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Ielts line graph sample essay.

Home  »  IELTS academic task 1  »  Line Graph Sample Essay

Line graphs come up often in IELTS writing part 1. We will show you how to confidently answer questions about line graphs, helping you practice summarising the data and identifying trends.

For each line graph (or line chart) question, you will need to summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant. You should write at least 150 words. To make the best use of your time it’s important to write with a clear structure, focus on the most important trend or trends, choose appropriate vocabulary and avoid common mistakes.

In this tutorial, we have a band range 6.5 / 7  academic task 1  IELTS line graph example essay graded by an  ex-IELTS examiner  (on our team of essay correctors). There are some great examples of useful feedback to help you improve your own line chart answers.

This line graph tutorial will help you: 

• Choose the right information 
• Use the right sentence structures 
• Decide on the perfect tense to use

Each criteria has been considered and r eviewed by one of the ex-IELTS examiners on our team. T he different sentences in the essay have been colour coded to correspond to the four  marking criteria  used by the  British Council / IELTS IDP .     At the IELTS podcast website, we also have an amazing essay correction service if you need help with your IELTS writing, so this is an example of the personalised feedback you could receive.

Make sure you understand what the codes mean:

• TR means task response – have you summarised the main information and made comparisons?
• CC is coherence and cohesion (does your essay ‘flow’ well, does it make sense?)
• LR is lexical resource (or vocabulary)
• GR means grammar

Therefore TR1 is the first comment about Task Response.

Example line graph question:

The line graph shows the average rainfall for three countries in Great Britain over a 12 month period in 2018.    Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words

The line graph reveals the information of rainfall in three countries: England, Scotland, and Wales for one year starting from January to December in 2018.

In England, the amount of rainfall in January was recorded just above 100ml, which slightly increased in the next month by 5ml, and dipped to 90ml in March. The trend of raising and falling continue for a couple of months and reached its lowest figure in the graph for the month of June at around 70ml. After that, it is predicted that the level of rain will fluctuate and will remain around 120ml in December.

In Scotland, the amount of rain in January was 125ml, dropped unexpectedly to its lowest level to 20ml in February, and rocketed in next month to its peak value of 135ml. In April, the amounts of rain were less than 50ml, then start went up slightly until June. Then after it is predicted to drop until September, the following month it will start climbing up to October, and it will be decreased to 50 ml before reaching to 105 ml in December.

In wales, the rainfall was 50ml in January increased slightly in February and decreased to its lowest point in April around 30ml. In next month went up sharply to 110ml and dipped by 50ml in June. It is predicted that the highest amount of rain will be in July at 125ml and went down just below the month of June’s record. It will remain constant for two months before reaching 105ml in November and it will dip down in December to 52ml.

Overall it can be clearly seen that in each country the amount of rain in January will be approximately same in the month of December.

Let’s look at the essay above with ex-IELTS examiner commentary on each section.

The line graph reveals the information of rainfall (LR1) in three countries: England, Scotland, and Wales for one year starting from January to December in 2018.

TR1 – A good opening paragraph. Effective use of paraphrasing and you have included the key information.

LR1 – This could sound more natural. Perhaps ‘shows information about rainfall’, ‘shows rainfall statistics’ or ‘shows how much rain fell…’?

In England (TR2),   the amount of the rainfall (GR1) in January was recorded just above 100ml, which slightly increased in next month by 5ml, and dipped to 90ml in March. The trend of raising (LR2) and falling continue (GR2) for a couple of months and reached its lowest figure in the graph for the month of June at around 70ml. After that, it is predicted that the level of rain will fluctuate and will remain (TR3) / (GR3) around 120ml in December.

TR2 – Good to adopt a systematic approach to presenting the information

GR1 – the amount of rainfall

LR2 – Check the difference between ‘rise’ and ‘raise’. GR2 – continued

TR3 – Make sure you report the information accurately.

GR3 – Stick to using past tenses here as all the information relates to 2018

In Scotland, the amount of rain in January was 125ml, dropped (CC1) unexpectedly to its lowest level to 20ml (CC2) in February, and rocketed (LR3)   in next month (GR4) to its peak value (LR3) of 135ml. In April, the amounts of rain were less than 50ml, then start went up (GR5) slightly until June. Then after (CC3)   it is predicted to drop until September, the following month it will start climbing up to October, and it will be decreased (TR4) / (GR6) to 50 ml before reaching to 105 ml (LR4) in December.

CC1 – You need to link your ideas together in an appropriate way. Perhaps ‘125ml, and this figure dropped…’?

CC2 – As before. Perhaps ‘… to its lowest level, 20 ml, in February’?

LR3 – Accurate use of some key language to describe graphs.

GR4 – in the next month GR5 – started to go up

CC3 – Take care with your use of linking words.

TR4 – As with the previous paragraph, make sure you report the information correctly.

GR6 – Stick to using past tenses as all the information relates to 2018.

LR4 – Omit the ‘to’ – ‘… reaching 105ml…’

In wales (GR7), the rainfall was 50ml in January increased (CC4) slightly in February and decreased to its lowest point in April (LR5) around 30ml. In next month went up sharply to 110ml and dipped   (LR6) by 50ml in June. It is predicted that the highest amount of rain will be in July (TR5) / (GR8) at 125ml and went down just below the month of June’s record. It will remain constant   (LR7) for two months before reaching 105ml in November and it will dip down in December to 52ml.

GR7 – Take care with your use of punctuation. Use a capital letter for the name of a country.

CC4 – You need to be careful with the way you link your ideas together. Perhaps ‘… in January and this figure increased…’?

LR5 – Very natural use of language.

LR6 – Good to incorporate a wide range of appropriate vocabulary.

TR5 – As before, you need to report the information accurately.

GR8 – As in the previous paragraphs, this is an inappropriate use of tenses.

LR7 – Despite the problems with tenses, this vocabulary is appropriately selected.

Overall it can be clearly seen that (CC5) in each country the amount of rain in January will be (TR6) / (GR9) approximately same in the month of December. (TR7)

CC5 – On the right track to introduce the main features of the graph.

TR6 – As before, there are problems with task achievement.

GR9 – Inappropriate use of tenses.

TR7 – I think this paragraph is intended to be your overview? If so, this would be a useful area to work on as it is one of the key differences between a ‘6’ and a ‘7’ for task achievement.

PROBABLE IELTS SCORE: 6.5 / 7.0

  Some final practical advice for answering line chart questions in your IELTS test:

• Do not start writing before giving yourself enough time to think. First decide the language you will need in your answer. Give yourself 5 minutes to look, think and plan.
• Study the line graph carefully: be clear about the topic and what each line represents.
• The labels on the axes will give you useful information. Look at the horizontal axis to understand the period of time shown, and the vertical or x axis to see how the data is shown (in centimetres, in dollars, in millions?)
• Check the time frames very carefully in the line and plan how time differences will affect your choice of verb tenses.
• What is the main trend or trends?
• The easiest way to make comparisons is by using superlatives in your answer. For example: comparing the largest and smallest amounts of rainfall by country or comparing the least and most expensive products over time.
• Say how two or more lines are related – do they both increase over time? Are any points connected?
• Finally, make sure you have included an overview!

Audio tutorial with transcript

You can download or listen to the audio version here:

| Direct Download Here | Stitcher | iTunes | Spotify | Soundcloud | Transcript |

IELTS task 1 line graph video tutorial

More useful IELTS Academic Task 1 lessons:

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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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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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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.

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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 Writing Task 1 – Line Graph Essay 1

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 >

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

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.

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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IELTS Writing Task 1 Line Graph: Types, Techniques and Sample Answers

IELTS writing task 1 line graphs are added in the test of IELTS writing task 1 academic to evaluate the understanding skills of a candidate. In this type of question, a graph is given by covering data with X axis and Y axis. You have to describe the information given in the line graph in 150 words minimum. You have to solve such task in 20 minutes.

Line graph types, procedure to write in line graph, strategies and skills required for line graph question type, sample answers, sample questions and tips are given below to make you familiar about IELTS academic writing task 1 line graph.

Line graph and its types

Line graph is also called a line chart in which you have to face a graph covering the data given in the graph represented by lines. There are two axis- X – axis and Y – axis. X – axis (horizontal) shows the time period while Y – axis (vertical) represents measurements. Line graphs represent the trends when data goes downward and upward.

There are three types of line graphs:

• Simple line graph: 

This type of graph has one line plotted.

• Multiline graph or polyline graph

In these types of graphs, more than one lines are plotted. These graphs are mostly used for comparison between data.

