Academic Writing Task 1 · line graph

The impact of vaccination on whooping cough cases in Britain

The graph shows the impact of vaccinations on the incidence of whooping cough, a childhood illness, between 1940 and 1990 in Britain.

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

Cases of whooping cough (Britain) 1940-1990 (Reported cases and Percent)

Reported cases
% Vaccine uptake

View the data

	1940	1945	1950	1955	1960	1965	1970	1975	1980	1985	1990	1995	2000	2005	2010
Reported cases	55,000	95,000	145,000	80,000	58,000	35,000	18,000	65,000	65,000	35,000	5,000	3,000	2,000	1,000	1,000
% Vaccine uptake	–	–	–	–	–	81	75	30	60	70	94	94	94	94	95

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 incidence of whooping cough in Britain between 1940 and 2010, alongside the corresponding percentage of vaccine uptake. Overall, it is clear that the number of reported cases experienced a dramatic downward trend, while vaccine coverage generally increased, despite a notable dip in the mid-1970s.

At the start of the period in 1940, there were approximately 55,000 reported cases of whooping cough. This figure fluctuated significantly, peaking at around 145,000 cases by 1950. Following the introduction of the vaccination programme in the mid-1950s, the number of cases began a sharp decline, dropping to roughly 35,000 by 1960 and falling further to below 20,000 by 1970.

Conversely, vaccine uptake was recorded at 81% in the mid-1960s before plummeting to a low of 30% in the mid-1970s. This period of low vaccination coincided with a temporary resurgence in the disease, with cases spiking to approximately 65,000. However, as vaccine uptake recovered to 94% by 1990, the incidence of whooping cough fell to negligible levels, remaining consistently low at approximately 1,000 cases per year through to 2010.

178 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.

Incidence: The frequency or rate of occurrence of something
Correlates: Having a mutual relationship or connection between two
Plummeting: Falling or dropping straight down at high speed
Resurgence: An increase or revival after a period of decline
Negligible: So small or unimportant as to be ignored
Fluctuated: Rising and falling irregularly in number or amount

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Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?

The graph illustrates a significant long-term decline in whooping cough cases, which correlates inversely with the fluctuations in vaccine uptake over the seven-decade 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.