Scorify.uzThe question
The graph shows the unemployment rate in three countries between 1990 and 2015.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.
What to notice before you write
These lines fluctuate rather than moving in one direction. Describe highs and lows, and note that Country R is always the highest and Country Q always the lowest. Use verbs like fluctuate, peak and recover instead of repeating “rise” and “fall”.
Band 7 sample report
The line graph compares unemployment rates in three countries over a twenty-five-year period, from 1990 to 2015.
Overall, unemployment fluctuated in all three countries, but it was lower in 2015 than in 1990 in Countries P and R. Country R had the highest rate throughout, while Country Q consistently had the lowest.
Country R's rate peaked at 14% in 1995, then fell to 9% in 2005, before rising again to 11% in 2010 and finally dropping to 8% in 2015. Country P followed a similar pattern, climbing from 8% to 10% in 1995 and falling to 5% in 2005, with a second rise to 9% in 2010.
Country Q showed the most stable figures, remaining between 4% and 6% for the entire period. Its rate ended where it started, at 5%, whereas Country P finished at 6%, two points below its 1990 level.
Country R's rate was higher than Country Q's in every year shown, and the gap was widest in 2000, when the figures were 13% and 4% respectively, a difference of nine percentage points.
176 words.
Useful language for this chart type
- fluctuate — go up and down repeatedly
- peak at — reach the highest point
- stable — not changing much
- recover — rise again after a fall
- throughout — during the whole period
- a similar pattern — a comparable shape
- finish at — end at a particular value
Common mistakes
- Describing fluctuating data as a simple rise or fall.
- Ignoring the difference between countries.
- Giving reasons for unemployment.
Study guides
Computer-Delivered IELTS: What Changes and What Stays the Same
Thinking about taking IELTS on a computer? Here is what stays the same, what feels different in Writing, Reading and Listening, and how to prepare for the screen.
IELTS Writing Task 1 Vocabulary for Graphs, Charts and Processes
Useful verbs, nouns, adverbs and sentence patterns for describing line graphs, bar charts, tables and processes in IELTS Task 1, with more than twelve example sentences.
Linking Words for IELTS and How to Use Them Correctly
A practical list of IELTS linking words grouped by function, with correct and incorrect examples, punctuation rules and a warning about overusing connectors.
Frequently asked questions
How many words should an IELTS Task 1 report be?
Write at least 150 words. Strong reports are usually 160–190 words and take about 20 minutes, leaving a minute or two to check.
What is an overview in Task 1?
The overview is a short paragraph, written without detailed numbers, that states the main trends or the most important features of the data. Reports without a clear overview are limited to a lower band.
Should I give my opinion in Task 1?
No. Describe and compare only what the data shows. Do not explain reasons or add information that is not in the chart.