Academic Writing Task 1 · line graph

British parents' sports spending and children's sports participation from 2008 to 2014: IELTS Writing Task 1 sample answer

An IELTS Writing Task 1 line graph question with a Band 8 sample answer, the chart redrawn with its data, the vocabulary that lifts the report and how to write about line graphs.
  • 180 words
  • Line graphs
  • Academic
  • 20 minutes
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The question

The first chart below gives information about the money spent by British parents on their children's sports between 2008 and 2014. The second chart shows the number of children who participated in three sports in Britain over the same time period.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.

Average monthly spend on children's sports (pounds)
010203040502008201020122014
View the data
2008201020122014
Spending20242832
Participation in three different sports (millions)
02468102008201020122014
  • Football
  • Athletics
  • Swimming
View the data
2008201020122014
Football8.28.199.1
Athletics0.50.64.84.5
Swimming1.82.233.8

Chart redrawn by BandLadder from the data in the original IELTS practice task. Many IELTS practice tasks come from the Cambridge IELTS series (Cambridge University Press & Assessment); all rights in the original tasks remain with their owners.

Model answer

Band 8 sample answer

Band 8180 words. Every figure in the answer comes from the chart above.

The provided charts illustrate the average monthly expenditure by British parents on children's sports and the participation levels in three specific sports between 2008 and 2014.

Overall, there was a consistent upward trend in financial spending on sports. Regarding participation, football maintained the highest figures throughout the period, whereas athletics experienced a dramatic increase followed by a slight decline, and swimming showed steady growth.

In 2008, parents spent £20 per month on children's sports. This figure increased steadily over the six-year period, reaching £24 in 2010, £28 in 2012, and culminating at £32 by 2014.

Regarding participation, football began at 8.2 million children in 2008, dipped slightly to 8.1 million in 2010, before rising to 9.1 million by 2014. Athletics saw the most volatile trend; it started as the least popular sport with only 0.5 million participants in 2008. However, it surged to 4.8 million by 2012, before settling at 4.5 million in 2014. Conversely, swimming participation grew consistently from 1.8 million in 2008 to 3.8 million by the end of the period, remaining consistently higher than athletics until 2011.

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Line graphs

How to write about line graphs: tips and vocabulary

  • →Overview first: the overall direction of each line and which was highest.
  • →Group lines that move together instead of describing each one in turn.
  • →Give the start and end figures plus the peak or low point, not every value.

  • expenditure

    The total amount of money spent on something

  • upward trend

    A general direction in which something is increasing

  • culminating

    Reaching a climax or the highest point of

  • volatile

    Liable to change rapidly and unpredictably for worse

  • surged

    Increased suddenly and powerfully in a short time

  • consistently

    In every case or on every occasion without fail

Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?+

While monthly expenditure on children's sports rose steadily throughout the period, participation trends varied significantly across the three sports, with football remaining the most popular despite a sharp surge in athletics.

How many words and how long for IELTS Writing Task 1?+

At least 150 words; 170 to 200 is the safe range. Spend about 20 minutes on it and leave 40 for Task 2, which carries twice the marks.

How is IELTS Writing Task 1 scored?+

On four criteria: task achievement, coherence and cohesion, vocabulary, and grammatical range and accuracy. A clear overview of the main features is what most separates Band 6 from Band 7 and above.

How do I describe line graphs?+

Overview first: the overall direction of each line and which was highest. Group lines that move together instead of describing each one in turn. Give the start and end figures plus the peak or low point, not every value.

Keep practising

More line graphs

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