend remained constant. 

Sample Answer

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

The graph below gives information from a 2008 report about consumption of energy in the USA since 1980 with projections until 2030.

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

Write at least 150 words

Illustrated in the line graph is how the US has consumed fuel from 1980 until the present day including estimations on future trends. Overall, there has been an increase in every category until today, which is expected to continue with the exception of hydropower. 

Petrol and Oil use fluctuated between 1980 and 1996 but then rose considerably up to today’s total of about 40 quadrillion units furthermore, it is predicted to increase to approximately 50 quadrillion units by 2030.  Natural Gas similarly fluctuated from 20 to about 23 units from 1980 until 2013 however, since then it has plateaued and is forecast to remain constant at 23 units until 2030.   

Coal use has risen steadily and is expected to continue growing up to 30 quadrillion units by 2030.  In contrast, a slight increase was witnessed in the growth of nuclear energy and Solar/Wind and they are estimated to reach 6 and 4 quadrillion units respectively by 2030. Even though the rate of Hydropower varied from 1980 to approximately 2013, ranging from 4 to 3 units, the rate remained constant until today and is projected to remain unchanged until 2030. 

Sample Answer: Dynamic Charts. Past-Future PDF

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IELTS Line Graph Examples

Continuing with the sites IELTS line graph examples, this is an example of a line graph comparing car theft.

It's important to organise your graph clearly, draw out the key trends and make comparisons. 

That has been done well in this answer. 

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

The line graph shows thefts per thousand vehicles in four countries between 1990 and 1999.

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

Write at least 150 words.

IELTS Line Graph Examples - Model Answer

The line graph compares the number of cars stolen for every 1000 vehicles in four countries from 1990 to 1999. Overall, it can be seen that car thefts were far higher in Great Britain than in the other three counties throughout the whole time frame.

To begin, car thefts in Sweden, France and Canada followed a fairly similar pattern over the first five years, all remaining at between 5 and 10 per thousand. The general trend though for France and Canada was a decline in the number of vehicles stolen over the period, with both at around 6 in 1999. In contrast, Sweden experienced an upward trend, starting the period at approximately 8, and finishing at just under 15.

Interestingly, car thefts in Great Britain started at 18 per thousand, which far exceeded that of the other countries. It then fluctuated over the next nine years, reaching a peak of 20 thefts per 1000 in 1996, and ending the period slightly lower than where it began, at approximately 17 per thousand.

(Words 174)

This graph would score highly in the IELTS test.

The graph starts with an overview that highlights the key information presented in the graph.

It has also been organised very clearly around the main trends.

The first body paragraph describes Sweden, France and Canada together as they follow a very similar pattern, whereas Great Britain is discussed separately in the second body paragraph as this follows a very different pattern.

This makes the description easy to follow and read and shows the writer has been able to make comparisons of the data. 

There is also a good range of vocabulary and accurate grammar.

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More on IELTS Line Graphs:

Line Graph Quiz

Line Graph Quiz: Have a go at this fun quiz to help you find out what you know about graphs and to help you improve your IELTS score.

IELTS Line Graph Sample Answer: Average carbon dioxide (Co2) emissions

View an IELTS line graph sample answer that would score highly in the exam. It's well organised and covers all the requirements of the task.

Tips for Organising an IELTS Line Graph

Organising an IELTS Line Graph - This lesson shows you have to improve the coherency of your graph in order to achieve a high band score.

IELTS Line Graph Worksheet: Practice the language of change

IELTS Line Graph Worksheet - this is a gap fill to help you practice the language of change for IELTS graphs over time.

IELTS Sample Line Graph

This is an IELTS Sample Line Graph with model answer that you can use to help you prepare to write your answer for a task 1 that describes changes over time.

IELTS Task 1 Line Graph Structure Using Groups

For an IELTS Task 1 Line Graph there are different ways to organise your answer. Grouping information is a good way to get a logically structured response.

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