• Compound line graph

It is different type of graph, the area between two lines is shaded, representing the filled area.

Different types of visual aids are there in IELTS writing task 1 academic. IELTS line graph is also one of the question types in IELTS writing task 1 academic. In line graph of IELTS writing task 1, you have to face a line graph containing information changing from one aspect to other. You have to solve this question type of IELTS writing to describe the data given in the test.

There are three different types of line graph – Simple line graph, multiline graph or compound graph, you can face in the test to solve. IELTS writing assessment criteria is important to learn for understanding marking criteria of writing test. A procedure to answer in IELTS line graph is broadly described in the article. Skills are necessary to solve this type of task. There is dedicated vocabulary for line graph of IELTS writing. Cohesive devices help to make your answer effective.  Sample answers of IELTS writing task 1 familiarize you, how to answer in IELTS line graph questions. Question samples help you to practice in a better way.

Common errors regarding line graphs and tips for IELTS writing task 1-line graphs are essential to help you in line graph as well as for IELTS writing.

Procedure to write a line graph essay

A procedure to write an answer in line graph essay, first of all, you need to understand the graph and its trends. Note all key features and ups and downs very well. Write main trends in overview. The structure for IELTS writing task 1 line graph is simple as the introduction, overview, body paragraph 1 and body paragraph 2. In the body paragraphs, you have to add main features of the line graph.

There are five steps to answer in IELTS line graph:

• First of all, understand the line graph.
• Find out all main features and comparisons if valid.
• Introduce the task in which you have to paraphrase the question normally.
• Write overview in which you have to write the trends of the line graph.
• Writing the paragraphs in detail means to write all main features, key information and facts and figures discussed in these two body paragraphs.

Skills required for IELTS line graph

Multiple types of skills are evaluated by this type of task. The examiner evaluates you how you capture the graph and its main features, trends, comparable strategies and your writing style. Polish your writing skills to get high bands.

IELTS line graph vocabulary

It is also essential to learn vocabulary for IELTS line graph. IELTS line graph vocabulary is one of the important factors, very useful and helpful while writing the answer of IELTS line graph writing task 1. Some of the main words are given below to practice and write your answer in an effective manner.

Upward trend

Downward trend

Useful linking words in line graph answer

The usage of linking words is important to get good bands in coherence and cohesion and these linking words organize the structure of your answer well. The useful linking words are given below to adapt.

• To begin with, …
• To start with, …
• In case of, …
• And then, …
• At this point, …
• Subsequently, …
• To sum up all, …
• After this, …
• After towards, …
• In turning to, …
• In a nutshell, …

IELTS line graph sample answers

Sample answer:

The line graph shows three types of spreads (Margarine, low fat and reduced spreads and butter) which were consumed during 26 years from 1981 to 2007. The measurement quantity unit gram is used in the line graph.

Overall, the consumption of low fat and reduced fat increased during the period while butter and margarine spreads decreased in 26 years. In the starting of the time, butter was very famous but with the passage of time, it dropped. While in case of margarine, it was the second most popular and stable during the time period, but in final years it decreased from both margarine and low fat and reduced spreads. Low fat and reduced spreads rose from both of them in final years.

Turning to the quantity of spreads, butter began from 140 grams from initial years and peaked to 160 grams in 1986. After it, decreased and got the position at 50 grams in final years. 90 grams margarine was eaten, rose slight in the mid and decreased in final years nearly to 40 grams.

While the trend of low fat and reduced spreads started in mid of the years mean in 1996 and got highest position at 80 grams from both butter and margarine within the time duration of 5 years. It decreased slight and reached 70 grams in final years.

Words count: 222

The line graph depicts varying city population percentages in four Asian countries from the period of 1970 to 2020, with predictions for 2030 and 2040.

Overall, there is increase in the percentage of the population living in the cities of four Asian countries. This augmentation is predictable to be same or increase more in future. According to the line chart, Malaysia is one of the highest in the rate of population increasing countries in which people turn to live in city.

30 percent of the population lived in the cities, if we talk about Philippines and Malaysia. There is expected for Malaysia that city population will increase 80%. While Philippines is expected from 45 percent to 55 percent.

In order to talk about Thailand, there was 20 percent population in cities in 1970 and there is a guess to increase 30 percent in future. In case of Indonesia, city population was 15 percent and rose 50 percent in 2020, while expected to 60 percent in 2040.

Furthermore, predictions describe that there will be more growth in city population in coming years. In 2040, it is expected that Malaysia will be at top in city population nearly to 85 percent, Indonesia will be second near to 65 percent. While the figures for Philippines and Thailand will be near to each other predicated to 55 percent and 50 percent approximately.

Words count: 231

The line graph depicts the average cost that American customers spent on mobile and landline phone services during the period of 10 years.

Overall, the landline phone services were declined every year while in the case of mobile services, it grew every year. Both of the services reached at same point in 2006.

In 2001, spending on mobile phone services began near to 200 US dollars, while the amount for landlines phone annual expenditures was 700 US dollars. Within the duration of 5 years, expenditures for landlines services dropped and expenditures on mobile phone services rose to 500 US dollars.

In turning to the year 2006, both services mobile phone and landline services met at the same point expenditures that was about 550 US dollars. Later on, mobile phone services continued to rise and its expenditures reached at 750 US dollars in 2010. While in the case of landline phone services, the expenditures decreased regularly and in 2010, the expenditures were 450 US dollars.

Words count: 161   

This line graph illustrates information about number of passengers using underground station in London around the clock of a day. According to the line graph, the busiest time at the ground station would be 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

A large number of passengers who traveled using the underground station were at morning, 8:00 am. This amount increased during first two hours from 6:00 am to 8:00 am, when around 400 number of people traveled by underground station. The number of people dropped to half, at 10:00 am. After it, passengers again rose between the duration of 11:00am to 3:00 pm where near to 300 people travelled using the underground station.

While in afternoon, trend went to downward where just 100 people used underground station to travel. In the evening, at 6 pm, a number of people increased near to 380. After 7:00 pm, the number of people dropped and varied for the last two hours from 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm.

Overall, the number of people increased in morning and early evening to use underground station for traveling.

Words count: 188

The line graph depicts the percentages of citizens who aged 65 or above in three various nations from 1940 to 2040.

Overall, the proportion of the people of aged 60 or above for America and Sweden increased with a slight difference whereas the proportion for Japan decreased first and started to increase in 1990 by slow speed. But in 2020, it increased by high level from both of the countries United States of America and Sweden.

Initially, the percentage of aged people in America was higher with the percentage of 9. The aged people of 65 or over of Sweden were highest in the percentage after America, 7 percent respectively. Japan was the country where the proportion for aged people was least from both of the countries America and Sweden. Just 5 percent of the aged people are there in the Japan. The increasing rate of aged people in America started after 1960 with just 1 percent increment before. The expected increasing proportion of aged people will be 23 percent in 2040 for America. While in the case of Sweden, the population of older people increased and there is expected to reach this percentage to 25 percent while in initial it was 7 percent.

Turing to Japan, the proportion of old people was 5 percent and it decreased with the passage of time while in 2030, the percentage for aged people would increase and it is estimated that it will reach at 27 percent. So, the highest percentage of aged people will lie in Japan.

Words count: 258

The line graph illustrates the changes in temperature of three cities (Paris, Dubai and Sidney) in different months of the year. Temperature is measured in temperature unit degree Celsius .

Overall, Paris is the coldest city instead of Dubai and Sydney, while Dubai is the hottest city. In case of Sydney, the temperature is opposite of Dubai and Sydney.

Turning to line graph, the temperature never goes above 20 degrees Celsius. While the temperature of Dubai never drops below 18 degrees Celsius. There are similarities between Dubai and Sydney, the temperature in March and December remains same between 23 and 24 degrees Celsius.

In the months of May and September, the temperature of Paris and Sydney remains similar near to 15 degrees Celsius. If we talk about the highest temperatures in Paris and Sydney, the highest temperature is 20 and 24 degrees Celsius respectively. In case of Dubai, the highest temperature lies at 36 degrees Celsius. The lowest temperature is in Paris instead of Dubai and Sydney.

Words count: 170

IELTS line graph sample questions to practice

IELTS writing task 1 line graph sample questions are there to practice and perform well in exams. These sample questions for IELTS writing task 1 are given below to solve. If you face any difficulties during practice, you can contact us by comment section or other social media sites that are provided in the end. I will try my best to solve your problems regarding IELTS writing task 1 line graph questions and overall IELTS.

