Structure
How to describe a line graph
- →Read the axes and units, then find the two biggest stories: the largest rise, the largest fall, a crossover, or a line that stays flat while others move.
- →Paragraph 1: paraphrase what the graph shows and the period. Paragraph 2: the overview, two or three sentences, no numbers.
- →Paragraphs 3 and 4: group lines with similar behaviour and describe each group with start, end and any peak or dip, using a figure for each claim.
- →Vary the language of change: rose sharply, climbed steadily, fluctuated around, fell to a low of, remained stable at, overtook.
The full method, with scoring and common mistakes, is in the IELTS Task 1 line graph guide.
57–112 of 112
Line graphs: all sample answers
- Population size, birth rate, and death rate in England and Wales
- Population trends of various turtle species in India from 1980 to 2012
- Price trends for four types of bread in a European country
- Projected government spending on education, medical care, and pensions 2001-2051
- Projected population trends for India and China from 2000 to 2050
- Proportion of the population aged 65 and over in three countries
- Quantities of goods transported in the UK by four transport modes
- Radio and television audience trends in the UK during 1992
- Relative price changes for three food categories between 1979 and 2009
- Sales trends for three book categories from 2002 to 2006
- Spending on renewable energy research in four countries from 1975 to 2000
- Survey results regarding reasons for moving to a capital city
- Telephone call volumes in Denmark by category from 1995 to 2004
- Telephone subscriber trends in Africa between 1994 and 2004
- The amount of money spent on books in four European countries
- The impact of different sugars on mouth acidity and tooth decay
- The incidence of X virus diseases in Australia from 1960 to 1995
- The number of male and female university graduates in Canada 1992-2007
- The number of passengers at a London underground station throughout the day
- The percentage of UK adolescents following a vegetarian diet over time
- The price of bananas in four countries between 1994 and 2004
- Three line graphs illustrating Australian trade with China Japan and the US
- Total and selected export values for a country from 2000 to 2005
- Tourist visitor numbers to a Caribbean island from 2010 to 2017
- Trends in birth and death rates in a European country 1950-2050
- Trends in free time activities among elderly Americans from 1980 to 2010
- Trends in household appliance ownership and weekly housework hours 1920-2019
- Trends in international student enrolment at Sheffield University from 2005 to 2009
- Trends in Irish unemployment and emigration levels from 1988 to 2008
- Trends in male and female gym membership from 1980 to 2010
- Trends in Per Capita Meat and Poultry Consumption in the US
- Trends in rural to urban migration for three selected countries
- Trends in Sydney train passenger numbers and punctuality from 1995 to 2004
- Trends in the number of male and female smokers in Bhutan
- Trends in the number of shop closures and openings 2011-2018
- Trends in the percentage of tourists visiting four Brighton attractions
- Trends in three categories of crime in Newport city center 2003-2012
- Trends in three different crime categories in Panama City 2010-2019
- Trends in three specific crime rates in England and Wales
- Trends in three types of crime in England and Wales 1970-2005
- Trends in Tourist Information Office Enquiries from January to June 2001
- Trends in UK daily commuting methods from 1970 to 2030
- U.S. government expenditure on various research sectors from 1980 to 2008
- UK Air Pollutant Emissions by Source Between 1990 and 2005
- Unemployment rate trends in rural and urban Australia during 2012
- Unemployment rate trends in the UK, Europe and Japan 1993-2007
- Unemployment Rate Trends in the USA and Japan 2005 to 2011
- Urban population trends in four Asian countries from 1970 to 2040
- Value of Australian trade with China Japan and the United States
- Vehicle theft rates in four different countries from 1990 to 1999
- Visitor numbers for four international museums from 1980 to 2015
- Waste production by three companies over a fifteen year period
- Weekly consumption of fish and various meats in a European country
- Weekly consumption of potatoes, pasta and rice in a European country
- Wheat export trends for Australia, Canada, and the European Community 1985-1990
- Whooping cough notifications and childhood vaccination coverage
Frequently asked questions
How do I describe an IELTS line graph in Task 1?+
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.
What band are these line graph sample answers?+
Each of the 112 line graph samples has a Band 8 model answer. The chart is redrawn with its data, and every figure in the answer comes from that chart.
How many words and how long for Task 1?+
At least 150 words in about 20 minutes. 170 to 200 words is the safe range; leave 40 minutes for Task 2, which carries twice the marks.
How do I write an overview for a line graph?+
Two or three sentences stating the main trends without figures: which lines rose or fell overall, which was highest throughout, and any crossover. Put it straight after the introduction.
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Other Task 1 chart types
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