Read the unit and period
Do not start writing until you know what the y-axis measures and which years appear.
IELTS Academic Writing Task 1
Task 1 lesson map
Move between response structure, visual analysis and full-task practice without losing your place.
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Build the response
Read the visual
Strengthen and apply
IELTS Academic Writing Task 1
Line graphs in IELTS Writing Task 1
Learn to turn a line graph into a clear response: choose the overview, group data, describe changes in leadership and use figures without losing control of the text.
The practice includes explained answers for overview and detail decisions, plus an annotated Task 1 model.
Official format versus WeLearn strategy
Official format: IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 asks you to describe visual information, such as graphs, tables, maps, diagrams or processes, in a response of at least 150 words.
WeLearn strategy: we treat line graphs as a practice route because they require you to identify overall trends, changes in pace, line crossings, highs and lows, and start-to-end comparisons.
Workflow for a line graph
Choose 2–3 patterns
Look for an increase, decrease, crossing, peak, low point, convergence or divergence.
Group the lines
Do not write year by year. Group lines by similar behaviour or contrast.
Use purposeful figures
Every figure should prove a trend rather than decorate the paragraph.
Guided exercise: identify the overview and details
The line graph below shows average monthly journeys made by three forms of public transport in Metroville between 2010 and 2020.
Original WeLearn practice data
Average monthly public transport journeys in Metroville, 2010–2020
Figures are shown in millions of journeys. Read line direction, crossings and relative position before choosing any wording.
Line graph
MetroBusTram
Step 1: choose the strongest overview
Step 2: select useful details for the body paragraphs
Choose the details that help explain the patterns. You may select more than one.
Explained model answer
Introduction
The line graph compares the number of monthly journeys made by metro, bus and tram in Metroville between 2010 and 2020, measured in millions.
Why it works: Paraphrase the prompt and preserve the unit, place, categories and period.
Overview
Overall, metro use rose continuously and became the dominant form of public transport, whereas bus journeys declined after peaking in the middle of the period. Tram travel also increased, but it remained the least used option throughout.
Why it works: Summarise the main patterns without exact figures: increases, decreases, leadership and relative position.
Body 1
In 2010, buses were the most common mode, at 42 million trips, compared with 25 million by metro. Metro journeys then increased at every point shown, reaching 49 million in 2016 and overtaking buses, before ending the period at 68 million.
Why it works: Group the two most important lines because that is where the change in leadership occurs.
Body 2
By contrast, bus use rose slightly to a peak of 48 million in 2014, then fell steadily to 35 million in 2020. Tram figures were much lower, although they doubled gradually from 10 million to 20 million over the same period.
Why it works: Close with the bus peak and the lowest line, using only figures that support the pattern.
Keep practising Task 1
Frequently asked questions
Is a line graph an official IELTS Writing Task 1 question type?
It is a common form of visual information in IELTS Academic Writing Task 1. The official task asks you to describe visual information such as graphs, tables, diagrams or processes; WeLearn practises it as a focused route because line graphs require specific decisions about trends, changes and comparisons.
What should an IELTS line graph overview include?
It should summarise the main patterns: overall trend, change in leadership, highest or lowest point, convergence, divergence or a sharp change. It should not become a list of exact figures.
How many figures should I mention in a Task 1 response?
Use only the figures needed to demonstrate important changes. A strong response usually selects relevant starting and ending points, peaks or lows, and key comparisons between series.