Employment rates of men and women in three countries in Europe in 1991

Common errors in describing line graph

There are two common problems found in IELTS writing academic task 1. Therefore, practice best and avoid to do such types of mistakes:

• Most of the aspirants try to solve the line graph but they do not provide the required details of the graph.
• Aspirants do not focus on figure and they direct start to describe.

Tips for IELTS writing task 1 line graph

IELTS writing task 1 line graph tips are very helpful in your IELTS exams. These tips for IELTS writing line graph are mentioned below:

• Be focused on title of the line graph, because you have to write it in your overview.
• In the introduction, you can paraphrase the question of line graph asked in the test of IELTS writing task 1 as a question statement.
• You have to explain all features in your body paragraph 1 and 2.
• You are required to write sum up discussion in overview.
• Follow X-axis and Y-axis in the same way to describe the information given in the line graph.
• You have to practice different types of line graphs to get good bands.
• Build strong vocabulary for writing test, because you are not allowed to repeat same wording in your writing. Write wide range of words in your answer.
• Cohesive devices make your writing effective, so do not forget to use them.

In a nutshell

In IELTS writing task 1 line graph, you face a line graph in which specific type of data is provided. In line graph, the data or information vary from one aspect to other. In this type of task, you have to explain the information given in the line graph. The answer for IELTS line graph essay must contain all main features of the data given in IELTS writing task 1.

IELTS writing task 1 line graph sample answers are very helpful in the question types of IELTS writing task 1 line graph. Advance vocabulary, sample questions, common mistakes, skills, procedure to answer in line graph and tips to solve IELTS writing task 1 line graph are essential to perform excellent in IELTS writing.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs) about line graph

These are the graphs in which different types of changing information or data can be found. They have an x – axis and y – axis in the graph having information.

There are 6 types of charts/graphs in IELTS writing task 1 which are mentioned below:

• Process diagram

There are four components of an answer essay of line graph:

• Introduction
• Body paragraph 1
• Body paragraph 2

There are three different types of line graphs:

• Simple line graph : There is just one line plotted on graph.
• Multi-line graph : There are two or more lines in this type of graph.
• Compound line graph : In this type of graph there are multiple lines and having the area of shadow or shaded area.

You are not allowed to write conclusion in the line graph essay, you can write an overview.

Exactly, dedicated and advance vocabulary makes your writing effective.

You have to explain all features and main information included in the line graph. First, write an introduction to paraphrase the question, then write overview in which you have to paraphrase the title of the line graph and explain other details in body paragraph 1 for one aspect and body paragraph 2 for another aspect.

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IELTS Writing Task 1 - Line Graph

Updated On Aug 05, 2024

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The article covers IELTS Writing Task 1 line graphs. It describes simple, multi-line, and compound line graphs, offering examples and sample answers. It emphasizes the importance of practice and provides tips for mastering line graph descriptions.

Table of Contents

• Line graph – An example:

Types of Line Graphs:

Tips for ielts writing task 1 line graph 2024, also check:.

IELTS Writing Prediction Questions for 2024

In IELTS Writing Task 1 of the IELTS 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. 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. While 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 report. As a result, it is important for you to familiarize with the different types of IELTS line graphs as discussed in the next section of this article and practice them on a regular basis.

Line graph – An example:

Check out the IELTS Writing Task 1 Line Graph below to know how to identify them among the various types of other graphs given in IELTS Writing Task 1 .

There are three types of line graphs in IELTS exam . 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.

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. Write a report for a university lecturer describing the information in the graph below. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.

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.

• 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 appropriate IELTS Writing Task 1 line graph vocabulary like 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 2024:

• Tips to Improve IELTS Writing Skills
• IELTS Writing recent actual test
• IELTS Writing Answer sheet
• IELTS map vocabulary
• IELTS 2024 Study Plan for 1 month (30 Days) / 15 Days / 7 Days

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a line graph?

Is there a dedicated vocabulary for line graph?

What is trend in a graph?

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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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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Writing Strategies, Tips, and Samples for the IELTS Line Graph

14 November, 2023

You may be familiar with the term "line graph" if you are getting ready for the IELTS Writing test in order to study abroad. Knowing how to analyse and present information from a variety of sources is essential for IELTS Academic Writing. The line graph is one typical type of data representation you might come across. 

Task 1 of the IELTS A line graph can be used to show comparisons, changes, and trends across time.  Acquiring knowledge of the Line Graph is crucial for achieving a high writing band score on the IELTS. But a lot of pupils don't know what a line graph is or how to utilise one. Therefore, in this blog, we will explore everything about the IELTS line graphs and sample responses to help you ace this aspect of the exam. 

What is a Line Graph in IELTS?

Use of line graph in ielts writing, structure of the ielts academic writing line graph, how to describe a line graph in ielts, strategies to score high in ielts academic line graph, tips to create ielts line graph, ielts line graph samples.

A line graph, also known as a line chart, is a graphical representation of data over time. It consists of a series of data points connected by straight lines. Each data point represents a specific value, and the lines help visualise the progression or fluctuations in the data over a specified period.

Line bar graphs are a common type of visual data representation used in the IELTS Academic Writing Task 1.  Test-takers are presented with a line graph that depicts information related to a specific trend, such as changes in temperature, population growth, or economic data. Your task is to analyse the graph and write a descriptive report based on the provided information.

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The structure of your IELTS Task 1 line graph typically consists of the following components -

Introduction - Provide a brief overview of the graph's subject, including the timeframe and data sources.

Overview - Summarise the main trends or patterns evident in the line bar graph. Mention the highest and lowest points, significant increases or decreases, and noteworthy observations.

Details and Comparisons - Present specific data points from the graph. Use data accurately to support your observations, and make comparisons where relevant.

Conclusion - Provide a concise summary of the key findings without introducing new information.

Describing a line graph effectively in IELTS involves the following steps -

Identify Trends - Start by identifying the major trends or changes in the graph. Look for upward or downward slopes, plateaus, spikes, or significant patterns.

Use Data Points - Refer to specific data points on the graph to support your description. Also, mention exact numbers, percentages, or values when applicable.

Vary Your Vocabulary - Utilise a rich and varied vocabulary to describe the data. In addition, use adjectives and adverbs to add nuance to your descriptions. For example, instead of saying "a significant increase," you can say "a substantial rise."

Provide Context - Offer contextual information that helps the reader understand the significance of the data. This could include reasons for the trends or comparisons with other data sets.

To score high in the IELTS Academic Writing Line Graph task, consider the following strategies:

Before you start writing, take your time to thoroughly understand the graph and its key features.

Pay attention to the major trends and significant changes. Your overview should capture the essence of the graph.

Stick to the information presented in the graph; do not make assumptions or provide personal opinions.

Employ a variety of words and phrases to describe trends and changes. This showcases your language skills.

Don't repeat the exact phrases from the graph - paraphrase when possible to demonstrate your language versatility.

The IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 is time-bound. Allocate sufficient time to each section (introduction, overview, details, and conclusion) to ensure balanced coverage.

Here are some essential tips for creating a successful IELTS Line Graph response.

Familiarise yourself with various line bar graphs for IELTS by practising with sample questions. This practice will build your confidence and improve your analysis skills.

Expand your vocabulary related to data representation. Knowing synonyms for standard terms such as "rise," "fall," "peak," and "trough" can be very helpful.

IELTS Task 1 Line graphs can depict various data, including trends, comparisons, and combined information. Understand how to approach different types.

Carefully review your response for grammar and spelling errors because clear and error-free writing is essential.

If possible, have someone with strong English language skills review your practice responses and provide feedback.

Now, let's explore some IELTS Line Graph samples to see these strategies and tips in action.

IELTS Line Graph Question

The graph below 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 make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.

IELTS Line Graph Response

The aforementioned line graphs showcase data extracted from a 2008 report detailing energy consumption trends in the USA from 1980, extending to projected figures up to 2030.

As an overview, it can be stated that there has been a consistent increase in the consumption of fossil fuels from the initiation of the period. Projections indicate a further dependence on these fuel sources. Conversely, cleaner energy sources have accounted for significantly less consumption, and forecasts anticipate a continuation of this pattern.

