Academic Writing Task 1 · line graph

Changes in the consumption of fast food by teenagers from 1985 to 2015

The graph below shows possible factors that contributed to the UK floods of November 2013. February 2014.

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

Consumption of Fast Food by Teenagers (Number of times eaten per year)

Pizza
Fish&Chips
Hamburgers

View the data

	1985	1995	2005	2015
Pizza	5	60	80	80
Fish&Chips	100	80	90	40
Hamburgers	10	40	100	105

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 frequency with which teenagers consumed three types of fast food—pizza, fish and chips, and hamburgers—between 1985 and 2015.

Overall, it is clear that hamburgers and pizza saw a substantial rise in popularity over the thirty-year period. Conversely, the consumption of fish and chips, which was the most popular choice at the start, saw a significant decrease by 2015.

In 1985, fish and chips was the most consumed fast food, with teenagers eating it 100 times per year. However, this figure fluctuated, dropping to 80 in 1995, rising slightly to 90 in 2005, and finally plummeting to 40 by 2015. In contrast, hamburger consumption started at a low of 10 times per year in 1985 but grew steadily to 40 in 1995, reaching a peak of 100 in 2005 and ending at 105 in 2015.

Pizza consumption also followed an upward trend, starting at just 5 times per year in 1985. It rose sharply to 60 in 1995 and reached 80 in 2005, where it remained stable until 2015. By the end of the period, hamburgers had become the most frequently consumed fast food among teenagers.

190 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 or rising manner
plummeting: falling or dropping straight down at high speed
upward trend: a general direction in which something is developing
stable: not likely to change or fail; firmly established
substantial: of considerable importance, size, or worth
conversely: introducing a statement that reverses a previous one

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Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?

While the consumption of hamburgers and pizza increased significantly over the period, the popularity of fish and chips experienced a notable decline, particularly after 2005.

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.