Task 1 Academic · Sample Answers
IELTS Task 1 Line Graph: Band 6.5, 7.5 and 9.0 Sample Answers
Three complete responses to the same line graph prompt, each with criterion scores and examiner notes showing exactly what separates the bands.
What separates the bands in Task 1
- 1.Overview quality — Band 9 identifies two overarching patterns; Band 6.5 gives a vague or partial overview that misses a key feature.
- 2.Data selection — Band 9 groups and compares strategically; Band 6.5 lists figures sequentially without showing which are most significant.
- 3.Trend language precision — "increased to 95%" vs "increased by 65 percentage points" — the preposition distinction alone marks the difference between Band 6 and Band 7 Lexical Resource.
The Chart
Internet usage in four countries, 2000–2020 (% of population)
The line graph below shows the percentage of the population using the internet in four countries — the UK, the USA, South Korea, and Brazil — at five-year intervals from 2000 to 2020.
| Country | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 | 2015 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK | 30% | 55% | 75% | 87% | 95% |
| USA | 45% | 65% | 78% | 88% | 93% |
| South Korea | 40% | 68% | 83% | 90% | 97% |
| Brazil | 5% | 12% | 35% | 55% | 75% |
Sample Answer 1
Band 6.5TA: 6 · CC: 6 · LR: 6 · GRA: 7 | Overall: 6.5
162 words
The line graph shows the percentage of people who used the internet in UK, USA, South Korea and Brazil from 2000 to 2020.
Overall, internet usage increased in all four countries over this period. South Korea had the highest percentage at the end.
In 2000, the USA had the most internet users at 45%, while Brazil only had 5%. The UK started at 30% and South Korea at 40%. By 2005, all countries increased. The USA went to 65%, UK to 55%, South Korea to 68% and Brazil rose slightly to 12%.
In 2010, South Korea reached 83% which was higher than USA at 78% and UK at 75%. Brazil was still low at 35%. After 2010, all countries continued to rise. By 2020, South Korea was the highest with 97%, followed by UK at 95%, USA at 93% and Brazil at 75%.
Brazil had the lowest percentage throughout all years, but it also increased a lot from only 5% to 75%.
Sample Answer 2
Band 7.5TA: 7 · CC: 8 · LR: 7 · GRA: 8 | Overall: 7.5
176 words
The line graph illustrates the proportion of people using the internet in four countries — the UK, the USA, South Korea and Brazil — across a twenty-year period from 2000 to 2020.
Overall, internet usage rose steadily in all four countries over the period. By 2020, the three developed economies had converged at above 90%, while Brazil, despite recording the steepest growth rate, remained the lowest throughout.
In 2000, the USA led with 45% of its population online, compared with 40% in South Korea and 30% in the UK. Brazil was a clear outlier at just 5%. Over the following decade, all four countries saw consistent gains. South Korea overtook the USA around 2005, reaching 68% against 65%, and maintained its lead thereafter, peaking at 97% by 2020.
Brazil's trajectory was particularly notable: from a very low base of 5%, its usage climbed to 75% by 2020 — a rise of 70 percentage points, the largest absolute increase of any country in the chart. Meanwhile, the UK and USA followed near-identical paths, converging at 95% and 93% respectively.
Sample Answer 3
Band 9.0TA: 9 · CC: 9 · LR: 9 · GRA: 9 | Overall: 9.0
188 words
The line graph tracks internet adoption rates among the populations of four countries — the UK, the USA, South Korea and Brazil — at five-year intervals between 2000 and 2020.
Two patterns dominate the data. First, all four countries recorded substantial and sustained increases over the two-decade period. Second, the three wealthier economies converged sharply in the upper range by 2020, while Brazil — which began far behind — grew at a faster rate than any other nation, yet still ended the period as the lowest.
In 2000, the USA was the most connected nation at 45%, followed by South Korea at 40%, the UK at 30%, and Brazil at a distant 5%. South Korea rapidly closed the gap on the USA, overtaking it around 2005 (68% versus 65%), and ultimately reached the highest figure of all four countries by 2020 at 97%. The UK and USA followed remarkably similar trajectories, ending at 95% and 93% respectively — a gap of just two percentage points after two decades of parallel growth.
