IELTS Writing · Task 1
IELTS Writing Task 1: line graph
One or more lines showing how a figure changes over time.
- 3 practice questions
- 20 minutes · 150 words
What the examiner looks for
- The overview states the main trends: what rose, what fell, what ended highest. The band descriptors expect a clear overview from Band 7 and describe a report without one at Band 5.
- Lines that behave alike are described together, with figures and years quoted to support each point.
- The report is at least 150 words and gives no opinion and no reasons: it says what the figure shows.
Line graph questions to practise
1. Daily newsAcademic test: Daily news
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
The graph below shows the percentage of adults in one European country who used four different sources for their daily news between 2010 and 2024.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.
- Television
- News websites and apps
- Social media
- Printed newspapers
Line graph: Sources of daily news, adults in one European country, 2010–2024 (values: Percentage of adults) - Television: 2010: 78%; 2012: 76%; 2014: 73%; 2016: 70%; 2018: 66%; 2020: 62%; 2022: 58%; 2024: 55% - News websites and apps: 2010: 30%; 2012: 36%; 2014: 42%; 2016: 47%; 2018: 52%; 2020: 56%; 2022: 59%; 2024: 61% - Social media: 2010: 12%; 2012: 19%; 2014: 27%; 2016: 34%; 2018: 41%; 2020: 47%; 2022: 51%; 2024: 54% - Printed newspapers: 2010: 44%; 2012: 40%; 2014: 35%; 2016: 30%; 2018: 26%; 2020: 22%; 2022: 18%; 2024: 15%
2. Marrying laterAcademic test: Marrying later
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
The graph below shows the average age at which men and women in one country married for the first time between 1970 and 2020.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.
- Men
- Women
Line graph: Average age at first marriage, by sex, 1970–2020 (values: Average age (years)) - Men: 1970: 24.5 years; 1980: 25.2 years; 1990: 26.8 years; 2000: 28.6 years; 2010: 30.4 years; 2020: 32.1 years - Women: 1970: 22.1 years; 1980: 23 years; 1990: 24.9 years; 2000: 26.9 years; 2010: 28.7 years; 2020: 30.4 years
3. Growing olderAcademic test: Growing older
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
The graph below shows the percentage of the population aged 65 and over in three countries from 1980 to 2020, together with projections to 2050.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.
- Japan
- Italy
- Brazil
Figures from 2030 onwards are projections.
Line graph: Population aged 65 and over, 1980–2050 (values: Percentage of the population) - Japan: 1980: 9%; 1990: 12%; 2000: 17%; 2010: 23%; 2020: 29%; 2030: 32%; 2040: 35%; 2050: 38% - Italy: 1980: 13%; 1990: 15%; 2000: 18%; 2010: 20%; 2020: 23%; 2030: 27%; 2040: 32%; 2050: 34% - Brazil: 1980: 4%; 1990: 5%; 2000: 6%; 2010: 7%; 2020: 10%; 2030: 14%; 2040: 19%; 2050: 24% Note: Figures from 2030 onwards are projections.