IELTS Writing Task 1, you may be asked to describe and interpret a line graph.

This task
assesses your ability to identify significant trends, compare data points, and provide a
coherent summary. Below is a detailed guide on how to structure your response for a line
graph in Task 1.

1. Introduction

 Purpose: The introduction should briefly state what the graph is about.
 How to Write: Paraphrase the question prompt to introduce the graph. Mention
what the graph illustrates, such as the time period, the subjects of the graph, and the
type of data (e.g., "The line graph illustrates the changes in the number of tourists
visiting three different countries from 2000 to 2020.").

2. Overview

 Purpose: The overview summarizes the main trends or patterns in the graph without
going into detailed data.
 How to Write: Identify and describe the most noticeable trends, such as an overall
increase or decrease, any peaks, or significant changes. Avoid using specific
numbers here. For example, "Overall, the number of tourists increased in all three
countries, with Country A experiencing the most significant growth."

3. Body Paragraphs

 Purpose: These paragraphs should provide detailed descriptions of the data shown
in the graph.
 Structure:
o Paragraph 1: Focus on one part of the data, such as a specific group of lines
or a time period.
o Paragraph 2: Discuss another part of the data, often comparing it to what
you described in the first paragraph.
 How to Write:
o Selecting Data: Focus on the most important data points and trends, such as
the start and end points, significant changes, peaks, and troughs.
o Comparing Data: Make comparisons between different lines or time periods
where relevant. Use comparative language like "higher than," "less than," "in
contrast to," etc.
o Using Specific Figures: Mention specific numbers and percentages to
support your descriptions, but don't list every data point. For example, "In
2000, Country A had 1 million visitors, which increased to 5 million by 2020,
showing a fivefold growth."

4. Language and Vocabulary

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  Tense: Use the past tense for describing data from the past and the present perfect
tense for trends continuing up to the present.
 Linking Words: Use connectors to help the reader follow your ideas, such as
"while," "whereas," "however," "meanwhile," and "similarly."
 Descriptive Vocabulary: Use a range of vocabulary to describe trends, such as
"increase," "decrease," "fluctuate," "plateau," "peak," "dip," "reach a low," "rise
sharply," "fall gradually," etc.

5. Examples

 Simple Trend: "The number of tourists to Country B increased steadily from 2

million in 2000 to 6 million in 2015."
 Comparison: "While the number of visitors to Country A rose significantly,
reaching 8 million by 2020, Country C saw a slight decline, dropping from 3 million
in 2005 to 2.5 million in 2020."
 Complex Sentence: "Despite a sharp increase in the number of tourists to Country
A between 2005 and 2010, the figure stabilized at around 7 million from 2010
onwards."

6. Final Tips

 Keep it Coherent: Ensure that your writing is well-organized and logically flows
from one point to the next.
 Avoid Overloading with Data: Select the most important data to discuss rather
than trying to cover everything.
 Time Management: Spend around 20 minutes on Task 1, ensuring you leave
enough time to plan, write, and review your response.

Example Outline for a Line Graph Task 1 Response

1. Introduction:
o Paraphrase the question.
o Example: "The line graph compares the number of tourists visiting three
different countries over a 20-year period from 2000 to 2020."
2. Overview:
o Summarize the main trends.
o Example: "Overall, the number of tourists increased in all three countries,
with Country A experiencing the most substantial growth."
3. Body Paragraph 1:
o Detail the first trend or group of trends.
o Example: "In 2000, Country A had the lowest number of visitors at 1 million,
but this figure increased sharply to 5 million by 2010."
4. Body Paragraph 2:
o Compare and contrast with another trend.

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 o Example: "In contrast, Country B saw a more gradual rise in tourists, growing
from 2 million in 2000 to 6 million in 2015, before stabilizing."

