Academic Writing Task 1 · line graph

Price trends for four types of bread in a European country

The chart below shows the price in Euros of 800 grams of four types of bread in one European country from 2001 to 2006.

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

Price of 800g of four types of bread (2001-2005) (Euros)

Wholegrain
Brown
White
Rye

View the data

	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005
Wholegrain	0.8	1.8	1	0.7	0.8
Brown	0.6	1.5	1.6	1.4	1.6
White	0.6	1	1.1	1.2	1.3
Rye	0.6	0.5	0.6	0.6	0.7

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 price fluctuations for 800 grams of four bread varieties—wholegrain, brown, white, and rye—in a European country between 2001 and 2005.

Overall, wholegrain bread exhibited the most dramatic price shifts, peaking early before declining. Conversely, white and brown bread prices showed a more consistent upward trajectory, while rye remained the most affordable option throughout the period.

In 2001, all four bread types were priced between 0.6 and 0.8 Euros. By 2002, wholegrain bread surged to a high of 1.8 Euros, whereas rye dipped slightly to 0.5 Euros. Following this peak, wholegrain prices dropped sharply to 1.0 Euro in 2003 and reached a low of 0.7 Euros in 2004, before recovering to 0.8 Euros in 2005.

Brown bread also saw a significant rise to 1.5 Euros in 2002 and fluctuated between 1.4 and 1.6 Euros for the remainder of the period. White bread experienced a steady climb from 0.6 Euros in 2001 to 1.3 Euros by 2005. Meanwhile, rye bread remained relatively stable, ending the period at 0.7 Euros, which was the lowest price among the four types.

181 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.

fluctuations: irregular rising and falling in number or amount
trajectory: the path followed by a development or trend
surged: increased suddenly and powerfully in a short time
dramatic: sudden, striking, or impressive in terms of change
stable: not likely to change or fail; relatively constant
affordable: reasonably priced and inexpensive for the consumer

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Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?

While the price of wholegrain bread experienced significant volatility, the costs of brown and white bread generally trended upwards over 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.