The most striking feature, however, is Brazil's trajectory: its rate of adoption rose by 70 percentage points between 2000 and 2020, surpassing even South Korea's 57-point gain, though its absolute level at 75% remained well below the other three nations throughout the period.
Band Comparison by Criterion
What each criterion looks like at each band level for this task type.
| Criterion | Band 6.5 | Band 7.5 | Band 9.0 |
|---|---|---|---|
| TA | Overview present but mentions only one of two main features; data listed rather than compared | Clear two-feature overview; relevant data selected; accurate comparisons across lines | Precise two-pattern overview upfront; all significant features covered; insightful inter-country comparison with quantified growth rates |
| CC | Sequential time markers only; paragraphs present but not organised by comparison logic | Logical paragraph structure; good referencing; comparison sentences link countries effectively | Seamless cohesion; numbered signposting ("First... Second...") sets up and resolves the data without restating; no mechanical connectors |
| LR | "Increased a lot" and "rose slightly" — imprecise; missing preposition distinctions (to vs by) | Accurate "percentage points" usage; varied trend verbs; occasional repetition of "rose" | Wide, precise range: adoption rates, trajectories, converged, outlier, absolute level — no repetition; all trend language technically accurate |
| GRA | Mostly accurate simple sentences; missing articles before "UK" throughout; limited clause variety | Good range of complex structures; minor occasional errors that do not impede meaning | Error-free; appositive phrases, contrast clauses, relative clauses all used naturally and accurately |
What Pushes Your Band Up
- 1. Expand the overview to two distinct patterns. At Band 7, the overview must capture more than the most obvious fact. Identify convergence, divergence, or a countertrend (e.g. Brazil's exceptional growth rate despite a low base) alongside the lead nation.
- 2. Switch from sequential to comparative paragraphing. Instead of "In 2005, A was X. In 2010, A was Y", group by similarity: "South Korea and the USA followed similar paths until 2005, when South Korea pulled ahead." This directly addresses the "make comparisons" instruction.
- 3. Use "percentage points" for absolute changes. "Rose by 70 percentage points" is different from "rose by 70%" — the latter implies a percentage of a percentage. Correct unit handling is a Band 7 LR marker that many candidates miss.
- 1. Lead with the overview, not the introduction. Band 9 writers frame both macro-patterns in the second paragraph (the overview paragraph) before any data appears. At Band 7.5 the overview is correct but may be partially embedded in later paragraphs. The structural separation signals TA mastery.
- 2. Compare growth rates, not just end points. Noting that Brazil's 70-point rise exceeded South Korea's 57-point gain — despite South Korea having a far higher absolute level — is the kind of cross-variable insight that lifts TA to 9. Most Band 7 responses compare values at one point in time; Band 9 compares trajectories.
- 3. Eliminate all mechanical connectors. Replace "However," / "Moreover," sentence openers with embedded contrast ("yet still ended the period as the lowest") and appositive structure. Band 9 cohesion is invisible — the logic flows without signpost scaffolding propping it up.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently asked questions
Does a line graph Task 1 always require an overview?+
Yes — the overview is the single feature most strongly associated with a higher Task Achievement score. Place it in the second paragraph or as the final sentence of your introduction. A response without an overview cannot reach Band 7 for TA, regardless of language quality.
How many data points should I include in a Task 1 line graph response?+
Select the most significant features: main trends, the highest and lowest values, notable turning points, and key comparisons between lines. Do not list every data point. The ability to select and prioritise is itself a tested skill under Task Achievement.
Should I describe each line separately or compare across lines?+
Compare where possible. A response that treats each line in complete isolation misses the instruction to 'make comparisons where relevant' and loses marks for Task Achievement and Coherence. Group lines by similar behaviour (e.g. two rising lines), then contrast outliers.
What vocabulary do I need for line graph trends?+
Rise / increase / grow / climb; fall / decrease / decline / drop; level off / plateau; fluctuate; peak at; reach a low of. Equally important is prepositional accuracy: rose by 20 percentage points, fell to 35%, increased from 30% to 75%. Wrong prepositions cost Lexical Resource marks.
How long should a Task 1 response be?+
Aim for 170–190 words — above the 150-word minimum but concise enough to stay accurate. Writing more than 220 words rarely improves the score and increases the chance of errors under timed conditions. Quality and precision outweigh length.
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