Academic Writing Task 1 · line graph

Employment rates for women aged 15-64 in five countries 2003-2009

The line graph below gives information about the percentage of women aged 15-64 in employment in five different countries between 2003 and 2009. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. --- Instructions: You are presented with a line graph and must describe the trends over time, compare data, and highlight key features in at least 150 words. Assessment Criteria: Task Achievement (25%) - Presents a clear overview of main trends - Highlights key features with relevant data - Makes appropriate comparisons - Meets the 150-word minimum requirement Coherence and Cohesion (25%) - Logically organizes information - Uses paragraphing effectively - Uses cohesive devices appropriately - Maintains clear progression throughout Lexical Resource (25%) - Uses appropriate vocabulary for describing trends - Shows flexibility and precision - Uses less common lexical items - Has minimal errors in word choice and spelling Grammatical Range and Accuracy (25%) - Uses a variety of sentence structures - Produces error-free sentences - Uses grammar and punctuation appropriately - Shows good control of grammar Tips for Line Graph Description: - Start with an introduction paraphrasing the title - Write an overview highlighting the overall trends - Describe specific data points and changes over time - Compare different lines/categories - Use appropriate vocabulary for trends: - Increase: "rose", "increased", "climbed", "surged", "soared", "peaked at" - Decrease: "fell", "decreased", "declined", "dropped", "plummeted", "reached a low" - Stability: "remained stable", "stayed constant", "plateaued", "leveled off" - Fluctuation: "fluctuated", "varied", "oscillated" - Include specific figures and time periods - Use time expressions: "between X and Y", "from X to Y", "over the period", "throughout"

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

Percentage of women aged 15-64 in employment in five countries (2003-2009) (%)

Iceland
Canada
Germany
Chile
Turkey

View the data

	2003	2005	2007	2009
Iceland	67	67.5	68	65.5
Canada	54.5	54.5	56	57.5
Germany	46.5	48	50	51.5
Chile	28	29	29	29
Turkey	19	17	17.5	20

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 proportion of women aged 15-64 in employment across five nations—Iceland, Canada, Germany, Chile, and Turkey—between 2003 and 2009.

Overall, Iceland consistently recorded the highest employment rates throughout the period, despite a minor dip towards the end. Conversely, Turkey and Chile remained at the lower end of the spectrum, with Turkey experiencing the most significant fluctuations. Canada and Germany both demonstrated steady growth in female employment over the six-year timeframe.

Iceland began the period at 67%, peaking at 68% in 2007 before falling to 65.5% by 2009. Canada, starting at 54.5%, saw a gradual increase, reaching 57.5% by the end of the period. Similarly, Germany’s employment rate for women rose steadily from 46.5% in 2003 to 51.5% in 2009.

In contrast, Chile maintained a relatively stable performance, hovering around 28% to 29% throughout the years. Turkey, which started at 19% in 2003, experienced a decline to 17% in 2005, followed by a recovery to 20% by 2009. Despite these variations, the gap between the highest and lowest performing countries remained substantial throughout the entire duration.

179 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.

proportion: a part, share, or number considered in comparative relation
upward trend: a general direction in which something is developing higher
fluctuations: irregular rising and falling in number or amount
steady growth: a consistent and gradual increase over a period
hovering: remaining at or near a particular level
substantial: of considerable importance, size, or worth

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Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?

Overall, employment rates for women in Canada and Germany showed a consistent upward trend, while Iceland maintained the highest figures despite a slight decline at the end of the period.

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.