Within the realm of fossil fuels, including coal, natural gas, petrol, and oil, their energy consumption has shown consistent growth since 1980. Commencing at 35 quadrillion units in 1980, petrol and oil experienced fluctuations until 2000. Subsequently, they exhibited a stable and consistent increase, with a projected consumption surpassing 45 quadrillion units by 2030. Likewise, coal demonstrated a similar upward trend, with estimates indicating it will surpass 30 quadrillion units by 2030. Natural gas usage is expected to plateau at approximately 24 quadrillion units from 2020 onwards.

Conversely, at the onset of the period, cleaner energy sources began with consumption levels below 5 quadrillion units and showcased a decrease in their usage, except for nuclear power, which saw a slight uptick to 6 quadrillion units in 2005. Predictions anticipate a modest increase in the use of solar/wind energy. Moreover, hydropower is foreseen to sustain relatively constant consumption levels until 2030."

Mastering the IELTS Task 1 Line Graph requires a combination of understanding data visualisation, vocabulary, and effective writing strategies. By practising regularly, improving your vocabulary, and adhering to the recommended structure, you can confidently tackle this part of the IELTS exam . Success in the IELTS Line Graph task boosts your Writing band score and enhances your ability to analyse and present data effectively.

We hope you are now aware of the Line Bar Graph and how to create it for writing tasks. However, you can contact Prepare IELTS Exam  (PI) expert counsellors for further guidance. Our team of education experts is dedicated to providing you with the best guidance in the IELTS exam. You can get a one-on-one counselling session online via our platform. Contact us at [email protected] or call us at +91 9773398388 .

No, IELTS may also include other types of visual data representation, such as bar charts, pie charts, and tables. It is essential to be prepared for a variety of data formats.

Your response should be at least 150 words. It is important to strike a balance between providing sufficient detail and adhering to the time limit.

It's better to use full sentences and paragraphs in your response. This format allows you to provide a structured and coherent explanation of the data. Bullet points or lists are generally not recommended.

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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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How To Write a Line Graph Essay: Step By Step Guide

• Post author By admin
• March 13, 2024

Have you ever stared at a line graph in a textbook, wondering how to turn that squiggly line into a compelling essay? Fear not, fellow learners! This guide will equip you with the knowledge and skills to write a stellar line graph essay, even if you’re new to data analysis or academic writing. So, let’s start with a guide on how to write a line graph essay?

Table of Contents

Why Line Graphs Matter

Data surrounds us, from weather patterns to social media trends. Line graphs are a fantastic tool to visualize changes over time, making them crucial in various fields like science, economics, and even social media marketing. Understanding how to interpret and write about line graphs is a valuable skill for academic success and beyond.

How To Analyze the Graph?

Before putting pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard), take a close look at your line graph. It’s like deciphering a secret code! Here’s what you need to identify:

• The Big Picture: What’s the title? Does it give you a clue about the subject matter?
• Axes in Action: Identify the X-axis (horizontal) and Y-axis (vertical). What information do they represent? Are there units of measurement (e.g., years, dollars)?
• Labels for Clarity: Look for labels for each line on the graph. What do they represent? Are there any legends or keys explaining the lines?
• Time Traveler: What time frame does the graph cover? Is it a few months, years, or even decades?
• The Ups and Downs: This is where the magic happens! Analyze the trends. Does the line generally increase, decrease, or fluctuate? Are there any specific peaks or drops?

How To Write a Line Graph Essay?

Now that you’ve unlocked the secrets of the graph, let’s craft your essay.

Introduction: Setting the Scene (100-120 words)

• Hook: Start with a captivating sentence that grabs the reader’s attention. This could be a surprising fact related to the graph’s topic or a thought-provoking question.
• Keyword Introduction: Mention the importance of line graphs and how they help us understand data.
• Thesis Statement: Briefly state that you’ll be analyzing the line graph and explaining the trends you observe.

Did you know that smartphone usage has skyrocketed in the last decade? This essay will analyze a line graph depicting this trend, exploring the reasons behind the increase and its potential impact on society.

Overview Paragraph: The Big Picture (80-100 words)

• Briefly paraphrase the title of the graph and describe what it depicts.
• Highlight the main trends you observed – is there a steady increase, a sharp decline, or something else?
• Mention any interesting comparisons between the lines on the graph (if applicable).

The line graph titled “Global Smartphone Usage 2010-2020” reveals a significant rise in smartphone users over this decade. The data shows a steady upward trend, with a slight acceleration in recent years. Notably, the graph also shows a difference in the growth rates between developed and developing countries.

Body Paragraphs: Diving Deeper (300-400 words each)

This is where you showcase your detective skills and explain the trends you identified. Here’s what to focus on in each body paragraph:

• Pick a Specific Trend: Choose a key trend you observed in the graph (e.g., a constant increase, a sudden drop).
• Support Your Claims: Use evidence from the graph! Mention specific years, numbers, or percentages to illustrate your points.
• Explain Why: Don’t just describe, explain! What factors might be contributing to the trend? Consider possible causes related to the topic of the graph.

One significant trend is the steady rise in smartphone users globally. According to the graph, the number of users doubled between 2010 and 2020, from 1 billion to 2 billion.  This growth can be attributed to several factors, including the increasing affordability of smartphones, the development of user-friendly apps, and the expansion of internet access in many regions.

Conclusion: Wrapping it Up (80-100 words)

• You can optionally add a final thought or prediction about the future based on the graph’s data.

In conclusion, the line graph clearly demonstrates the explosive growth in smartphone usage over the past decade. This trend is likely to continue as technology advances and internet access becomes more widespread. Understanding these changes is crucial for businesses, educators, and policymakers to adapt and shape the future of technology and its impact on society.

Key Points To Enhance Reader Experience

• Visuals: Consider including an image of the line graph you’re analyzing (with proper attribution if necessary). Annotating specific trends on the image can further enhance understanding.
• Real-world Examples: Where relevant, connect the data in the line graph to real-world examples to add context and make your essay more relatable.

Common Mistakes to Avoid: How To Write a Line Graph Essay

• Just Describing, Not Explaining: Don’t simply describe the trends in the graph. Analyze them and explain why they might be happening.
• Ignoring the Title and Labels: The title, axes labels, and any legends are crucial for interpreting the data. Make sure you use the information they provide in your essay.
• Making Up Data: Don’t invent information or draw conclusions that aren’t supported by the graph. Stick to the facts!

Bonus Tips: How To Write a Line Graph Essay

• Transition Words for a Smooth Flow: Transition words like “however,” “furthermore,” and “in addition” will help connect your ideas and create a logical flow in your essay.
• Vary Your Sentence Structure: Don’t be afraid to mix up short and long sentences to keep your writing engaging.
• Proofread and Edit: Once you’ve finished writing, take the time to proofread your essay for any grammatical errors or typos. Double-check that your data and interpretations align with the graph.

Additional Tips for Advanced Line Graph Essay Writing

• Compare and Contrast: If your line graph has multiple lines, delve deeper into the comparisons between them. Analyze how they rise, fall, or interact with each other.
• Consider External Factors: Are there any external events or developments that might explain the trends in the graph? Think outside the box and explore these connections.
• Acknowledge Limitations: No data source is perfect. Briefly mention any limitations of the data presented in the graph, such as the timeframe or sample size.

By following these steps and incorporating these tips for How To Write a Line Graph Essay, you’ll be well on your way to writing compelling line graph essays that demonstrate your analytical and communication skills.

Remember, practice makes perfect! The more you analyze line graphs and write about them, the more confident you’ll become. So grab your data, get ready to explore trends, and write those essays like a pro!

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Describing an IELTS Line Graph [An Annotated Sample Answer]

Posted by David S. Wills | Mar 13, 2023 | Model Essays | 0

In task 1 of the IELTS writing test, you could be asked to describe a line graph. This is actually very common and so it’s really important that you can do this well.

Today, I am going to show you a typical IELTS line graph and then give you some advice on how to describe it effectively. This will include my own sample band 9 answer, which I will annotate so that you can more easily understand it.

You can read my full guide to describing line graphs here .

The Line Graph – Bakery Sales

Here is our line graph for today:

The graph below gives information about the sales of the three most commonly purchased items in a particular bakery for the year 2014. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.  

This is a pretty straightforward line graph and I don’t think there are any particular difficulties here. However, it is important to read the question carefully and analyse the graph before you begin writing.

Note that this is not about all of the sales in this bakery. Specifically, it is about “the three most commonly purchased items.” You should mention that in your introduction or else it may seem as though only three items are available in this place.

What do you Need to Do?

With any graph description, you need to describe the data accurately for your reader. That means your language must be clear and precise. Also, you should not attempt to describe every little detail. Note the phrase “selecting and reporting the main features.” This means you have to be selective. You should also “make comparisons where relevant.”

