Academic Writing Task 1 · line graph

Percentage of households owning four types of electronic devices 1995-2015

The chart below shows the percentage of households owning four types of electronic devices between 1995 and 2015.

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

Percentage of households with electronic devices (%)

MP3 Player
Mobile phone
Computer
Tablet

View the data

	1995	1997	2000	2003	2005	2007	2010	2013	2015
MP3 Player	15	18	25	28	31	35	38	40	42
Mobile phone	7	35	70	75	80	83	85	90	95
Computer	7	13	25	43	58	65	75	80	95
Tablet	–	–	–	0	7	17	63	72	82

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 households in possession of four distinct electronic devices—MP3 players, mobile phones, computers, and tablets—between 1995 and 2015.

Overall, ownership of all four devices increased significantly over the period, with mobile phones and computers becoming the most ubiquitous, while tablets showed the most rapid growth after their introduction.

In 1995, mobile phones and computers were both owned by only 7% of households. Mobile phone ownership surged rapidly, reaching 70% by 2000 and climbing steadily to 95% by 2015. Similarly, computer ownership experienced substantial growth, particularly between 2000 and 2005, eventually matching mobile phones at 95% by the end of the period. In contrast, MP3 players saw a more gradual upward trend, starting at 15% in 1995 and reaching 42% by 2015.

Tablets were not present in households until 2003, starting at 0%. Following their introduction, they experienced a dramatic rise, especially between 2007 and 2010, where ownership jumped from 17% to 63%. By 2015, tablet ownership had reached 82%, making it the third most common device, surpassing MP3 players by a considerable margin.

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.

ubiquitous: found everywhere or very common in society
surged: increased very quickly and by a large amount
substantial: of considerable importance, size, or worth
gradual: taking place or progressing slowly and steadily
dramatic: sudden, striking, and impressive in change
surpassing: exceeding or being greater than something else

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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.