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IELTS Writing Task 1 line graph

For an IELTS Task 1 line graph, give an overview of each line's direction and the highest and lowest points, then describe key changes with accurate verbs and prepositions (rose from 120 to 240, peaked at 110), using 'is expected to' for forecasts.

Trend language

  1. Up

    rose, increased, climbed, grew

  2. Down

    fell, declined, dropped, decreased

  3. Other movement

    fluctuated, remained stable, peaked at, hit a low of, levelled off

  4. How much

    sharply, dramatically, steadily, gradually, slightly

  5. Prepositions

    rose from 20 to 35; rose by 15; peaked at 40 in 2015; stood at 12.

  6. Tense

    Past data: past simple. Forecast: is expected to, is projected to.

  7. Comparing lines

    overtook; was consistently higher than; the gap narrowed or widened.

Line graph of visitors to three museums in an imaginary city from 2000 to 2020, in thousands. Museum A rose steadily from 120 to 240. Museum B fell steadily from 200 to 130. Museum C fluctuated between 80 and 160.Visitors (thousands). 2000: Museum A 120, Museum B 200, Museum C 80; 2005: Museum A 150, Museum B 190, Museum C 140; 2010: Museum A 180, Museum B 170, Museum C 100; 2015: Museum A 210, Museum B 150, Museum C 160; 2020: Museum A 240, Museum B 130, Museum C 120Visitors (thousands)05010015020025020002005201020152020120150180210240Museum A200190170150130Museum B80140100160120Museum C
Chart values
CategoryMuseum AMuseum BMuseum C
200012020080
2005150190140
2010180170100
2015210150160
2020240130120

Step 1 of 3

Which is the best overview?

Question 1 of 3

Pick an answer

Your result

Questions people ask

What tense do you use for an IELTS line graph?

The past simple for past data (rose, fell, peaked). For a forecast, use 'is expected to', 'is projected to' or 'will'.

What goes in a line graph overview?

The overall direction of each line, any line that overtakes another, and the highest or lowest point, with no detailed figures.

What is the difference between 'rose to' and 'rose by'?

'To' gives the new value (rose to 35); 'by' gives the size of the change (rose by 15).

How we work this out

What it does

Read original line graphs, pick the overview, then choose the trend sentences with the right verb, preposition and tense.

IELTS Academic Writing Task 1: describing trends in line graphs.

Method

  1. Each graph asks for the overview first, then accurate sentences about change.
  2. Wrong choices are common Task 1 errors: details in place of an overview, wrong figures, wrong prepositions and the wrong tense for a forecast.

Sources

Checked .