IELTS Writing Task 1 GDC English

How to describe a line graph

How to organize a report to get high score in Task Achivement & Coherence-Cohesion

Introduction: paraphrase the words of the question, including all information from the two
axis and the names of categories.

Overview: (khả năng đọc biểu đồ) < show the obvious trends of the lines over the period
given (in case there’s a big difference between the line patterns, it should be mentioned),
also highlight some interesting points (mostly in around the middle of the lines that we call
the intersection points, which normally show the different trends for particular periods).

Body 1: Compare the lines (giving numbers) in the first year shown, then describe any
significant numbers or overall trends in the first half of the time period. (by stages)

Or: choose a group of similar lines to describe, one by one. (by categories)

Body 2: Describe any significant numbers or overall trends in the second half of the time
period, then compare the lines (giving numbers) in the last year shown. (by stages)

Or: describe the rest out of the lines in Body 1. (by categories)

(be noticed: sometimes, if it’s too complicated to compare figures in the way above, we can
point out the difference clearly in the overview and describe each in the body parts).

How to use words & structures to get high score in Lexical Resources & Grammartical
Range and Accuracy

1. Use different structures

S + V + Adv: Interest rates decreased significantly

There was + adj + N: There was a significant decrease in interest rates.

Relative Clause & Reduced Relative Clause: At the start of the period, butter was the most
popular spread, which was replaced by margarine from 1991 to 2001, and following that
low fat and reduced spreads became the most widely used spread in the final years.

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IELTS Writing Task 1 GDC English

2. Use different forms of words

Upward trend Downward trend Fluctuate Key points

Rise/ a rise Decrease/ a Fluctuate/ a flucatuation Peak at
decrease
Increase/ an Drop/ a drop Remain Reach a peak of
increase steady/stable/unchanged
Climb/ a climb Fall/ a fall Level off/out Reach the
highest/lowest point of
Grow/ a growth Decline/ a decline Plateau Hit a high of
… … Hit a low of

3. Be specific

Adv: steadily, gradually, sharply, rapidly, steeply, slightly, dramatically, significantly,

considerably.

Adj: steady, gradual, sharp, rapid, steep, slight, dramatic, significant, considerable

4. Be careful with time phrases and figure expressions

Expressions Meaning (in Vietnamese)

Over 10-year period given Trong giai đoạn 10 năm được nhắc tới
Over the period of fifty years Trong giai đoạn 50 năm
Until/for/ Cho tới/vào năm 2050
in the year 2050: nhấn mạnh diễn biễn Hit a low of 30% in 2050.
TRONG năm đấy (within 2050: chỉ trong Saw an increase by 2050 (thấy một sự
năm đấy) tăng cho tới năm 2050 thì sẽ thay đổi).
By 2050: một diễn biến xảy ra trước đó và
kết thúc vào 2050
In the following years, from…to… Vào những năm tiếp theo, từ…đến…
At the beginning/at the end of the period Vào đầu/cuối thời kỳ
In the first year/ in the last year

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IELTS Writing Task 1 GDC English
Verb by: chỉ khoảng số liệu thay đổi Increase by 50: 100  150
Verb at: chỉ chính xác tọa độ số liệu Reach the highest point of 10%, at the
Verb to: chỉ việc dịch chuyển của số liệu figure of 10 %.
đến một mốc nhất định Peak at, decrease at/…drop to 5%
Noun of: chỉ số liệu tương ứng của danh từ

5. Paraphrase, paraphrase & paraphrase

The chart below The given chart, the presented chart, the provided chart
Show Illustrate (better used for diagram), compare (better used for
chart), present/ give information about (used widely for any
types)
Spending on Expenditure on, the amount of money spent on
Percentage Proportion, rate, level
Poor people People living under the poverty line
The consumption of The amount of… consumed/ used/ utilized
The production of The amout of…supplied/provided/generated
Sale of Turnover from…, the amount of…gained/earned/obtained
Men/women Males/females

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IELTS Writing Task 1 GDC English
Practice:
Ex1: The graph below shows the consumption of 3 spreads from 1981 to 2007