Looking at this chart, we can see that each of the three lines had a pretty different trend from the others. One line went up and then down. Another went down and then up. A third just moved slowly up. Your job is to explain this effectively.

Remember to group your data logically. There are various ways to do this, but here’s how I will structure my essay:

Why have I organised my information like this?

As I said, there are different ways to do it effectively, but I felt that a good way was to group the final changes together. That’s because it is in these final months that there are substantial changes in the sales positions of these three items.

Normally, I would have grouped the sales of bread and buns together and then kept pies separate. That’s because pies seem to be at a very different level. However, because the sales of pies rose above buns at the end, it seems like an awkward way of grouping the information .

Learn more about task 1 structure here .

Common Problems to Avoid

It is worth mentioning a few mistakes that people often make in IELTS writing task 1. To begin with, you might have noticed the phrase “a particular bakery.” A lot of people try to paraphrase the question and this is a good option for task 1, but it can lead to problems. A “particular bakery” means a single business whose name we have not been given.

In such situations, I almost always write “an unknown ____.” For example, my first line for this essay will be:

• The line graph shows information about sales in an unnamed bakery in the year 2014.

Speaking of paraphrasing, you should also not include any reference to “below.” Whilst the task description is above the graph, your essay will be on a separate piece of paper or on a computer screen. To say “below” would be false information.

You also really need to avoid vague language that fails to convey the ideas expressed in the graph. This is actually one of the most common problems people make in task 1. Always make it clear to your reader that the data refers to sales (in dollar terms) of three select items from one bakery.

Sample Band 9 Answer

Here is how I would answer the question:

The line graph shows information about sales in an unnamed bakery in the year 2014. There are three items listed and their sales varied substantially during the period. In January, bread was by far the most commonly purchased product, with $80,000 of this sold. This was twice as much as the next highest item, buns, and eight times greater than the third one, pies. Over the next two months, however, bread sales plummeted to almost half their initial value while sales of buns increased by fifty percent. From March through to September, buns remained the most profitable item as bread sales fluctuated wildly in second place. Meanwhile, sales of pies slowly and steadily increased. Towards the end of the year, there were more changes. Sales of bread took off from October onwards, surpassing those of buns to become the most profitable item again and reached $80,000 in sales in December. Sales of buns continued to drop, falling into third place after pie sales shot in November and December.

Annotated Version

Now let’s look at the purpose of these sentences:

Final Comments

My structure was simple but effective and my language was accurate enough to convey the data. I picked only the important parts and glossed over the rest. Remember that you don’t have much time to complete this task!

Notice how few numbers there are. Many IELTS candidates make the mistake of cramming lots of numbers into their descriptions. This shows a lack of thinking and it is also a means of avoiding words. However, IELTS is an English test! You need to use words rather than copying numbers from a graph.

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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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.

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IELTS Two Line Graph: Sample Answer & Exercise

Here is an IELTS line graph sample answer describing two lines. You must fill in the gaps to complete the model writing task 1. Answers are given below. If you wish to learn more vocabulary for a line graph , follow the link.

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

Source: Graph below was not designed by IELTS Liz. Source unknown.

Line Graph Sample Answer

Fill in the gaps to complete the sample answer for the above line graph. You can use more than one word in each answer.

The line graph illustrates the (1) ………………………… of people listening to the radio and watching TV who were over the age of 4  in (2) …………………… period, in the UK from October to December 1992.

Overall, the (3)…………………….. of people listened to the radio in the morning while (4)………………. people watched TV in the evening. Over the 24 hour period, there were more people watching TV than there were listening to the radio.

(5)……………………. the TV, at 1am there were under 10% of people watching TV. This (6)…………………………… remained relatively (7)…………….. until 11am when there was a (8)……………. increase in people watching TV before (9)………….. at approximately 45% at around 9pm. After that time, there was a (10)…………… drop in viewers to under 20% by midnight.

Similarly, the percentage of listeners to the radio also began low at under 5%. After continuing at under 5%, the figure then rose (11)……………… to a (12) …………. of almost 30% at about 8am. From that point, the proportion of audience (13) ………………. in a gradual (14)……………… trend to 5% at the (15) ………. of the day.

• proportion / percentage
• Regarding / With regard to / In regard to
• stable / constant
• steady / gradual
• sharp / rapid / dramatic / sudden / considerable / significant
• sharply / rapidly / dramatically / suddenly / considerably / significantly
• peak / high

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Hello Liz! Hope you are well. As I am preparing to pass the IELTS, I found your website incredibly helpful. Regarding the writing task 1, I have a question, as we write that “units are measured in …” in the introduction, would it be alright to never mention the units of measurement? For example, instead of writing “Pipeline presented a constant positive trend by reaching more than 20 million tonnes by 2002, with the initial start of about 5 million tonnes in 1974”, would it be okay to write “Pipeline presented a constant positive trend by reaching more than 20 by 2002, with the initial start of about 5 in 1974”? It just seems that I exceed the word limit, but without the units of measurement I stay within it. So my question is whether or not it will affect the coherence of the essay? I understand that I must follow the style, whichever one I chose, be it with or without. Thank you in advance!

At no point do you mention the trends in an introduction, that information is for the overview, which is a very different and separate paragraph. Please go to this page: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-1-lessons-and-tips/ , where you will see a video which will teach you how to write an introduction paragraph. Learn precisely how to write the introduction, and then review my model answers and practice lessons for the overview.

Oh no, the sentence that I’ve provided as an example was taken from one of the body paragraphs, the introduction only consists of the paraphrasing and the units of measurement. My question is, may I stop mentioning the units of measurement in the body paragraphs after I’ve indicated that “units are measured in pounds” as the second sentence in the introduction. May I write just 50 instead of 50 pounds in the body paragraphs, as I will provide numerical data to solidify the descriptions? Or is it mandatory to always indicate the unit of measurement?

I understand now. It is always best to show one number that has pounds as the currency in the body paragraph – the first number given. You don’t have to write formally “units are measured in …” for every paragraph, but reminding the reader subtly that we are referring to pounds is a good thing to do for any report.

Got it, thank you!

Hello, I’m a beginner in IELTS writing, so I’m just wondering if I can address the line instead of the number of people (and use the present tense for the lines), like for example: “Overall, both lines fluctuate dramatically” or “The radio audience line peaks at ….”?

Thank you, your content has been so helpful so far!

No, that’s isn’t an option. We don’t refer to a line as a line but rather to what the line is showing. So, “both lines fluctuated” would be “the number of people doing X fluctuated”. And “the radio audience line peaked at” would be “the number of people listening to the radio peaked at”.

Hello Liz, i’m here to say THANK YOU. I took my computer based academic test last week friday, i saw the result yesterday and i passed. Here is the breakdown.. overall 8.0 Listening 8.0 Reading 8.0 writing 7.0 speaking 8.0 All my friends wanted to know how i did it, i have directed them all to this site. God bless you Liz. All the way from Nigeria…

Excellent score!! Very well done to you 🙂

Wow🤭. This is inspiring. If I may ask how many weeks did you prepare for? And was this website the only preparation aid you used? I just started my preparation, I hope to do well too.

The line graph illustrates the proportion of British population of children over four years old that attend to radio and television, around 24 hours’ time in a day, between October and December 1992. Overall, between October and December 1992, the proportion of British children’s population that attend to radio increase at early hours of the day, with television viewers decreasing exponentially, but as daytime progresses into early hours of dawn, radio audiences decrease with increasing television viewers. Although there are few hours where the percentage of both radio and television audiences overlapped, both audiences tend to decrease at late night. Radio audiences recorded a higher percentage of about 25, between 7.00 and 9.00, with decreased and stable television audiences. A plummet was shown in television audiences to a percentage of about 45, between 19.00 and 21.00. This indicates that the time of the day technically determined the percentage of British children that attends to radio and television, although two hours in a day, 5.00 and 13.00 recorded no significant difference in the percentage of users.

