How to Describe a Line Graph in IELTS Writing Task 1
Hello IELTS aspirants! this is Prof Ajmal Dass Jaipal and today I will share some of the best techniques which will be very fruitful for you to describe a line graph in IELTS writing. Apply these 5 steps to write an amazing answer in IELTS writing task 1 line graph and get high bands in IELTS writing.
Overview of line graph
It is a question type of IELTS academic writing task 1 in which factual data is provided in the form of lines (x-axis and y-axis) as well as dots to understand and describe in your words with the limit of minimum 150 words within 20 minutes. Do not take more time for this one as task 2 is lengthier as well as double in terms of bands.
Such type of questions are included in IELTS writing to analyze the candidate’s ability about the understanding of data.
How to write a line graph in IELTS writing task 1
To describe line graph, understand the question statement first. Note main features and changes of the line graph and start writing by following the structure of answer report. You can divide main features and changes to explain in two paragraphs. There are five steps to write an answer for IELTS writing task 1 line graph. These five steps are:
- Analyze the question statement and line graph
- Write introduction
- Provide overview
- Explain 1st portion of the main features in body paragraph 1
- Explain 2nd portion of the main features in body paragraph 2
Before moving to these steps, let’s take a look to the structure of an answer report for IELTS line graph.
Structure for an answer report for IELTS line graph
When you start your answer, it is essential for you to learn the structure first. IELTS line graph answer report consists of four paragraphs that are:
- Introduction
- Overview
- Body paragraph 1
- Body paragraph 2
Follow this structure while writing an answer.
Analyze the question statement and line graph
Read the instructions carefully and turn your eyes to question statement and line graph. Take a look at question statement and understand line graph. Identify all main features from the graph and also checkout for the changes that occurred in it. Note all trends from the graph for good understanding.
Write an introduction using the technique of paraphrasing
Paraphrasing is a technique in which you have to rewrite text by changing the sentence structure and words. Well, introduction is the first paragraph of the answer of IELTS line graph. In this paragraph, paraphrase the question statement and write measuring unit if it is given in the line graph.
Change the sentence structure of the question statement and use synonyms to write introduction paragraph.
An example of question statement and line graph is given below; have a look at this and understand more clearly.
| You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. The line graph below shows changes in the amount and type of fast food consumed by Australian teenagers from 1976 to 2000. Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words. |
A sample introduction for this question statement can be:
“The line graph presents the data of consumption of fast food by Australian teenagers between the time periods from 1975 to 2000, a result of 25 years.”
Write overview for general information of an answer report
While writing an overview, you have to provide general information by describing main features, trends and comparisons without presenting specific data. Specific data means numbers and facts that are essential to include in the body paragraph. For overview, you just have to summarize all information of the line graph.
Write around 40 words to describe an overview for IELTS line graph. Use correct tense while writing an answer for IELTS line graph.
A sample for overview is given below by following above question sample of IELTS line graph:
“Overall, the demand of fish and chips dropped during the period of 25 years while there was increasement for eating pizza and hamburger by teenagers of Australia.”
You have to write an overview by doing this type of work.
Main body paragraph 1
In the main body paragraphs, you are required to discuss the main features, trends and comparisons in detail. You have to provide facts and numbers in these body paragraphs. Divide your information in two parts and start writing first part in body paragraph 1 and second part in the body paragraph 2.
In the body paragraph 1, write detailed information of the line graph and add some of the main features and comparisons.
Following the above question statement, I am writing a body paragraph 1 as a sample to clarify more about this.
“During 1975, the popular fast food for teenagers was fish and chips in Australia that was consumed by 100 times in a year. It was a large amount as compared to other items like pizza and hamburgers. These items were eaten by 5 times in 1975. After 1975, there was a little rise in the amount of consumption for fish and chips but dropped a lot during these 25 years.”
Body paragraph 2
In the body paragraph 2, you have to provide remaining main features, trends and comparisons of the line graph. If you think the word limit is not complete you can add some of the more points in this paragraph.
A sample by following same question statement is given below to tell you more about that term.
“In contrast to other two fast foods, rise occurred within the quarter century. The consumption of pizza increased 85 times in 1995 and remained same for 5 years. While in the case of hamburgers, the amount eaten by teenagers was improved and reached at the place of fish and chips, 100 times in a year.”
Thus, the overall answer report of provided question statement is:
| The line graph presents the data of the consumption of fast food by Australian teenagers between the time periods from 1975 to 2000, a result of 25 years. Overall, the demand of fish and chips dropped during the period of 25 years while there was increasement for eating pizza and hamburger by teenagers of Australia. During 1975, the popular fast food for teenagers in Australia was fish and chips that was consumed by 100 times in a year. It was a large amount as compared to other items like pizza and hamburgers. It was eaten by 5 times in 1975. After 1975, there was a little rise in the amount of consumption for fish and chips but dropped a lot during these 25 years. In contrast to other two fast foods, an amount of rise occurred within the quarter century. The consumption of pizza rose 85 times per year in 1995 and remained same for 5 years. While in the case of hamburgers, the amount eaten by teenagers was increased and reached at the place of fish and chips, 100 times in a year. Words count: 184 |
In a nutshell: writing task 1 line graph
Mentioned procedure about how to describe a line graph in IELTS writing is very fruitful to get good bands in IELTS academic writing task 1. Structure your answer in four paragraphs and write answer by following the prescribed method.
