Academic Writing Task 1 · line graph

The amount of money spent on books in four European countries

The graph below shows the amount of money spent on books in Germany, France, Italy and Austria between 1995 and 2005.

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

Money spent on Books ($ US dollars (millions))

Germany
France
Italy
Austria

View the data

	1995	1997	1999	2001	2003	2005
Germany	80	85	90	87	85	95
France	55	57	60	68	70	75
Italy	50	55	50	55	58	63
Austria	30	35	40	40	60	72

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 total expenditure on books in Germany, France, Italy, and Austria between 1995 and 2005, measured in millions of US dollars.

Overall, expenditure on books increased in all four nations over the decade, with Austria experiencing the most significant growth while Germany consistently maintained the highest spending levels.

Germany began the period as the highest spender at $80 million. Despite some fluctuations, including a dip between 1999 and 2003, spending in Germany rose to a peak of $95 million by 2005. France also saw a steady upward trend, starting at $55 million in 1995 and climbing gradually to reach $75 million at the end of the period.

In contrast, Austria started with the lowest expenditure at $30 million in 1995. However, it underwent a dramatic surge, particularly between 2001 and 2005, where spending rose from $40 million to $72 million, nearly catching up with France. Italy’s spending pattern was more erratic, beginning at $50 million and experiencing minor fluctuations before finishing at $63 million in 2005. By the end of the decade, Germany remained the leader, while Austria had moved from being the least to the second-lowest spender, overtaking Italy.

194 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.

expenditure: The total amount of money spent on something
fluctuations: Irregular rising and falling in number or amount
upward trend: A general direction in which something is developing
dramatic surge: A sudden and very large increase in value
erratic: Not even or regular in pattern or movement
overtaking: Catching up with and passing another in progress

Write your own report and get a band

Take a timed Academic writing test and get a band for task achievement, coherence, vocabulary and grammar, with the sentences to fix.

Practise IELTS Academic writing

On your phone? Get the BandLadder app.

Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?

Overall, expenditure on books increased in all four nations over the decade, with Austria experiencing the most significant growth while Germany consistently maintained the highest spending levels.

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.