Hey Liz, can we write the task in simple past tense? For example- “…illustrates the proportion of people who LISTENED to the radio and WATCHED television…”

Yes, that’s absolutely fine. Both of these sentences are in the past:

1. The graph illustrates the number of people listening to the radio in 1992.

2. The graph illustrates the number of people who listened to the radio in 1992.

Thank you so much

The given graph illustrates radio and television viewing routines of the UK population from October to December 1992. Overall, television had consistently achieved a higher total viewership than the radio. The TV reached its peak viewership in the nighttime slot. While the radio had its peak listenership in the morning slot. The radio’s listenership was at the lowest from midnight to 6am with fewer than 5% of UK population tuning in. Afterwards, it quickly rose in the morning reaching its peak at 8am by attracting about 25% of the people. It could be that the audience enjoyed hearing radio in the morning while having breakfast, travelling to their offices, and performing other chores. Similarly, UK’s television viewership was also at its lowest in the midnight. It began to rise from 11am. Afterwards, it quickly picked up viewership and reached its peak at 5pm to 9pm. Post evening time, it engaged 45% of the population in their after-work leisure hours. This viewership fell quickly to almost 15% of the total after 9pm with the arrival of resting hours. Lastly, when listenership of the radio began to decline, viewership of the television started to rise, showcasing the shift in audiences’ preferences with the changes in time slots.

The line graph compares the proportions of the British population over 4 years old who were entertained by radio and TV during the different time of the day between October and December 1992.

Overall, it can be clearly seen that in the morning people preferred radio, whereas TV was a more popular choice in the second part of the day with the highest amount of hours spent in the evening.

Starting at 1am, 7% watched TV, which was followed by a drop to under 5% until around 6am; the same pattern was observed for those who listened to radio. However, from 6am the proportion of radio audience soared to its peak at over a quarter 2 hours later, followed by a constant fall onwards. In contrast, the percent of TV audience inclined to around 8% at 8am and to nearly 15% at 1pm after a dip to under 5% 2 hours before.

Moving to the activities of the second part of the day, the proportion of radio listeners kept on falling to about 5% by the end of the day with some fluctuation between 15.00 and 21.00. On the other hand, the percent of TV audience experienced a significant rise to its peak at roughly 45% between 8pm and 9pm, which was followed by a sharp decline to around 15% by the end of the day.

The line graph illustrates the frequency of using TV and radio during a day in the UK from October to December 1992. Overall, it can be seen that one activity alternates with the other one. In the first half of the day, the majority of the UK audience prefers listening to the radio, meanwhile, after 1 pm the number of TV users extremely goes up. At 1 am, the percentage of the audience slightly rises and at approximately 6 am, it sharply climbs and hits a high of about 27%. Then, people start using the radio less and the frequency decreases – the percentage goes down, soon rises at 5 pm to around 15% and declines again, having some insignificant drops. In terms of television, at 1 am, the percentage of users falls to 2%, then start rising, having some fluctuations. At 11 am, the frequency of using TV grows notably and reaches its peak at about 45% at 9 pm. Then, the percentage of TV users goes down.

The given graph illustrates the amount of audiences of radio and television in the span of 24 hours, this data has been collected from October to December of 1992 in UK.

We can see that in the period between midnight and early morning at 6 AM, the numbers of audiences are reaching the rock bottom with a value of around 5 % for both broadcasters.

when people begin to wake up to go to work in around 7 AM, numbers of radio audiences is wildly peaked and reached the highest point that it can go at around 25% of UK population, on the other hand television is still steady at 5%.

Throughout the day radio numbers is gradually step down and in contrast television is steadily increase until we reached the breakeven point at around 2 PM when television is outnumbering the radio because people is beginning to return from work.

In the final hours of the days, television reached its highest value of audiences in around 7 PM with nearly 45% of UK population, on the other hand radio is still at the rock bottom with only 5%.

We can conclude from this data is people tend to listen to radio while going to work and after returning home they begin to relax and watch tv until near their bedtime.

Hi Liz, Thank you so much for those materials! They are really helpful for my IELTS test preparation. I have a question. “The line graph illustrates the proportion of people listening to the radio and watching TV…” In this sentence, can I change proportion to proportions? and why? I considered the plural form, proportions, because there were two categories of people. One category is people watching TV and another category is people listenning to radio. Looking forward to your answer. Thank you very much!

Sure, that’s fine. English grammar isn’t always black and white. In this case, both options are possible.

This line chart illustrates the proportion of tv and radio listeners in England (age over four years old) from October to December 1992. Overall, the majority have presented as TV users, which is almost 45% at around 21 hours. Besides, these TV waivers gradually increased over the given time in a day. Around 11 its has slightly increased, up to 15% and then around 13.30, significantly increased up to 40%. Then instantly decreased to 15 present at midday or night. Although, around 1 to 10.30, we could see some slight changes in television viewers which is maximum goes to 6%. In terms of British radio audiences, who were highly active around 8 p.m. or a.m., that is notable while it gradually decreases and maximum indicate 4% during the day after midday or night. Outstandingly, the Radio listening Percentage has increased up to 25 at 5.30, and it lasts till 7.30. Then after, it eventually falls to likely 10%. Later 13.30 diagram shows some slight differences until the rest of the day. Likewise, we can see the Highest proportion of British children who tend to watch TV rather than listening to the radio in 1992, the period given. According to the chart, The proportion of children who had been watched TV is twice as much as people who were listening to the radio.

The graph line presents the British television and radio audience throughout the average day between October and December in 1992, which the percentage of UK population (over 4-years old) and the timeline from 1 a.m. to midnight are the vertical and horizontal values respectively. The TV and radio graph lines are compound of blue and red line colors each. At the beginning, The TV and radio audience had similar samples motions within a range of 2.5% to 7%, in which, TV watchers had obtained a slight lead from 1 a.m. to 6 a.m with 1% more.

Whereas the TV audience kept going its pace until 11:30 a.m., the listeners turned their radios on and abruptly reached to its hearing peak with a quarter at 8 a.m. Nevertheless, the listeners had started to gradually descend from this time and reached to the least mark of 5% at the end of the day.

On the other hand, the TV audience had 2 increases, firstly it had started to gradually go up from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. reaching to 16%, secondly it hugely raised from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and achieving its peak with 45%, almost the half country population were watching the TV services at 8 p.m. However, it started to quickly go down just after 9 p.m and closed the graph with 15% at midnight.

Dear Liz, I tried doing the exercice and my exam is next week, i was hoping if you could give me a general feedback at my trial please. Thank you

The line graph demonstrates the proportion of british citizens that are entertained by either the television or the radio, over the course of the day, from October to December in 1992. Overall, the percentage of television viewing exceeds the radio’s frequency, specifically during the second half of the day. Conversely, the proportion of people listening to the radio falls remarkably from the afternoon till the end of the day. From 1 am to 6, the usage of both modes of entertainment is trivial with an average of only 5%. On one hand,, the number of people listening to the radio increases sharply at 6am, to reach its peak (25%) at almost 9 am. On the other hand, during this period, the percentage of Tv viewers remains steady at 5%, which is followed by a dip at 11 am. In the afternoon, the Tv and the Radio occupied a similar importance with a proportion of approximately 15%. However, from 13, the number of radio listeners fell gradually with a few fluctuations, until it reached 5% at the end of the day. Whereas, during that time the percentage of the population watching the TV grew dramatically and it reached its peak at around 20 with a percentage of 40%. During the end of the day, a steep decline in the television’s audience can be observed, as viewing decreases by almost 25%.

Sorry I don’t comment on writing.

The graph illustrates the audiences of TV and radio period 24 hours between Oct and Dec in 1992 in UK. Overall the radio unchanged from 1:00 AM to 6:00 AM but increased dramatically in 7:00 AM although after 3 hours drop to 26%. Likewise, in TV in morning duration it hadn’t changed until 8:00 AM rise to 6% which have decreased in 10:00 AM.As we see in TV is rises especially in evening whereas radio rocked in the morning.people almost reach to 50% between 16:00 PM to 21:00 PM which start to drop to 30% in the following hours. In the whole, the chart despite that in 13:00 PM both get to 15% but after an hour radio fall to 12% also decrease again to 10% in 15:00 PM. Although radio had fluctuate after 15:00 PM.which explain that people prefer watching TV in the evening until midnight even though 6% of people watching in morning.Despite of this that the most people as the graph shows they rather to listen to radio in the morning they reach to 25% in this percent was the highest one of radio. dear Liz could please tell me which the expected band can get it in IELTS. Thank you very much

I did the Ielts couple days ago, on the writing of task 1 I wrote the whole structure which includes intro by paraphrasing the question and in the over view I wrote that “Overall, USA has the highest number of immigration as posed as Australia has the lowest number of immigration while USA has the highest number of immigration for the the whole period whereas Australia has the lowest number of immigration “. Plus paragraph one I explain every year separately there was 11 years on the graph that is given + one sentence of paragraph 2, with using translation words in the whole task. On the other task or task 2. I wrote the almost the same intro as yours with including 2 or 3 high level of vocab it was about 100 words it took most of the first page. first I mention brief intro about the topic than a brief intro about what should I include than my opinion after that what I will include in the whole task. The paragraphs was containing (brief intro, thesis, one or two (complex or compound sentence)and full of simple sentence the result than a small conclusion). So please could you estimate my mark according to what I have said.

