Academic Writing Task 1 · line graph

Unemployment rates and emigration figures for Ireland from 1988 to 2008

The graph below shows unemployment levels in Ireland and the number of people leaving the country between 1988 and 2008.

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

Unemployment and emigration in Ireland 1988-2008 (percentage and number of people)

Unemployment rate %
People leaving

View the data

	1988	1990	2000	2008
Unemployment rate %	14	16	5	8
People leaving	40,000	25,000	20,000	40,000

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 provided line graph illustrates the fluctuations in the unemployment rate and the number of people leaving Ireland over a twenty-year period, from 1988 to 2008.

Overall, both indicators experienced a significant decline during the middle of the period, before witnessing a marked resurgence in the final years leading up to 2008. While the two trends often moved in tandem, the unemployment rate showed more volatility, particularly at the start of the timeframe.

In 1988, the unemployment rate stood at 14%, while 40,000 people left the country. By 1990, unemployment peaked at 16%, yet the number of people leaving dropped to 25,000. This divergence highlights that emigration did not always mirror the immediate rise in joblessness. Following this, both figures trended downwards, with unemployment reaching a low of 5% and emigration falling to 20,000 by the year 2000.

From 2000 to 2008, the situation reversed. The unemployment rate climbed back to 8%, and the number of people leaving the country doubled from its 2000 low, returning to the 40,000 mark by 2008. This final period demonstrates a clear correlation between rising unemployment and increased emigration.

185 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
resurgence: an increase or revival after a period
in tandem: happening together or at the same time
volatility: tendency to change rapidly and unpredictably
divergence: the process of becoming different or separate
correlation: a mutual relationship between two or more things

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Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?

The graph illustrates a general downward trend in both unemployment and emigration for most of the period, followed by a sharp increase in both metrics towards 2008.

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.