Academic Writing Task 1 · line graph

Radio and television audience trends in the UK during 1992

The graph below shows radio and television audiences throughout the day in 1992.

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

Radio and TV audiences in UK, Oct- Dec, 1992 (%)

TV
Radio

View the data

	1.00	3.00	5.00	7.00	9.00	11.00	13.00	15.00	17.00	19.00	21.00	23.00
TV	7	3	4	5	7	4	15	14	25	43	45	35
Radio	3	2	3	5	25	20	15	11	13	7	4	5

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 percentage of the UK population over four years old listening to the radio and watching television throughout a typical day between October and December 1992.

Overall, radio and television audiences follow distinct patterns. Radio popularity peaks early in the day, while television viewership experiences a substantial surge during the evening, becoming the dominant medium for the majority of the day.

Radio usage begins at approximately 3% at 1.00, rising steadily to a peak of 25% at 9.00. Following this morning high, radio listenership gradually declines, dropping to 15% by 13.00 and reaching a low of 4% by 21.00. Conversely, television audiences remain relatively low during the morning and early afternoon, hovering between 3% and 7% until 11.00.

From 13.00 onwards, television viewership increases sharply, matching the radio audience at 15%. It continues to climb, reaching a significant peak of 45% at 21.00. Although television figures begin to fall after this point, they remain at 35% by 23.00, which is considerably higher than the 5% recorded for radio at the same time. In contrast, radio maintains a minor secondary peak of 13% at 17.00 before falling away.

191 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.

distinct: clearly different or of a different kind
surge: a sudden powerful forward or upward movement
hovering: remaining at or near a particular level
sharply: in a sudden and very noticeable way
conversely: introducing a statement that reverses a previous one
dominant: most important, powerful, or influential

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Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?

Radio listening peaks in the morning, whereas television viewership is significantly higher during the evening hours.

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.