Academic Writing Task 1 · line graph

Consumption trends of three different spreads between 1981 and 2007

The graph below shows the consumption of three kinds of spreads between 1981 and 2007.

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

Consumption of three kinds of spreads (1981-2007) (Grams)

Margarine
Low fat & reduced spreads
Butter

View the data

	1981	1986	1991	1996	2001	2007
Margarine	95	80	100	100	80	40
Low fat & reduced spreads	–	–	–	10	80	70
Butter	142	160	100	70	60	50

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 weekly consumption of butter, margarine, and low fat and reduced spreads in grams between 1981 and 2007.

Overall, butter consumption experienced a significant decline over the period, while low fat and reduced spreads saw a rapid increase after their introduction, and margarine consumption fluctuated before falling sharply.

In 1981, butter was the most popular spread at 142 grams, peaking at 160 grams in 1986. However, its popularity plummeted thereafter, reaching 100 grams in 1991 and ending the period at 50 grams in 2007. Margarine consumption began at 95 grams in 1981, dipped to 80 grams in 1986, and then recovered to reach a plateau of 100 grams between 1991 and 1996. Subsequently, it declined to 80 grams in 2001 and finished at a low of 40 grams in 2007.

Low fat and reduced spreads were not recorded until 1996, starting at a mere 10 grams. Their consumption surged to 80 grams by 2001, briefly overtaking margarine, before experiencing a slight decrease to 70 grams by 2007. By the end of the period, low fat and reduced spreads had become the most consumed product among the three, despite the overall downward trend in the consumption of all spreads.

202 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.

plummeted: fell very sharply and suddenly in value
plateau: a state of little or no change
surged: increased very quickly and by a large amount
fluctuated: rose and fell irregularly over a period
overtaking: becoming greater in amount than something else
downward trend: a general tendency to decrease over time

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Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?

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.