In this post, I will show you how to write an IELTS Academic Part 1 line graph description. Although I will be using a line graph as an example, this structure will work with almost any chart.
Writing a chart description is actually very simple, however many people think it’s very difficult and get stressed or confused by it. Follow along with me and see how simple and easy writing an Academic IELTS line graph description can be.
There will be 5 steps in writing this line graph description (This may seem complicated, but it’s actually really simple).
1 – Analyse the question
2 – Find the main features
3 – Write the introduction
4 – Write the overview
5 – Write the detailed paragraphs
There will be 5 stages to writing this IELTS Academic Task 1 essay, so please follow along with me and try writing the essay for yourself.
This essay will have 4 paragraphs:
Paragraph 1 – Introduction
Paragraph 2 – Overview
Paragraph 3 – Main feature 1
Paragraph 4 – Main feature 2
This is the structure that most Academic Task 1 essays will take, so you can use it in almost any chart description essay.
The sample question that we will be using is as follows:
If you follow through each stage with me, it’s going to make writing the essay much easier, I promise.
Step 1 Analyse The Question
The 2nd sentence tells us what we need to do, ‘Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features and making comparisons where relevant.’
(All chart description questions have a similar statement telling you what to do)
But also make sure to look at the title and key to see what the chart is telling you and what units are being used.
Also, make sure you look at the X and Y axis to see what is being illustrated and over what time period. (Usually, it will be showing a time in the past but sometimes could even show a future prediction)
Step 2 – Identify The Main Features Of The Graph
The chart should be easy to interpret and no special skills or maths will be required. The main features are usually the easiest to spot.
Any dramatic changes in the line/lines, peaks or dips will indicate many of the main features. (Remember it says the main features in the instructions, not all of the features)
Main Feature 1 – Burglary was the most significant of the crimes, peaking in 2004 then reducing.
Main Feature 2 – Robbery showed the lowest crime rate and remained quite stable. Car theft showed a gradual increase.
You can then add general details and ideas to these observations. But, remember that you only have 20 minutes and 150 words to finish the whole essay so don’t try and explain too much.
Now let’s actually go ahead and write the essay. Remember that your essay will have the following structure:
Paragraph 1 – Introduction
Paragraph 2 – Overview
Paragraph 3 – Main feature 1
Paragraph 4 – Main feature 2
Step 3 – Write The Introduction
The introduction paragraph is super easy to write, as all you need to do is paraphrase the question and chart title.
(Look back at the chart title and description and see how you would paraphrase this)
My introduction paragraph is:
The chart illustrates the amounts of 3 different crimes in Manchester city centre between 2003 and 2012.
This is all that you need to do.
Step 4 – Write The Overview Paragraph
The second paragraph is the overview paragraph and that is exactly what it does. Just reports the main trends and features of the chart. State the main features and trends using synonyms where possible.
You don’t need to be super clever with the vocabulary or grammar but make sure that the verb tenses are correct. (If the graph shows the past them make sure to use the past tense)
Here is my overview paragraph:
Overall, burglary accounted for the highest amount of crime at the beginning of the period. However, this fell significantly over time, making it the second most numerous crime in the end. Robbery had the smallest amount of crimes with a fairly steady rate far below the other 2 crimes.
Step 5 – Write The First Detail Paragraph
In the next 2 paragraphs, you are going to give more details about what happens to the data in the graph. Make sure you give evidence to support your observation and to compare where applicable.
Main Feature 1 – Burglary was the most significant of the crimes, peaking in 2004 and then reducing.
Look at the main features that you identified and use that to build your paragraph. I am talking about the same thing but in more detail.
The number of burglaries reached a peak of around 3,750 in 2004 and then declined significantly until 2008 when they equated to just under 1000. This figure rose to roughly 1,500 the following year, where it remained steady until the end of the reported period.
Step 6 – Write The Second Detail Paragraph
Look at your 2nd main feature and expand and give details about that.
Main Feature 2 – Robbery showed the lowest crime rate and remained quite stable. Car theft showed a gradual increase.
This is my 2nd detailed paragraph
Robbery showed the smallest amount of crimes during the 10-year period. There was a slight increase between 2003 and 2005, where figures rose from six to eight hundred. However, this level soon fell to around 600, where it remained for the following years with only slight fluctuations. Whereas car theft showed a gradual increase between 2006 and 2012, peaking at 2,750.
The finished essay
The chart illustrates the amounts of 3 different crimes in Manchester city centre between 2003 and 2012.
Overall, burglary accounted for the highest amount of crime at the beginning of the period. However, this fell significantly over time, making it the second most numerous crime in the end. Robbery had the smallest amount of crimes with a fairly steady rate far below the other 2 crimes.
The number of burglaries reached a peak of around 3,750 in 2004 and then declined significantly until 2008 when they equated to just under 1000. This figure rose to roughly 1,500 the following year, where it remained steady until the end of the reported period.
Robbery showed the smallest amount of crimes during the 10-year period. There was a slight increase between 2003 and 2005, where figures rose from six to eight hundred. However, this level soon fell to around 600, where it remained for the following years with only slight fluctuations. Whereas car theft showed a gradual increase between 2006 and 2012, peaking at 2,750
174 words
This essay does everything the question asks and is over the minimum word count. Remember that the question only asks you to summarise the main features of the graph, not every feature.
If you want to see me work through this in a video then watch below:
Now practice what you have learned by writing a summary of the following line graph.
The graph gives information about changes in the birth and death rates in New Zealand between 1901 and 2101.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
150 words
