Academic Writing Task 1: How to Describe a Line Graph (with Band 8 Model)
A four-paragraph structure for IELTS Academic Writing Task 1, useful language for trends and an original band 8 model answer.
In Academic Writing Task 1, you have about 20 minutes to summarise visual information in at least 150 words. Line graphs are the most common type, and the same approach works for bar charts and tables. You are not asked for your opinion or for reasons; you are asked to report the main features and make comparisons.
The task
The graph below shows the percentage of households with a home internet connection in three countries (Country A, Country B and Country C) between 2000 and 2020. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Imagine the data:
| Year | Country A | Country B | Country C |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 40% | 15% | 5% |
| 2005 | 60% | 30% | 10% |
| 2010 | 75% | 55% | 20% |
| 2015 | 85% | 70% | 45% |
| 2020 | 90% | 80% | 70% |
The four-paragraph structure
- Introduction (1 sentence): paraphrase the task. Do not copy it word for word.
- Overview (2 sentences): the two or three most important features, with no numbers. This is the most important paragraph: without a clear overview, Task Achievement is limited to band 5.
- Details 1: describe and compare one group of data, with numbers.
- Details 2: describe and compare the rest.
Band 8 model answer
The line graph illustrates the proportion of homes with internet access in three countries over a twenty-year period from 2000.
Overall, internet access rose steadily in all three countries. Country A had the highest level of connectivity throughout the period, while Country C, despite starting from a very low base, saw the most dramatic growth.
In 2000, 40% of households in Country A were connected, compared with just 15% in Country B and a mere 5% in Country C. Over the following decade, the figure for Country A climbed to 75%, and Country B experienced a sharper increase, reaching 55% by 2010.
From 2010 onwards, growth in Country A slowed, with the rate levelling off at 90% in 2020. Country B continued to rise, to 80%. The most striking change, however, occurred in Country C, where the percentage of connected households more than tripled between 2010 and 2020, from 20% to 70%, narrowing the gap with the other two countries considerably.
(176 words)
Why this answer scores highly
- Clear overview with the two key trends and no numbers.
- Comparisons throughout (compared with, the most dramatic, narrowing the gap).
- Selective detail: not every number is listed, only the significant ones.
- Varied language for trends (rose steadily, climbed, levelling off, more than tripled).
Useful language for trends
| Upward | Downward | Stable | Peaks and lows |
|---|---|---|---|
| rise, increase, grow, climb | fall, decrease, decline, drop | remain stable, stay constant | peak at, reach a high of |
| a sharp / steady / gradual rise | a slight / significant fall | level off, plateau | hit a low of, bottom out |
Grammar tip: use the past simple for past data (rose), and is expected / is projected to for future predictions.
Five common mistakes
- No overview, or an overview hidden at the end. Put it in paragraph 2.
- Listing every number without comparison. Examiners call this "mechanical".
- Giving reasons or opinions ("because people became richer"). Nothing in the graph supports them.
- Copying the question for your introduction. Copied words are not counted.
- Writing far more than 200 words. Long answers take time from Task 2, which is worth twice as much.
Practise with our writing timer and word counter, then get an estimated band from the AI writing feedback tool.