IELTS ACADEMIC TASK 1: How to describe a line graph

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FOR IELTS
HOW TO DESCRIBE A
LINE GRAPH
© All text and images. Material cannot be reproduced without permission. Ben Worthington, IELTSPodcast.com Ltd

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● How to write a description of a line graph on exam
day.
● Group the information, choose the content.
● Introduction
● Summary
● 5 Tips
PART 1: HOW TO DESCRIBE
A LINE GRAPH

PART 2: WHAT YOU NEED TO
DESCRIBE A LINE GRAPH● Active – Passive
● Adverbs
● Verbs
● Nouns
● Phrases for the introduction.
● Phrases for summaries.
● Phrases for change.

1. GROUP THE INFORMATION
● Decide what will be in each paragraph
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Sainsbury's
Tesco
Asda
Morrisons
Co-op
UK Supermarket Sales between 2001-09 in £ Million

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Sainsbury's
Tesco
Asda
Morrisons
Co-op
1. GROUP THE INFORMATION
● Main body paragraph 1: Sainsbury's and Tesco
broadly similar, Tesco outperformed
Sainsbury's, large spike in in 2002.
● Main body paragraph 2: Asda and Morrison's
grew, but not as much, levelled off around
2004, then grew steadily again. Co-op unique;
climbed, stabilised, then sank.
● Decide what will be in each paragraph

1. PLAN THE REPORT
My rough report plan:
● Main body paragraph 1: Sainsbury's and Tesco
broadly similar, Tesco outperformed Sainsbury's,
large spike in 2002.
● Main body paragraph 2: Asda and Morrison's grew,
but not as much, levelled off around 2004, then
grew steadily again. Co-op unique; climbed,
stabilised, then sank.

1. INTRODUCTIONS
● Use a sentence which describes the graph and the
general idea.
● From the line graph it is clear that the majority of
the UK supermarkets saw sales grow over the ten
year period.
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10
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Sainsbury's
Tesco
Asda
Morrisons
Co-op

1. SUMMARY
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Sainsbury's
Tesco
Asda
Morrisons
Co-op
● Explain the general idea of the graph (again!) but
with a little more detail.
● Overall it is clear that Tesco and Sainsbury's
increased sales the most, followed by Asda and
Morrision's, the Co-op undoubtedly performed the
worst.

1. PROCESS
● Step 1: Identify the information, group it, build your
body paragraph 1 and 2, write a rough plan.
● Step 2: Write introduction (describe briefly what is
the graph and the general idea).
● Step 3: Write body paragraphs (FOLLOW the plan
written before).
● Step 4: Write summary, include the maximum and
the minimums, and the exceptions.

5 TIPS
● Your opinion is not necessary
● Make sure the subject and verb agree
● Avoid basic words like BIG, SMALL, GOOD,
● A topic sentence is not necessary in the
introduction,
● In the final paragraph use 'Overall...' -don't use 'To
conclude...'.

PART 2: WHAT YOU NEED TO
DESCRIBE A LINE GRAPH

ACTIVE TO PASSIVE
Sales crashed to new levels
The sales rose quickly
Employment fell drastically

ACTIVE TO PASSIVE
Sales crashed to new levels
There was a crash to new levels in sales
The sales rose quickly
There was a quick rise in the sales
Employment fell drastically
There was a drastic fall in employment

PASSIVE TO ACTIVE
There was an incredible decrease in output
In 2010 there was a plunge in turnover
After the crisis there was a crash in profit
Last year there were two rises in annual income

PASSIVE TO ACTIVE
There was an incredible decrease in output
Output decreased incredibly
In 2010 there was a plunge in turnover
Turnover plunged in 2010
After the crisis there was a crash in profit
Profit crashed after the crisis
Last year there were two rises in annual income
Annual income rose twice last year

ADVERBS
It is clear the trend is downward...
It is evident that sales dropped in the first quarter...
It is surprising that sales rose after a steady decline...

ADVERBS
It is clear the trend is downward...
Clearly the trend is downward...
It is evident that sales dropped in the first quarter...
Evidently sales in the first quarter dropped ..
It is surprising that sales rose after a steady decline...
*Surprisingly sales rose after a steady decline...
*USE WITH CAUTION (Don't place your opinion.)

TIME EXPESSIONS
Over the period _________ to ________
Over a five year period...
Throughout the 1980s...
The period from 1944 to 1999 witnessed...
...after that...

USEFUL VERBS
plunge stabilize rocket
crash remain stable soar
tumble remain constant surge
sink level off leap
fall
drop fluctuate
decline

PHRASES TO USE FOR THE
INTRODUCTION
● From the graph it is clear...
● As can be seen from the line graph...
● As is shown by the table...
● As is illustrated by the pie chart...

EXERCISE
MATCH THE DESCRIPTIONS TO THE
DRAWINGS
1. The investment levels rose suddenly.
2. The sales of our products fell slightly in the final quarter.
3. The Research and Development budget has stabilized over the past few years.
4. At the end of the first year, sales stood at 50 per cent of the present level.
5. The price reached a peak before falling a little and then maintaining the same level.
6. There has been a steady increase in costs over several years.
7. The sudden collapse in share prices came shortly after June.
8. The value of the shares has shown a steady decline.

EXERCISE

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THE IELTS EXAM
1. Sign up HERE for free weekly tutorials and
awesome practical guides.
2. FILL Your phone up with FREE IELTS MP3s.
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AND HELP© All text and images. Material cannot be reproduced without permission. Ben Worthington, IELTSPodcast.com Ltd

IELTS ACADEMIC TASK 1: How to describe a line graph

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IELTS ACADEMIC TASK 1: How to describe a line graph