Academic Writing Task 1 · line graph

Weekly consumption of fish and various meats in a European country

The graph below shows the consumption of fish and some different kinds of meat in a European country between 1979 and 2004.

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

Fish and meat consumption (Grams per person per week)

Chicken
Beef
Lamb
Fish

View the data

	1979	1984	1989	1994	1999	2004
Chicken	140	175	200	225	225	245
Beef	220	230	190	190	130	105
Lamb	150	115	125	80	60	55
Fish	60	45	45	40	35	35

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 changes in the weekly consumption of chicken, beef, lamb, and fish per person in a European country between 1979 and 2004. Overall, it is clear that chicken became the most popular meat, whereas the consumption of all other types of meat and fish decreased significantly.

In 1979, beef was the most consumed meat at 220 grams per week, followed by lamb at 150 grams, chicken at 140 grams, and fish at 60 grams. Chicken consumption rose steadily throughout the period, overtaking beef around 1989. By 2004, chicken reached a peak of approximately 245 grams per week. Conversely, beef consumption fluctuated before entering a sharp decline after 1994, finishing at roughly 105 grams by 2004.

Lamb consumption also saw a downward trend, dropping from 150 grams in 1979 to 55 grams by the end of the period. Fish consumption remained the lowest throughout the entire timeframe, starting at 60 grams and gradually decreasing to 35 grams per week by 2004. In summary, the dietary habits shifted dramatically, with chicken replacing beef as the primary source of meat for the population.

183 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.

upward trend: a general direction in which something is increasing
declined: to become smaller, fewer, or less in amount
fluctuated: to rise and fall irregularly in number or amount
overtaking: to catch up with and pass while travelling
sharp decline: a very sudden and significant decrease in value
period: a particular length of time in the past

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Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?

While chicken consumption experienced a significant upward trend, the consumption of beef, lamb, and fish all declined over the 25-year 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.