Describing a Line Graph
Describing a Line Graph
IELTS Academic Task 1 · 150+ words · 20 minutes
Your job is not to list numbers. It is to select, group and compare.
Describing a Line Graph
Describing a Line Graph
IELTS Academic Task 1 · 150+ words · 20 minutes
Your job is not to list numbers. It is to select, group and compare.
Note: Start by showing a sample line graph and asking learners what the single most important change is.
What the examiner looks for
| Criterion | What it means for a line graph |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement | A clear overview + accurate key figures |
| Coherence & Cohesion | Data grouped logically, good linking |
| Lexical Resource | Varied trend vocabulary, no repetition |
| Grammar | Mix of tenses and complex sentences |
[!] No overview = Task Achievement usually capped at Band 5.
The 4-paragraph structure
- Introduction: paraphrase the question (1 sentence)
- Overview: the 2 most important trends, no numbers
- Details 1: the first group of lines / the first period
- Details 2: the second group, with comparisons
Note: Emphasise that there is no conclusion paragraph in Task 1; the overview does that job.
Paragraph 1: paraphrase, don't copy
Question: The graph below shows the number of visitors to three museums between 2010 and 2020.
- ❌ The graph below shows the number of visitors to three museums between 2010 and 2020.
- ✅ The line graph illustrates how many people visited three museums over a ten-year period from 2010.
Swap: shows → illustrates / compares / charts · number of → how many · between X and Y → over the period from X to Y
Paragraph 2: the overview
Answer two questions, without numbers:
- What is the general direction of each line?
- Which line is highest / lowest, or where is the biggest change?
Overall, visitor numbers to the Science Museum rose steadily, while the other two museums saw a decline. The History Museum remained the most popular throughout the period.
Trend vocabulary: level ladder
| Meaning | B1 | B2 | C1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| go up | went up | rose / increased | climbed / surged |
| go up a lot | went up a lot | rose significantly | soared |
| go down a lot | went down a lot | fell sharply | plummeted / plunged |
| stay the same | stayed the same | remained stable | levelled off / plateaued |
| highest point | the top | peaked at | reached a peak of |
| up and down | went up and down | fluctuated | was volatile |
Two sentence patterns: use both
Verb + adverb (focus on the action)
Sales rose sharply to 400 units in 2015.
Adjective + noun (focus on the change)
There was a sharp rise in sales, to 400 units in 2015.
Switching between the two patterns is the easiest way to avoid repetition.
Paragraphs 3 & 4: group and compare
- Group lines that behave similarly, or split by time period.
- Every detail sentence should contain a comparison:
- whereas / while · in contrast · twice as many as · the same figure as
- Quote start, peak and end values, not every year.
The Science Museum attracted 2 million visitors in 2010, twice as many as the Art Gallery. By contrast, …
Checklist before you submit
- Introduction is paraphrased
- Overview paragraph starts with Overall,
- Numbers appear only in paragraphs 3–4
- At least 3 comparison structures
- Past tense for past data; no opinions
- 150–190 words
Apply Your Knowledge (1 Prompt)
Visitors to a Caribbean Island (2010–2017)
The line graph shows the number of tourists (in millions) visiting a particular Caribbean island between 2010 and 2017. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.