In IELTS Writing Task 1, using a variety of vocabulary to describe trends, comparisons,

and data is crucial. Here are some useful vocabulary and phrases that you can use when
describing line graphs:

1. Describing Trends

 Increase:
o Verbs: rise, increase, grow, climb, go up
o Nouns: a rise, an increase, growth, an upward trend
o Phrases:
 "There was a significant rise in the number of visitors..."
 "The sales increased sharply over the period..."
 Decrease:
o Verbs: fall, decline, drop, decrease, go down
o Nouns: a fall, a decline, a drop, a decrease, a downward trend
o Phrases:
 "The number of users declined steadily after 2015..."
 "There was a gradual drop in sales between 2010 and 2012..."
 Fluctuation:
o Verbs: fluctuate, vary
o Nouns: fluctuation, variation
o Phrases:
 "The prices fluctuated wildly throughout the year..."
 "There was a slight fluctuation in the unemployment rate..."
 Stability/No Change:
o Verbs: remain steady, stabilize, stay the same
o Nouns: stability
o Phrases:
 "The population remained stable at around 1 million..."
 "The figures stayed constant over the last decade..."
 Peak and Trough:
o Verbs: peak, reach a peak, reach a high/low, hit a low
o Nouns: a peak, a high, a low, a trough
o Phrases:
 "The graph peaked in 2018 at 10 million units..."
 "The unemployment rate hit a low of 3% in 2007..."
 Rapid Changes:
o Verbs: surge, soar, plummet, collapse
o Nouns: a surge, a sharp increase, a sharp fall
o Phrases:
 "The number of users soared to 20,000 in just a month..."
 "After 2016, the revenue plummeted by 30%..."
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2. Describing Speed of Change

 Adverbs for Speed:

o quickly, rapidly, suddenly
o Example: "The number of subscribers increased rapidly during the first
quarter."
 Adverbs for Magnitude:
o significantly, dramatically, sharply, substantially, considerably
o Example: "The prices dropped significantly after 2008."
 Adverbs for Gradual Changes:
o gradually, steadily, slowly, moderately, slightly
o Example: "The population grew steadily over the two decades."

3. Comparative Phrases

 Comparing Two Trends:

o more than, less than, as much as, twice as much as, half as much as
o Example: "Country A experienced twice as much growth as Country B."
o "The sales in 2020 were slightly higher than those in 2019."
 Contrasting Trends:
o while, whereas, in contrast, on the other hand
o Example: "Sales in Country A increased, while those in Country B declined."

4. Describing Data Points

 Phrases for Specific Points:

o at the beginning of the period, by the end of the period, from... to...,
between... and...
o Example: "The population increased from 2 million to 3 million between
2000 and 2010."
 Expressions for Specific Data:
o accounted for, stood at, reached, was at, hit
o Example: "The number of cars stood at 1,000 in 2015."
o "The population hit a peak of 5 million in 2020."

5. General Academic Phrases

 Overall Trends:
o overall, in general, as a whole
o Example: "Overall, there was an upward trend in the data."
 Time Expressions:
o over the period of…, during the year(s), throughout the period
o Example: "During the five-year period, the company saw continuous
growth."

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The line graph delineates the demographic trends of India and China from the year 2000 to
projections for 2050.
Overall, it is evident that while both nations exhibit substantial population growth,
projections indicate that India will surpass China in terms of population by the mid-21st
century.
In the year 2000, China's population stood at approximately 1.25 billion, positioning it as
the more populous of the two countries. India's population, by contrast, was around 1
billion. The years that followed saw a steady increase in both nations' populations, with
India's population rising to about 1.15 billion by 2010, whereas China’s population peaked
at around 1.3 billion, reflecting a growth that was notably more moderate compared to
India's.
Looking ahead, the data demonstrates a continued upward trajectory for India's population,
reaching projected figures of 1.7 billion by 2050. Notably, the population of China is
expected to plateau, stabilizing around 1.5 billion in the same year. This indicates a
significant shift, as both countries are projected to attain equivalent populations by 2040,
each at approximately 1.55 billion, before India begins to outpace China significantly in
the subsequent decade.