Alex:
The line graph gives information about the amount of 3 different spreads (margarine,
low-fat & reduced spreads, butter) consumed in 1981-2007 period. Units are
measured in grams.
(Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that) Overall, while the
use of margarine and butter decreased over the period, low fat and reduced spreads
witnessed an increase in its consumption. In addition, at the start of the period,
butter was the most popular spread, which was replaced by margarine from 1991 to
2001, and following that low fat and reduced spreads became the most widely used
spread in the final years.
With regards to / In terms of/ For/ Regarding butter, starting at over 140 grams in
1981, its consumption peaked at nearly 160 grams in 1986 before dramactically
declining to about 50 grams in the final year. A much lower figure of about 90 grams
was recorded for the use of margarine at the beginning of the period. This figure
fluctuated slightly in the following years and fell to 40 grams in 2007.
In terms of low fat & reduced spreads, despite appearing later in 1996 with around
10 grams was consumed, its figure/use shooted up remarkably to over 80 grams after
5 years. In the final years, a slight fall of over 10 grams was seen in its consumption,
marking the figure for the last year at 70 grams.

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IELTS Writing Task 1 GDC English

Examiner:
The line graph compares the amount of three kinds of spreads (magarine, low fat and
reduced spreads, and butter) which were consumed over 26 years from 1981 to 2007.
The units are measured in grams.
Overall, the consumption of mar and butter decreased over the period given, while
low fat.. rose. At the start of the period, butter was the most popular spread, which
was replaced by mar from 1991 to 2001, and following that low fat became the most
widely used in the final years.
With regards to the amount of butter used, it began at around 140 grams and then
peaked at 160 grams in 1986 before falling dramatically to about 50 grams in the
last year. Likewise, about 90 grams of margarine was eaten in the first year after
which the figure fluctuated slightly and dropped to a low of 40 grams in 2007.
On the other hand, the consumption of low fats and reduced spreads only started in
1996 at about 10 grams. This figure, which reached a high of over 80 grams 5 years
later, fell slightly to 70 grams in the final year.

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IELTS Writing Task 1 GDC English
Ex2: The graph below shows population figures for India and China since the year 2000
and predicted population growth up until 2050.

The line graph gives information about how China and India populations change over 2000-
2050 period. Units are measured in billions.
Overall, China witnesses a slight upward trend in its population while there is a dramatic
rise in the figure for India, making it overtake China from 2030.
In 2000, the population of China was much higher than that of India, at 1.25 and 1.0
respectively. According to the prediction shown in the graph, 30 years later, the figure for
China slightly increases to 1.45 while India’s figure grows at a faster pace and hits the equal
number in the same year (2030).
From this year, India overtakes China in its population and keeps rising at a lower pace than
the previous stage and is expected to hit a high of 1.6 in 2050. On the other hand, there is a
slight drop in China’s population, recording the final figure of 1.4 in the same year.
155 words, band 8.0+

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IELTS Writing Task 1 GDC English

 Task 1: The graph shows the amount of fruit produced in four countries (France,
Spain, Germany, Turkey) from 1970 to 2010

The given line graph demonstrates fruit production in 4 countries: France, Spain, Germany
and Turkey between 1970 and 2010.

Overall, it can be seen that the amount of fruit produced in Turkey underwent a gradual
increase during the period, while the opposite was true for Germany. In addition, the figure
for Spain was always highest from 1970 to 2010.

Spain supplied the most fruit (5,5 million tonnes) in 1970, whereas only 2,5 million tonnes
of fruit were made in Germany. In 1980, fruit production in Spain rose to 6 million tonnes,
which was the highest number during the period. This figure then gradually decreased and
hit its bottom at 5 million tonnes. In 1990, fruit production in Germany hit the lowest point
at 1,5 million tonnes, then remained stable for 10 years before slightly dropping for 0,25
million tonnes in 2010.

In 1970, the amount of fruit made in France was the lowest number among countries
mentioned during the period. Fruit production in France reduced in 2000 before

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IELTS Writing Task 1 GDC English
significantly jumping to nearly 3 million tonnes at the end of the period. During the period,
fruit manufacture in Turkey gradually increased and reached 3,5 million tonnes in 2010.

TA: 7.0 CC: 8.0 LR: 7 GA: 8  Overall: 7.5