Academic Writing Task 1 · line graph

Inquiries received by a city Tourist Information Office in 2011: 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.
  • 186 words
  • Line graphs
  • Academic
  • 20 minutes

The question

The graph below shows the number of inquiries received by the Tourist Information Office in one city over a six-month period in 2011.

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

Number of inquiries received by the Tourist Information Office in 2011 (number of inquiries)
04008001,2001,6002,000JanFebMarAprMayJun
  • in person
  • by letter/email
  • by telephone
View the data
JanFebMarAprMayJun
in person4506008001,3001,5501,900
by letter/email750700700550350350
by telephone9008001,0001,0001,4001,600

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 8186 words. Every figure in the answer comes from the chart above.

The line graph illustrates the number of inquiries received by a city Tourist Information Office via three different methods—in person, by letter/email, and by telephone—between January and June 2011.

Overall, it is clear that in-person and telephone inquiries followed an upward trend, whereas the number of inquiries made by letter or email decreased significantly over the period. Notably, in-person visits became the most popular method of inquiry by the end of the six months.

In January, telephone inquiries were the most frequent at 900, followed by letter/email at 750, and in-person visits at 450. In-person inquiries grew steadily, reaching 800 by March and surging to 1,900 by June, making it the most common method. Similarly, telephone inquiries fluctuated initially, dipping to 800 in February before rising to 1,000 in March and April, and finally reaching 1,600 in June.

Conversely, inquiries by letter or email started at 750 in January and remained relatively stable until March at 700. Thereafter, this figure dropped consistently, falling to 550 in April and plateauing at 350 for the final two months of the period, representing the least used method by June.

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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.
  • upward trend

    a general direction in which something is increasing

  • decline

    a gradual and continuous reduction in a value

  • surging

    a sudden and powerful increase in a value

  • fluctuated

    rising and falling irregularly in number or amount

  • plateauing

    reaching a state of little or no change

  • conversely

    introducing a statement that contrasts with the previous

Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?+

While in-person and telephone inquiries experienced significant growth over the six-month period, inquiries made by letter or email saw a steady decline.

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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