How it's scored
Task achievement rewards a clear overview and well-selected key features with data; coherence rewards grouping by trend rather than line by line. Grammatical range comes from comparing and contrasting lines in one sentence.
Strategy & template
- 1Read the axes and units, then find the two biggest stories: the largest rise, the largest fall, a crossover, or a line that stays flat while others move.
- 2Paragraph 1: paraphrase what the graph shows and the period. Paragraph 2: the overview, two or three sentences, no numbers.
- 3Paragraphs 3 and 4: group lines with similar behaviour and describe each group with start, end and any peak or dip, using a figure for each claim.
- 4Vary the language of change: rose sharply, climbed steadily, fluctuated around, fell to a low of, remained stable at, overtook.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Describing every line year by year with no grouping.
- An overview that contains figures, or none at all.
- Mixing tenses: past for past periods, future forms only for projected years.
Frequently asked questions
How do I write an overview for a line graph?
Two or three sentences stating the main trends without figures: which lines rose or fell overall, which was highest throughout, and any crossover. Put it straight after the introduction.
How many figures should I quote in Task 1?
One for each key point you make, usually six to ten across the response. Start and end values plus any peak or low are enough; do not list every year.
Practise Writing Task 1: Line Graph
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