Academic Writing Task 1 · line graph

Number of students from three countries studying abroad between 2002 and 2007: 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 graph below shows the number of students from the US, the UK, and Australia who studied in universities in other countries from 2002 to 2007.

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

Number of students studying abroad by country (number of students)
010,00020,00030,00040,00050,000200220032004200520062007
  • The US
  • The UK
  • Australia
View the data
200220032004200520062007
The US50,00048,00046,00048,00049,50050,000
The UK30,00030,00028,00026,00024,00022,000
Australia10,00010,00010,00010,00010,00010,000

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 line graph illustrates the number of students from the US, the UK, and Australia who pursued university studies in foreign countries between 2002 and 2007.

Overall, the US consistently had the highest number of students studying abroad, whereas Australia maintained a stable figure. Conversely, the number of UK students studying in other countries experienced a downward trend over the six-year period.

In 2002, 50,000 US students studied abroad. This figure dipped to a low of 46,000 in 2004 before recovering to reach 50,000 again by 2007. In contrast, the UK started with 30,000 students in 2002 and 2003, but then saw a consistent decline, dropping to 22,000 by the end of the period.

Australia showed the most stability among the three nations. Throughout the entire duration from 2002 to 2007, the number of Australian students studying in foreign universities remained unchanged at exactly 10,000. By 2007, the US had significantly overtaken the UK, with more than double the number of students studying abroad, while Australia remained the country with the lowest number of students participating in international university education.

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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.

  • fluctuated

    changed frequently in an irregular or uncertain way

  • steadily

    in a regular and even manner without stopping

  • constant

    occurring continuously over a period of time

  • downward trend

    a general direction in which something is decreasing

  • overtaken

    caught up with and passed in quantity

  • stable

    not likely to change or fail; firmly established

Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?+

While the number of US students studying abroad fluctuated but ended at the same level, the number of UK students declined steadily, and the figure for Australia remained constant throughout the period.

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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