IELTS Writing Task 1 Line Graph Format
In the IELTS Writing Task 1 of the Academic test, you are required to describe and summarise a visual representation or a diagram. One of the most commonly asked representations or chart types you might come across is the line graph.
Line graphs or Line charts are periodical graphs, which means they show the values of two constants over a period of time. These graphs usually indicate the pattern of growth of the given subjects through 1 or more lines.
Generally, there are two types of line graphs that you might have to deal with:
- Single or Dual Line Graphs: These are quite straightforward and don’t show up in IELTS Writing Task 1 as often because they’re easier to interpret. This type features one or two lines representing different datasets. Here, you need to compare two lines in accordance with time to highlight trends such as increase, decrease, stability, or fluctuations.
- Multiple Line Graphs: This has been a bit more common in IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 since 2017. It features a graph with more than 3 lines for a more in-depth analysis.
Also Read: IELTS General Writing Task 1
IELTS Writing Line Graph Task 1: How to Answer
A line graph in IELTS writing task 1 is simply a chart with two axes; the X axis (horizontal) typically represents time, and the Y axis (vertical) represents value/measurement.
Line graphs can be increasing, decreasing or stable. As a part of your task, you must analyse the given line chart and deduce your observations, highlights and comparisons. This task mainly focuses on comprehending how well you can analyse and process information.
You have 20 minutes to solve these questions, and you must do it in a minimum of 150 words.
Here are some strategies to answer IELTS writing task 1 line graph essays.
Examine the task at hand. Take a few seconds to thoroughly go through and prepare for what is asked in the question. A question may look like this:
Pay attention to what is being asked of you. For instance, in this question, you are asked to summarise the information, highlight the main features, and make comparisons. It’s good to sketch out a structure before you start writing mentally.
Here’s how you can analyse the Line graph:
- Read and understand the labels on both sides of the axis. Understand the context. What does the graph represent?
- Look for any trends or patterns. Is the graph declining? Is it flat? Is it inclining? These observations are important as these elements will be your main features.
- Also, pay attention to sudden peaks, valleys (drops), or fluctuations. This will also be your main feature.
- You must look for the lows and highs in the trend, as these are good data points.
- When you analyse the trends, especially if you’re drawing comparisons, you must consider how they affect each other and if they are in a relationship. For example, does line A also drop when line B drops? Or is it vice versa?
IELTS Writing Task 1 Line Graph: Sample Questions and Answers
Practice makes perfect, they say. And we agree entirely. Use these sample answers to hone your writing task 1 skills! Let’s begin.
Take note: Always try to take inspiration from our sample answers; don’t memorise. Remember, IELTS knows the ropes and can catch you anytime. Practice by writing to yourself.
Question & Answer 1
Take a look at the chart below and perform the task as outlined:
Sample Answer:
The graph illustrates the percentage of recycled plastics, aluminium cans, glass containers, paper and cardboard from 1982 to 2010. It shows the highest and lowest dips of all the four categories.
According to the graph, In 1982,65% of paper and cardboard was recycled, which increased in 1994 to 80% and later declined to 70%. In 1982,50% of glass containers were recycled, which fell to 40% in 1990; however, the glass containers recycling was inclined to 60% by 2010.
Plastic recycling was introduced in 1990 at only 2%, and the graph shows that the growth was prolonged, from 2% to 9% over time. Aluminium cans were first recycled in 1986 at about only 5% but grew to 45% in 2010.
Overall, paper and cardboard saw the highest leap among all the other recycling materials. But this category saw a decline in 1990, and an upward trend was evident in the graph.
Question & Answer 2
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. Take a look at the chart below and perform the task as outlined:
Sample Answer:
The line graph illustrates the percentage of the UK population aged four and above who watched television and radio over a 24-hour period from October to December 1992. It shows significant trends and patterns in viewer behaviour for both media.
According to the graph, less than 10% people watched television between 6 AM to 12 noon.However, it gradually rises throughout the day to nearly 50% by 8 p.m., where it reached its peak. After 9 PM, the number of viewers steadily declines, dropping to less than 10% by midnight at 3 AM.
In contrast, radio listening shows a different trend. Early in the day, radio listeners steadily increased, with approximately 8% of the population tuning in at 6 AM, reflecting its popularity during the morning hours. This figure rapidly climbed to a peak of nearly 30% at around 8 AM, followed by a gradual decline throughout the rest of the day, reaching its lowest point at midnight.
Overall, television was most popular during the evening hours whereas radio captured a larger audience during the morning. In the span of day and night, most people preferred to watch TV than listening radio.
Check out: IELTS Writing Samples 2024: Task 1 & Task 2 (Sample Questions & Tips)
IELTS Writing Task 1 Line Graph Vocabulary
When it comes to IELTS Writing Task 1, vocabulary plays a huge role. In fact, it makes up 25% of your score for the lexical resource criteria. Having a rich and varied vocabulary helps you avoid repeating the same words over and over, making your writing clear and concise.
Here’s a handy list of vocabulary words grouped by categories for IELTS Writing Task 1 Line Graph:
Grammar for IELTS Writing Task 1 Line Graph
Writing a line graph essay for IELTS writing task 1 requires a solid grasp of grammar, which is a key component of the Grammatical range and accuracy criteria. Hence, nailing your grammar skills is really important to get a high band score in the IELTS Writing section.
Here’s a quick rundown on the grammar rules you should keep in mind for IELTS Writing task 1 line graph essay:
1. Verb Tenses: Since a line graph tracks changes over time, the tense you use really matters. You can determine which tense to use in the following ways:
- If you’re describing something that happened in the past, stick with the simple past tense.
- For trends that started in the past and are still ongoing, use the present or present perfect tense.
- For future events, go with the future tense or present tense.
2. Adverbs and Adjectives: Use adverbs to describe how things change(e.g., sharply, gradually, significantly) and adjectives to talk about the data(e.g. a sharp rise, a gradual decline).
3. Grammatical Structures: Proper sentence structure is key for presenting your information logically and coherently, particularly when describing data/trends in the IELTS Writing Task 1 line graph. Here are some key structures that you should follow for a high band score:
- After + -ing+ adverb: This structure is great for showing the sequence of events or actions in a line graph. Use it to link actions and show how one event leads to another. For e.g. After increasing steadily over the first half of the year, the sales figures dropped sharply in the final quarter.
- Having + past participle + adverb: This structure is used to describe actions that were completed before another event. It can be useful to indicate the relationship between different trends. For e.g. Having reached its peak in July, the number of visitors began to decline slowly.
- After which/at which point: These phrases help you pinpoint specific moments in the timeline of a line graph. They’re perfect for highlighting transitions or key points in your data. For e.g. The number of new subscriptions increased steadily from January to June, after which it plateaued for the rest of the year.
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