IELTS WRITING TASK 1 – LINE GRAPHS

S + see/witness/experience/undergo + (a/an) + Adj. + N

Students saw a substantial increase in 2006.
LEARNING FROM SAMPLE ANSWERS
Ex 1: Complete the sample answer below with the correct expression according to the information in the
graph.

This graph shows changes in the popularity of three different activities in a UK sports club over a period of
20 years.
In 1983 around 50% of club members participated in swimming, so this was clearly the most popular
activity. However, this figure 1. dipped/decreased steadily to 15% in 1998 and 2. remained
constant/levelled off at this rate until 2003.
In contrast, 32% of member did team sports in 1983, and this rate 3. stood at / reached a peak of 40% in
1998 before 4. dropping/growing to its former level. Participation rates for team sports 5.
increased/overtook those for swimming and became the highest for all activities from 1993 to 2003.
Finally, participation in gym activities 6. finished at / stood at only 5% in 1983, but this figure 7. fell/grew
rapidly from 1988 to 1998, eventually 8. levelling off at/ reaching a peak of around 25%, making gym the
second most popular activity.
Overall, participation in swimming 9. fluctuated/dropped considerably during the period. Team sports,
however, remained popular, while participation in gym activities 10. declined/rose significantly over the
period.
Ex 2: Fill the gaps in the following report with words that describe trends.

The diagram shows the enrolment of Chinese, Japanese and Indian students at North Dean University from
1999 to 2003. During this period, enrolment of both Chinese and Indian students more than 1. _________.
However, Japanese admissions fell dramatically with numbers 2. __________ almost the reverse of those for
Chinese students.
Chinese numbers 3. __________________ up to 2002 followed by a 4 __________________ reaching
almost 100 students in 2003. Similarly, numbers of Indian students showed 5. __________________
throughout the period from about 10 in 1999 to over 70 in 2003.
In contrast, enrolments of Japanese students 6. __________________ from 7. __________________ of over
100 students in 1999 to just over 40 in 2001. Numbers then 8. __________________ throughout 2001
finally dropping again to a low of around 30 in 2003. A further point of interest is that in 2001 enrolments
from all three countries were very 9. ___________, the average difference being approximately 10 students.
Overall, the graph highlights a 10. ______________ between growth in Chinese and Indian enrolments but
reduction in Japanese enrolments.
Ex 3: Look at the sentences below and number them in the best order to describe this graph. The first
and last ones have been done for you.

a. Although it dipped in 1985, it then rose steadily and reached 750 grams in 2000.//
11 b. By 2000 it was at the same level as the consumption of sugar.
c. In 1975, the consumption of fresh fruit stood at 500 grams, then increased to 600 grams in 1980.
d. However, this gradually increased throughout the period.
1 e. The graph shows changes in the amount of fresh fruit, sugar and ice-cream eaten per person per week in
Britain between 1975 and 2000.
f. In addition, the consumption of ice-cream, while at a relatively low level, rose significantly during this
period.
g. In contrast, there was a consistent drop in sugar consumption.
h. From the graph we can see that overall, the consumption of fruit rose, while the consumption of sugar fell.
i. People consumed more fresh fruit than either sugar or ice-cream throughout the period.//
j. The amount consumed decreased steadily from almost 400 grams per person to only 100 grams by 2000.//
k. The amount of ice-cream consumed weekly started at about 50 grams.
Ex 4: Look at the graph below and write complete sentences to describe it. You may need to add or change
words.
Para. 1
The graph/ information/ many male/ female student/ graduate/ Canadian universities/ 1992/ 2007.
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Graduate numbers/ rise/ 15 years/ reach/ highest levels/ 2007,/ but there be always/ female/ than male/
graduate.
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Para. 2
1992,/ difference/ less marked,/ 70,000 males/ 100,000 females.
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However,/ 2007 there/ be/ more significant/ grow/ female numbers.
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That year,/ they/ rise/ 147,000/ compare/ just 95,000 males.
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Thus/ gap/ between/ number/ male/ female graduates/ widen.
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Para. 3
more detailed look/ graph/ reveal/ overall growth/ numbers/ be/ not always steady.
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1992/ 1995,/ there/ be/ slight increase.
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That/ follow/ period/ about five years,/ numbers fall,/ then flatten out/ 70,000/ men/ 100,000/ women.
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After 2000, however,/ graduate numbers/ see/ strongest growth rate,/ this/ be/ well above the increases/ be
seen/ early 1990s.
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Ex 5: Fill each of the five gaps with a suitable word. Then reorder the phrases to have complete
sentences, which, together, make up a complete description of the graph given.
The graph below gives information about the price of bananas in four countries between 199 and 2004.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where
relevant.

