IELTS Academic Writing Task 1: Line Graph Trends — Model Answer

The following analysis moves beyond the "what" of Task 1 and focuses on the "how." In standardization meetings, examiners spend less than 45 seconds on the initial read. If the overview doesn't present a clear trend immediately, the Task Achievement (TA) score is capped at Band 5 or 6 regardless of how sophisticated the vocabulary is. This document demonstrates the structural precision required to secure a Band 9.

By Ted Khercha · Ted.Talks.DZ · Updated 2026-10-26

The question

The line graph below shows the consumption of four types of meat in a European country between 1979 and 2004.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

(Graph description: Beef starts highest at ~220g per person per week, falls to ~100g. Chicken starts at ~150g, rises steadily to ~250g, overtaking beef in 1991. Lamb starts at ~150g, falls steadily to ~60g. Fish remains relatively stable between 40g and 50g throughout the period.)

The Trap → The Logic → The Fix

The Trap: The "Shopping List" Approach

Many candidates view Task 1 as a data-entry exercise. They describe the beef line from 1979 to 2004, then the chicken line, then the lamb line. This results in four isolated mini-stories.

The Logic

Examiners are instructed to look for "comparisons." If you don't mention that Chicken overtook Beef in the early 90s, you are not "selecting main features." You are missing the relationship between the lines. The marking criteria for Band 7+ explicitly requires "a clear overview of main trends, differences or stages."

The Fix: The "Trend-Grouping" Strategy

Instead of describing categories one by one, group them by their behavior.

Group A: Things that went down (Beef and Lamb).
Group B: Things that went up or stayed the same (Chicken and Fish).

This structure forces you to compare the categories, automatically satisfying the "make comparisons where relevant" instruction.

Band-by-Band Breakdown: The "Meat" Graph

Element	Band 6 Performance	Band 9 Performance
Data Selection	Lists every data point for every 5-year interval.	Selects only the start, end, and significant "intersection" or peak points.
Grammatical Range	Relies on "Subject + Verb + Adverb" (e.g., Beef fell sharply).	Uses "Noun Phrase + Verb" and "Prepositional Phrases" (e.g., ...underwent a consistent downward trajectory).
Cohesion	Uses "First," "Then," and "After that."	Uses relational transition markers like "By contrast," "In tandem," or "Conversely."
Lexical Resource	Uses "Up" and "Down" repeatedly.	Uses precise movement verbs: delineates, halved, hovered, surpassed, stabilized.

More: all model answers · Task 2 structure guide

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