IELTS Writing Task 1: How to Describe a Line Graph (Band 7+)
Line graphs are the most common Task 1 question type — and the most formulaic. Learn the structure, vocabulary, and patterns that get band 7 and above.
What Task 1 is actually testing
Academic Writing Task 1 asks you to summarise visual data — a graph, chart, table, or diagram. Examiners are looking for three things: can you identify the key trends and most important data? Can you organise a clear summary? Can you use accurate academic vocabulary to describe changes? It's not about explaining why things changed — it's about reporting what changed, and by how much.
The 4-paragraph structure for any line graph
Paragraph 1: Introduction — paraphrase the question title. Paragraph 2: Overview — 2–3 sentences describing the main trends (what went up, what went down, what stayed stable, highest/lowest points). This is the most important paragraph. Paragraph 3: Detailed description — compare key data points from the first half of the period. Paragraph 4: Detailed description — compare key data points from the second half of the period. Never write a conclusion in Task 1. The overview IS your main summary.
Vocabulary for describing trends
You need vocabulary for three things: direction (up/down), speed (fast/slow), and magnitude (big/small). For increases: rose, increased, grew, climbed, soared, surged. For decreases: fell, dropped, declined, decreased, plunged, halved. For speed: sharply, rapidly, gradually, steadily, slowly, slightly. For magnitude: significant, substantial, moderate, slight, minimal. Mix verbs and nouns: 'sales rose sharply' (verb + adverb) and 'there was a sharp rise in sales' (adjective + noun). This shows grammatical range.
How to write the overview
The overview is worth 25% of your Task 1 mark. A good overview answers: what are the 2–3 most important things someone should know about this graph? Start with 'Overall,' and describe the big picture without numbers. For example: 'Overall, all three countries saw an increase in internet usage over the period, with South Korea experiencing the most dramatic growth and Japan the slowest.' If you miss the overview, you cannot get above band 6 for Task Achievement.
Common mistakes to avoid
Mistake 1: Listing every single number instead of selecting key data. You only have 150 words — be selective. Mistake 2: Giving reasons for the changes. Don't explain why — just describe what. Mistake 3: Writing a conclusion. Task 1 has an overview, not a conclusion. Mistake 4: Not comparing. Always compare — 'X was higher than Y', 'both A and B increased', 'C remained stable while D fell'. Mistake 5: Using the wrong tense. Use past simple for past time periods, present simple for present, future tenses for predictions.
Sample band-8 line graph answer
The graph below shows changes in the percentage of households with internet access in three countries between 2000 and 2020. The line graph illustrates the proportion of households that had internet access in South Korea, Japan, and China over a 20-year period from 2000 to 2020. Overall, internet usage increased in all three countries over the period, with South Korea consistently having the highest rate and China the lowest. The most dramatic growth occurred in China. In 2000, South Korea had the highest internet penetration at around 40%, compared to roughly 25% in Japan and only 5% in China. Over the following decade, all three countries saw steady growth, with South Korea reaching approximately 70% by 2010 and Japan about 60%. By contrast, China's internet usage remained below 20% until 2010. From 2010 to 2020, South Korea and Japan continued to rise more gradually, finishing at around 95% and 90% respectively. China, however, experienced explosive growth, surging from roughly 20% to nearly 80% by 2020, which narrowed the gap with the other two nations considerably.
Frequently asked questions
How many words should I write for Task 1?+
Aim for 160–190 words. You need at least 150 to avoid penalty, but writing 200+ wastes time you need for Task 2. The best Task 1 answers are concise and well-organised.
Is the overview really that important?+
Yes. The overview is worth roughly 25% of your Task Achievement score. Without a clear overview, you cannot get above band 6 for Task Achievement, no matter how good your vocabulary and grammar are.
Should I describe every data point?+
No. Select the key features: the highest point, the lowest point, the biggest change, any crossovers, and the general trend. Listing every number is a band 6 behaviour.
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