IELTS Task 1: Line Graph Description Mastery

Master the art of describing trends, comparisons, and data analysis with precision and academic language

📊 Understanding IELTS Line Graph Writing

Line graphs in IELTS Task 1 show changes over time, often comparing different categories or periods. Your task is to identify key trends, compare data, and highlight significant changes without simply listing numbers.

Task Achievement

Identify main trends, compare lines, and highlight key features with supporting data

Coherence & Cohesion

Organize information logically with clear paragraphs and linking words

Lexical Resource

Use varied vocabulary for trends, comparisons, and data description

Grammatical Range

Employ complex sentence structures with accurate tense usage

📈 Case Study: U.S. Employment Data

Click data points!
155000 154500 154000 153500 153000 152500 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov 2010 2011 Number of People Employed in U.S. Aged 16+ Years (in thousands)

U.S. Employment Trends 2010-2011
This line graph compares employment figures for Americans aged 16+ across two consecutive years.

🔑 Essential Language for Line Graphs

📊 Describing Trends

Increase: rise, grow, climb, soar, surge, jump
Employment rose steadily from January to May.
Decrease: fall, drop, decline, plummet, slide, dip
The figures declined sharply after May.
Fluctuate: vary, oscillate, alternate, swing
Employment levels fluctuated throughout the year.

📝 Line Graph Vocabulary Bank

Time Prepositions: in, during, over, throughout, from...to, between...and, by, until
Degree Adverbs: dramatically, significantly, considerably, slightly, gradually, steadily
Peak Language: peak, reach a maximum, hit a high, climb to, top out at
Low Points: bottom out, reach a minimum, hit a low, drop to, fall to the lowest point
Comparisons: in contrast, whereas, while, compared to, higher/lower than, exceeded
Approximation: approximately, roughly, around, about, nearly, just over/under

⚖️ Making Comparisons

Comparing two lines:
• "While 2010 employment peaked at 155,500 in May, 2011 employment remained consistently lower."
• "In contrast to the volatile pattern in 2010, 2011 showed more stability after July."
• "2010 employment exceeded 2011 figures for most of the year, with the gap narrowing considerably by August."

🎯 Exercise 1: Identifying Key Features

1. What was the overall trend for 2010 employment from January to May?

Remained stable with minor fluctuations
Showed a consistent upward trend
Fluctuated dramatically up and down
Declined gradually throughout the period

2. Which month shows the highest employment figure in the entire graph?

May 2010
August 2011
April 2010
September 2011

3. How do the two lines compare in the second half of the year?

2010 consistently remains higher than 2011
2011 overtakes 2010 permanently
The lines converge, with 2011 eventually matching or exceeding 2010
Both lines decline at the same rate

🔄 Exercise 2: Build Descriptive Sentences

Drag the sentence components to create accurate descriptions:

Employment in 2010
from January to May,
at approximately 155,500 thousand.
rose consistently
peaking
Subject
Main Verb
Time Reference
Additional Information
Specific Data

📊 Exercise 3: Complete the Analysis

Fill in the blanks with appropriate language:

1. Employment in 2010 at 155,500 thousand in May.

2. , 2011 employment started at around 152,800 thousand in January.

3. After May, 2010 employment sharply to 153,800 thousand in June.

4. The gap between the two years significantly from August onwards.

5. By September, both years showed employment levels at approximately 154,200 thousand.

🏆 Band 9 Model Answer

📖 Examiner's Sample Response

The line graph illustrates employment figures for Americans aged 16 and above, comparing data from 2010 and 2011 across an eleven-month period. Overall, both years exhibit distinct patterns, with 2010 showing greater volatility and generally higher employment levels, while 2011 demonstrates more stability with consistently lower figures initially.

In 2010, employment began at 153,300 thousand in January and rose steadily over the following months, reaching its peak of 155,500 thousand in May. However, this upward trend was followed by a sharp decline to 153,800 thousand in June, after which employment levels fluctuated between approximately 153,700 and 154,300 thousand for the remainder of the year.

In contrast, 2011 employment commenced at a lower level of 152,800 thousand in January and demonstrated a more gradual upward trajectory. While there was a temporary dip in May, employment in 2011 showed remarkable consistency from August onwards, maintaining levels around 154,000 thousand. Notably, by September, the gap between the two years had virtually disappeared, with both achieving approximately 154,200 thousand employed individuals.

Word count: 189 words | Band Score: 9

✍️ Your Turn: Write Your Analysis

Task: Write your own 150+ word analysis of the U.S. employment line graph. Focus on overall trends, key features, and specific comparisons between the two years.

Word count: 0

🎓 Key Takeaways

📊 Identify Patterns

Look for overall trends, peaks, troughs, and turning points

🔍 Compare Lines

Analyze differences, similarities, and convergence points

📈 Use Varied Language

Employ different verbs, adverbs, and comparative structures

💯 Support with Data

Include specific figures to support your descriptions