Academic Writing Task 1 · line graph

UK Air Pollutant Emissions by Source Between 1990 and 2005

The graph below shows UK air pollutants in millions of tonnes, from three diﬀerent sources, between 1990 and 2005.

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

UK air pollutants by source (Million tonnes)

Total
Industry
Transport
Households

View the data

	1990	1993	1996	1999	2002	2005
Total	7.8	7.6	6.8	6.3	5.5	4.9
Industry	5.8	5	4.8	4	2.5	2
Transport	1	1.5	1	1.2	2.5	2.9
Households	1	1	1	1	0.5	0

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 changes in UK air pollutant emissions from three distinct sources—industry, transport, and households—between 1990 and 2005, measured in million tonnes.

Overall, the total volume of pollutants fell consistently throughout the fifteen-year period. A notable divergence occurred in the trends for different sectors, as industrial and household emissions decreased, whereas transport-related pollution rose significantly.

In 1990, industry was the primary source of pollution at 5.8 million tonnes, significantly higher than transport and households, which both stood at 1.0 million tonnes. Industrial emissions followed a downward trajectory, dropping to 2.0 million tonnes by 2005. Similarly, household emissions remained stable at 1.0 million tonnes until 1999, before declining to zero by the end of the period.

Conversely, transport emissions showed a different pattern. After fluctuating between 1.0 and 1.5 million tonnes in the 1990s, they climbed steadily to reach 2.9 million tonnes in 2005, overtaking industry as the largest source of pollution. Consequently, the total pollutant output dropped from 7.8 million tonnes in 1990 to 4.9 million tonnes in 2005, reflecting the substantial impact of reduced industrial activity on overall air quality.

184 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.

downward trajectory: a steady and continuous movement towards lower levels
divergence: the process of moving in different directions
overtaking: becoming greater in amount than something else
fluctuating: rising and falling irregularly in number or amount
substantial: of considerable importance, size, or worth
distinct: clearly different in nature from something else

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Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?

While total air pollutant emissions in the UK experienced a steady decline over the period, the contribution from transport increased, contrasting with the significant reductions seen in industrial and household sources.

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.