Your score is based on Task Achievement, Coherence & Cohesion, grammar and vocabulary. Your writing is analysed in great detail to decide a final score and is not based on a simple description of what you have done. You must wait for your results to see your score. However, I will say that an introduction which is 100 will not help your score. An introduction is usually 40 – 50 words.

Dear Liz, please how do you count words in ielts writing task?

One at a time. Each word counts as one word – one after another in order.

Namaste, from Nepal Dear Liz, we were taught to write conclusion in writing task 1, but i don’t feel comfortable with it as we mentioned same things in overview. What should I do?

Never repeat information. Task 1 is not an essay. It is a short report. All key features are reported in an overview and should not be highlighted again. The body paragraphs present the details (usually data).

Thank you a lot!

Hellor Liz, thank you so much for this amazing website.Much appreciated . With regard to writing task 2, I seem not to find any other lessons apart from writing Introduction and Thesis statement.Can I get a link to the rest of the lessons for writing task 2?. Thank you!

Look at the red nav bar at the top of this website. You will see links to all the main pages on that red bar. Click on the writing task 2 section to find a lot more posts, model answers, tips, videos etc.

Minh Hoa says: Hi Liz, I am not good at analyzing charts, tables to do IELTS TASK 1 . Could you really help?

Regards, Hoa

Sorry for the delay in replying. See this page: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-1-band-scores/ for tips on improving.

Thank you mam,

Can you give me any instruction or link abut the use of preposition?

Thanks in advance.

See this page: https://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/prepositions Liz

Thanks Very useful link for IELTS students. But there were a limited discussions about article (a, an, the). Can you provide me any link regarding article use?

Thank you for your time.

See this page for links: https://ieltsliz.com/useful-websites-and-resources-for-ielts/ All the best Liz

Your lesson is very useful.

Regards, Hoang

Is this sentence acceptable?

There were more people watching TV than listening to the radio

Yes, it’s fine.

Can a conclusion be avoided altogether in task 1 academic I’m confused!HELP

There is no conclusion in writing task 1. Please see my writing task 1 section to learn more. Thanks Liz

Hello Liz Your teachings have been of great help to me.I am presently preparing to take my test by the month end.Please how do I get my essays and reading practices assessed?

Unfortunately, I don’t offer any marking services. On this blog, all reading practice exercises have answers. If you want to practice full reading tests, you should get the IELTS Cambridge books 1 to 10 (number 10 is the most recent). They are books with real exam papers published by IELTS. For writing, you will need to find an IELTS teacher to help you with assessing your level. All the best Liz

Dear Liz, What’s the difference between “In regard to” and “With regard to”? Aren’t these the same in grammar and meaning?

Would be so kind of me by explaining it.

With regards, Mohan Anbgo

There is no difference. They are both acceptable and both grammatically correct. Liz

Liz, how about in behalf and on behalf of?

Please check this link: http://www.grammarphobia.com/blog/2006/09/in-behalf-of-vs-on-behalf-of.html Liz

Hi Liz.. All ur tips & lessons are truly amazing. Most important it really helping me to practise all the levels of writing task1..I really hope my real test goes well n score expected bands 🙂

I agree completely!

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IELTS Bar Chart Sample Essay

Static or Dynamic?

Before writing an IELTS task 1 bar chart or line graph answer it is important that we analyse the question correctly. Taking a few minutes to do this will help us write a clear answer that fully responds to the question. Just what the examiner wants us to do.

The first thing we need to do is decide if the bar chart is static or dynamic. Static means that the data comes from one point in time. Dynamic means the data comes from more than one point in time.

Whether a chart is static or dynamic will affect the information we choose to include in our answer and the kind of language (tense, grammar etc.) we use.

If it is dynamic we will have to compare the different times and comment on the general trends over the time period.

If it is static we will have to compare the different variables, in this case countries, car price, GDP and time it takes for one person to buy a car.

Main Features

Every IELTS academic task 1 question asks us to ‘select and report the main features’.

This means that we have to not only pick the most significant information from the graph and include it in our essay, but also decide which information is not important and should therefore not be included in our essay. One of the biggest mistakes you can make in task 1 is including all the information you see.

So which information should you choose?

You should look for:

• highest/lowest values
• biggest differences
• similarities
• significant exceptions
• anything else that really stands out

There are 3 main features in this graph

1) It takes over 26 years for a Vietnamese person to buy a car.

2) Vietnam has the second highest average costs but the second lowest wages.

3) Cost of a car in Singapore is nearly 3 times the next most expensive.

I advise my students to follow a basic four paragraph structure for these kinds of questions.

Paragraph 1 

Paraphrase the question using synonyms.

Paragraph 2 

Provide an overview of the main features. No need to include any data in this paragraph, just tell the examiner what is happening in general terms. If you had to describe the main features in two sentences, what would you say?

Paragraph 3

This is where we get more specific and use data. Take 2 of the main features (from your overview) and describe them in detail using data from the chart.

Paragraph 4 

Simply do the same thing as you did in paragraph 3, but with two other main features (from your overview).

Sample Answer 

The graph compares the GDP per capita, cost of a Toyota Camry and approximate length of time it takes for 1 citizen to purchase that mode of transport in eight Asian countries.

Despite having the second lowest average yearly income, it costs more to buy this car in Vietnam than in all but one other Asian nation. It also takes significantly longer for a standard person to buy an automobile in Vietnam than in any other state in Asia. On the other end of the scale, Singaporeans have to pay nearly three times more for their cars than the Vietnamese and it takes them the least amount of time to afford a motor vehicle.

It costs $49,944 to buy a Toyota Camry in Vietnam, but this dwarfs the average yearly income per person at just $1,910. It would therefore take a normal man or woman 26.1 years to save up for that particular car.

This is in contrast to Singapore where it costs $126,245 for that model of motorcar, however the average salary is much greater at $55,182. This means that it generally takes just over 2 years for a typical individual from Singapore to acquire this vehicle.

(200 words) Band 9.

It should be noted that this is not a real IELTS task 1 question. This is just a chart that I saw on the internet, but it allowed me to make a very important point- you don’t have to mention everything on the graph. I only talked about 2 out of the 8 countries and I still wrote 200 words and answer the question fully. The key is finding the most significant data and not talking about anything else. Don’t worry, you won’t lose marks for not talking about everything, quite the opposite.

This graph is also good for demonstrating how important it is to vary your vocabulary. There were four words that could have been overused in this essay- car, average, country and people. Instead of repeating them over and over again I used synonyms to show the examiner I have a wide vocabulary and gain extra marks. Here are the synonyms:

Car- Toyota Camry- automobile- vehicle- motor vehicle- motorcar

Average- approximate- normal- typical- standard

Country- countries- nation- state

People- citizen- man or woman- individual

Next time you see a chart or graph in a newspaper, in a textbook or on the internet, think about what the main features are and what common words would you have to vary with synonyms.

I hope you have found these tips useful. If you have any questions, let me know below.

For more band 9 sample essays check out our task 1 sample essay page.

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20 Recent IELTS Graph samples with answers

The chart below shows how much money is spent in the budget on different sectors by the uae government in 2000..

The charts below show the growth in the population in some of the world’s largest cities as well as the population distribution in urban and rural areas.

The average prices per kilometre of clothing imported into the European Union from six different countries in 1993 and 2003 are shown in the bar chart below.

The bar charts below show the number of hours each teacher spent teaching in different schools in four different countries in 2001.

The line graphs below show the production and demand for steel in million tonnes and the number of workers employed in the steel industry in the UK in 2010.

The bar charts and line graph below show the results of a survey conducted over a three-year period to discover what people who live in London think of the city.

The pie charts below show the online sales for retail sectors in New Zealand in 2003 and 2013.

The number of tourists visiting Malaysia and Dubai from 1995 to 2003 is presented below.

The bar chart below shows the estimated sales of jeans for two companies next year in Turkey. The pie chart shows the projected market share of the two companies in jeans at the end of next year.

The graph below shows a survey result of 4000 participants who expressed what important aspects they have learned from the internship they have completed.

The graph below shows the top priorities by business companies in the USA in 2016.

