Academic Writing Task 1 · line graph

Annual earnings of three bakeries in Calgary from 2000 to 2010

The graph shows data about the annual earnings of three bakeries in Calgary, 2000-2010.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.

Annual earnings of three bakeries in Calgary, 2000-2010 ($)

Amandine Bakery
Mari Bakeshop
Bolo Cakery

View the data

	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010
Amandine Bakery	55,000	55,000	55,000	55,000	55,000	55,000	60,000	68,000	96,000	103,000	105,000
Mari Bakeshop	82,000	93,000	90,000	80,000	90,000	63,000	56,000	59,000	42,000	40,000	40,000
Bolo Cakery	20,000	26,000	23,000	38,000	38,000	38,000	37,000	43,000	61,000	63,000	65,000

Chart redrawn by BandLadder from the data in the original IELTS practice task. Many IELTS practice tasks come from the Cambridge IELTS series (Cambridge University Press & Assessment); all rights in the original tasks remain with their owners.

Band 8 sample answer

The line graph illustrates the annual income of three distinct bakeries in Calgary—Amandine Bakery, Mari Bakeshop, and Bolo Cakery—between 2000 and 2010.

Overall, Amandine Bakery emerged as the highest earner by the end of the period, despite starting at a mid-range level. Conversely, Mari Bakeshop, which initially led the market, suffered a marked downturn, while Bolo Cakery maintained a consistent, albeit slower, growth trajectory throughout the decade.

In 2000, Mari Bakeshop dominated with earnings of $82,000, peaking at $93,000 in 2001. However, its income fluctuated before plummeting to $40,000 by 2010. In contrast, Amandine Bakery remained stable at $55,000 for the first six years. From 2006 onwards, it experienced a dramatic surge, climbing steadily to reach a peak of $105,000 by 2010.

Bolo Cakery began as the lowest earner at $20,000 in 2000. Although its income plateaued between 2003 and 2006 at approximately $38,000, it subsequently recovered, rising to $65,000 by the end of the period. By 2010, Amandine Bakery had clearly overtaken the others, while Mari Bakeshop and Bolo Cakery finished at $40,000 and $65,000 respectively.

177 words. Every figure in the answer comes from the chart above.

How to write about line graphs

Overview first: the overall direction of each line and which was highest.
Group lines that move together instead of describing each one in turn.
Give the start and end figures plus the peak or low point, not every value.

fluctuated: changed frequently in an irregular way
plummeting: falling or dropping straight down at high speed
plateaued: reached a state of little or no change
surge: a sudden powerful forward or upward movement
overtaken: caught up with and passed while travelling
trajectory: the path followed by an object or trend

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Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?

While Amandine Bakery experienced significant growth over the period, Mari Bakeshop saw a substantial decline in earnings, and Bolo Cakery showed a steady upward trend.

How long should an IELTS Task 1 answer be?

At least 150 words; 170 to 200 is the safe range. Spend about 20 minutes on it and leave 40 for Task 2, which carries twice the marks.

How do I describe line graphs?

Overview first: the overall direction of each line and which was highest. Group lines that move together instead of describing each one in turn. Give the start and end figures plus the peak or low point, not every value.