Para. 1
The line graph 1. __________ the cost of bananas in Japan, France, Germany and the USA from 1994 to
2004. 2. _________, bananas were the 3. _____________ in Japan and 4. __________ in the USA. In
addition, the prices in all the nations were erratic over the period, with the 5. ________ of the USA.
 
Para. 2
of bananas increased / In Japan, / the cost / dramatically / to a / $2.80/kg in 1995, / but then / peak of
around / decreased to / approximately / in 1994 / $2.00/kg in 1996 / from about $1.80/kg / .
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$2.50/kg in 2004 / After / between $1.80/kg and $2.30/kg / hovering / the price / declined to / from 1997 to
2000, / nearly $1.50/kg in 2001 / rising to about / before / .
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In contrast, / $1.20/kg until 2004 / stabilized / after an initial / the cost of bananas / increase, / in the USA /
at around / .
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Para. 3
respectively / France and Germany / returning to / a similar pattern / at about $1.40/kg / over the entire
period, / witnessed / with the prices/ almost their original / values despite fluctuations, / and $1.70/kg / .
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$1.10/kg in 2004, / While banana prices / the figures / in Germany declined / for France fluctuated / wildly, /
to become the country / overtaking Japan / with highest price / gradually to around / (around $1.80/kg) in
2001 / .
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just over $1.50/kg in 2004 / They then hit / a trough of / the lowest / around $1.00/kg, / reached / in 2003
and finally / among 4 countries / .
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Ex 6: Write complete sentences from the clues given to have a complete description of the graph given.

The line graph shows thefts per thousand vehicles in four countries between 1990 and 1999.

Para. 1
line graph / compare / number / cars stolen / 1000 vehicles / countries / 1990 / 1999.
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Overall, it / see / car thefts / far higher / Great Britain / other three counties / whole time frame.
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Para. 2
begin, / car thefts / Sweden, France and Canada / follow / fairly similar pattern / first five years,/ all
remaining 5 / 10 per thousand.
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general trend / France / Canada though / was a decline / number / vehicles stolen / period, / both / around 6 /
1999.
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contrast, Sweden / experience / upward trend, / start / period / approximately 8, / finish / just under 15.
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Para. 3
Interestingly, car thefts / Great Britain start / 18 per thousand, / far exceed / other countries.
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It then fluctuate/ next nine years, / reach peak / 20 thefts / 1000 / 1996,/ ending / period slightly lower /
where / began, / approximately 17 per thousand.
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Ex 7: Reorder the phrases in each of the sentences, which together make a complete description of the
graph given.
The chart below shows the average cost of monthly contract for four different mobile (cell
phones) in a European country from January to September 2002, measured in euro.

Para. 1
average price of / The chart / illustrates the / in the first three quarters / monthly plans / in an European
nation / of 2002 / from four cell phone contractors / .
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Para. 2
whose price remained / Overall, there / for all companies, / the period shown / except / was an increase /for
Sim TX / unchanged over / in the figures /.
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Para. 3
cost of Alpha’s / In addition, / growth / contract / experienced / the monthly / the most remarkable /.
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of 2002 / Alpha originally / the lowest price / at only 5 euros / in the beginning / per month / offered /.
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during the next 5 months / The price / in September, / remained relatively stable / to 25 euros / Alpha the
most expensive / before a surge / contractor examined / which made /.
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for the majority / Meanwhile, / Domo’s users / as the price / followed by / had to pay the / of 2002 / rose
gradually / highest price / from January to July, / a slight decrease / by September / to about 23 euros /.
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of Lex’s contract, / Similarly, / in the price / there was / from approximately 12 euros / in January/ in
September / to 17 euros / gradual growth /.
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Para. 4
the average cost / On the other hand, / its original price / at 14 euros / in June, / of Sim TX / after peaking /
returned to / of 8 euros / decreased and /.
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PRACTICE TASKS
The line graph shows the percentage of New Zealand population from 1950 to 2050. Summarise the
information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant.
The graph below shows the percentage of people in different age groups in one city who attended
music concerts between 2010 and 2015.
The graph below shows the percentage of Australian exports to 4 countries from 1990 to
2012.