Academic Writing Task 1 · line graph

Nitrogen oxide emissions produced by four different types of vehicles: 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.
  • 183 words
  • Line graphs
  • Academic
  • 20 minutes

The question

The given graph shows the nitrogen oxide emissions produced by four vehicles.

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

Nitrogen oxide emissions by four types of vehicles (g/km)
010203040501030507090110130
  • Diesel car
  • Petrol car
  • Lorries
  • Buses
View the data
102030405060708090100110120130
Diesel car76.5665.55.55555555
Petrol car111110.510109.59.59999.510.511.5
Lorries33312927252320181718202224
Buses40373432292629323436384042

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 8183 words. Every figure in the answer comes from the chart above.

The line graph illustrates the nitrogen oxide emissions in grams per kilometre (g/km) for four vehicle types—diesel cars, petrol cars, lorries, and buses—across a speed range of 10 to 130 kph.

Overall, diesel and petrol cars maintain the lowest emission levels, showing minimal variation regardless of speed. In contrast, lorries and buses exhibit much higher and more volatile emission patterns, with buses consistently producing the most nitrogen oxide.

Diesel cars start at 7 g/km at 10 kph and gradually decline to 5 g/km, remaining stable from 70 kph onwards. Petrol cars follow a similar trend, fluctuating slightly between 9 g/km and 11.5 g/km throughout the speed range.

Conversely, lorries show a downward trend until reaching a minimum of 17 g/km at 90 kph, before rising again to 24 g/km at 130 kph. Buses display a distinct U-shaped curve; emissions drop from 40 g/km at 10 kph to a low of 26 g/km at 60 kph, before climbing steadily to reach a peak of 42 g/km at 130 kph. Consequently, buses are the most polluting vehicles at both the lowest and highest speeds recorded.

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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.
  • fluctuate

    to change frequently and irregularly in amount

  • volatile

    liable to change rapidly and unpredictably

  • minimal

    of a minimum amount, quantity, or degree

  • consistently

    in every case or on every occasion

  • distinct

    recognizably different in nature from something else

  • climb

    to increase in value or amount steadily

Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?+

While emissions from diesel and petrol cars remain relatively stable across all speeds, lorries and buses show significant fluctuations, with buses being the highest polluters overall.

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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