The graphs below show the average monthly expenditure on children’s sports and participation in different sports in the UK from 2008 to 2014.

The pie charts below show the online shopping sales for retail sectors in Australia in 2010 and 2015.

The bar chart below shows Scotland’s exports to the rest of the UK and the rest of the world for the year 2014.

The chart below shows the changes in sales of four different types of books from 2002 to 2012.

The diagram shows the procedure for university entry for high school graduates.

The chart below shows Morocco’s income from different economic sectors in 2003 as well as its income from fishing from 1982 to 2003.

The bar chart below shows the proportions of English men and women of different ages who were living alone in 2011. The pie chart compares the numbers of bedrooms in these one-person households.

The diagram below shows the life cycle of a salmon, from egg to adult fish.

The table below shows the worldwide market share of the notebook computer market for manufacturers in the years 2006, 2007 and 2014.

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Line Charts Tutorial – How to Create a Line Graph in JavaScript

As a full-stack developer, visualization of data and insights is an important skill. Out of the many chart types available, line charts are one of the most common and useful ways to present data trends over time.

In this comprehensive 2600+ word guide, I‘ll cover:

• Benefits of line charts for data visualization
• Step-by-step process to build line charts with JavaScript
• Usage and comparison of popular JS charting libraries
• Real-world examples and use cases
• Customization options and additional examples
• Expert perspectives on effective line chart creation
• Resources for further learning

So let‘s dive in and learn how to create beautiful, interactive line graphs with JavaScript!

Why Use Line Charts for Data Visualization?

"Line charts are one of the most basic yet incredibly useful forms of data visualization. Their simplicity allows readers to quickly grasp trends in data over time." – Stephanie Evergreen, Data Visualization Author

Before we jump into the coding, it‘s important to understand why line charts are commonly used for data visualization.

Some key advantages of line charts include:

• Intuitively showcase data trends and trajectories over time or an ordered category
• Allow easy analysis of changes and patterns in data
• Simple and easy to interpret even by general audiences
• Flexible to work with almost any time-series data

For example, line charts are extensively used in finance to see stock price movements, in sports to visualize player performance shifts across seasons, in science to identify experiment result changes over periods and so on.

Thus, line charts are a crucial data visualization skill for full-stack developers to have.

Next, let‘s see how to actually create line charts with JavaScript.

Creating Line Charts in JavaScript – The Process

Generally speaking, the whole process of creating any chart in JavaScript can be broken down into four steps:

• Make an HTML page with a container
• Include JavaScript charting library
• Initialize visualization

Now let‘s explore each step in detail for line chart creation.

1. Make an HTML Page with Container Element

First, you need an HTML page with an empty <div> container element where the line chart will be injected.

This chartContainer div is given width and height for the charts dimensions.

2. Include JavaScript Charting Library

Next, pull in a JavaScript charting library that supports line charts. Some popular options are:

• Chart.js – Simple, flexible and popular open-source library
• AnyChart – Enterprise library with rich customization options
• Google Charts – Interactive charts with cross-browser support
• Charts.css – Lightweight CSS-based charting
• D3.js – Powerful data visualization for dynamic visuals

I will use Chart.js, included via CDN:

Now Chart.js is available to use.

3. Add Data

Next, prepare the chart data based on visualization needs.

For a line chart, data should have:

• Labels for x-axis
• Data points for y-axis

I will plot the number of tennis Grand Slam titles won by Roger Federer from 2003 to 2022.

So the labels contain years on the x-axis while the data contains his Grand Slam titles per year. This data is for plotting the line chart.

Border and fill configs visually styles the line.

4. Initialize Visualization

Finally, initialize the line chart by passing the element container and data to Chart.js chart constructor.

This renders the line chart inside the defined container.

And that covers the 4 key steps to create charts in JavaScript!

Here is a pen showing the output:

See the Pen Line Chart Example by Anon ( @anon ) on CodePen .

Next let‘s see how to customize the charts further.

Customizing and Configuring Charts

While the basic chart looks good enough, customizing the looks, behavior and interactivity further enhances understanding and engagement.

Let‘s see some common customizations for line charts:

Add Titles and Axis Labels

Adding clear titles and labels improves understanding:

This shows the main chart title, x-axis and y-axis labels clearly.

Control Point Styles

You can style the data point markers by:

This changes the points to larger red dot markers.

Enable Tooltips

Tooltips display details on hover:

Enable and configure tooltips to enhance interactivity.

There are many other options available to customize styling, mouse behaviors, animation etc. based on needs.

Here is an advanced customized line chart example:

See the Pen Advanced Line Chart by Anon ( @anon ) on CodePen .

Real-World Use Cases

As a full-stack developer, understanding real-world usage helps cement concepts better. So let‘s analyze some examples of line charts in action.

Visualizing Stock Prices

Line charts are extensively used in finance to visualize stock prices over time. For example:

Chart showing Apple stock prices over 5 years (Source: Macrotrends)

Visually tracking the ups and downs allows better price analysis.

Website Traffic Metrics

Analyzing website metrics like visitor numbers are easier understood via line charts:

Line chart displaying website visitor traffic for a year (Source: ChartBlocks)

Notice the traffic changes across seasons in the year.

There are many other real-world use cases across domains where line chart visualization uncovers key data insights effectively.

Creating Step Charts

A step chart is a variation of line chart that plots vertical lines instead of sloped lines to explicitly display changes between time periods.

For example, here is a step chart version of the website traffic:

To convert to a step chart in Chart.js, use the stepped line style option:

See the Pen Step Chart by Anon ( @anon ) on CodePen .

This small configuration change transforms the view for clearer insights!

Chart.js vs Other Libraries

As seen so far, Chart.js provides simple yet flexible charts to get started quickly. But how does it compare to other libraries like AnyChart or Google Charts?

• Lightweight, open-source library
• Easy learning curve
• Highly customizable
• Great documentation
• Lacks some advanced enterprise features
• Commercial library but free for personal use
• Advanced customization options
• Date handling features
• Can plot very large datasets
• Some complex features have learning curves

Google Charts

• Free simple usage
• Good default themes
• Cross-browser compatibility
• Not as flexible for complex needs
• Being deprecated from 2023

So evaluate your specific needs, data sizes, usage levels etc. when selecting between charting libraries for projects.

Expert Perspectives for Effective Line Charts

As per full-stack developer and visual practitioner standards, here are some expert tips for creating effective line charts:

"Choose the appropriate line chart type based on the data being visualized – a simple line for smoothly changing data, stepped line chart for distinct time period changes." – Catherine Madden , Data Visualization Architect

"Utilize colors intentionally, minimize clutter, and ensure visual consistency for the reader to grasp message easily." – Cole Nussbaumer , Data Storytelling Guide Author

"Emphasize key trends, outliers and patterns using annotations instead of expecting readers to capture insights from the lines alone." – Andy Kirk , Visualization Analyst and Author

Additional References and Resources

For further reading, here are useful resources to enhance line chart creation skills:

• Practical Tips for Building Better Line Charts by A. Abela
• Advanced Data Visualization Guide by Lintilis
• Create Beautiful Charts Course on Udemy
• Chart.js 3 Documentation for reference
• AnyChart Visual Scripting API for advanced chart customization

I hope this comprehensive 2600+ word guide provided a solid understanding of line chart creation using JavaScript charting libraries like Chart.js.

Key takeaways include:

• Line charts help visualize trends effectively
• Four core steps to build charts in JS
• Usage and comparison of popular libraries
• Configuration options for customization
• Real-world examples for better understanding

Creating insightful, professional charts takes practice, so leverage the concepts, tools and references shared here to hone your data visualization skills further.

Let me know if you have any other questions in the comments!

Dr. Alex Mitchell is a dedicated coding instructor with a deep passion for teaching and a wealth of experience in computer science education. As a university professor, Dr. Mitchell has played a pivotal role in shaping the coding skills of countless students, helping them navigate the intricate world of programming languages and software development.

Beyond the classroom, Dr. Mitchell is an active contributor to the freeCodeCamp community, where he regularly shares his expertise through tutorials, code examples, and practical insights. His teaching repertoire includes a wide range of languages and frameworks, such as Python, JavaScript, Next.js, and React, which he presents in an accessible and engaging manner.

Dr. Mitchell’s approach to teaching blends academic rigor with real-world applications, ensuring that his students not only understand the theory but also how to apply it effectively. His commitment to education and his ability to simplify complex topics have made him a respected figure in both the university and online learning communities.

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