Sometimes in the IELTS Academic Task 1 you have to describe two graphs together. It is usually best to describe each graph separately rather than attempting to describe them together.
Trying to link them can be difficult to do (remember you only have 20 minutes) and can also get confusing to read. Often the data is not directly linked anyway, and separate descriptions are more suitable.
IELTS Line Graph and Pie Chart Question
| You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. The line graph shows the number of books that were borrowed in four different months in 2014 from four village libraries, and the pie chart shows the percentage of books, by type, that were borrowed over this time. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words. |
Model Answer
The line graph depicts the number of books that were loaned out from four libraries over a four month period and the pie chart illustrates the proportions of books borrowed in terms of genre. It is immediately apparent that the borrowing patterns for each library were quite varied, and that fiction was by far the most popular type of book.
The borrowing of books at Sutton Wood and Ryeslip began fairly high, at 250 and 300 per month in June respectively. However, while book borrowing at Ryeslip fell steadily to around 175 at the end of the period, borrowing at Sutton Wood followed a much more erratic pattern. It plummeted to 100 in August, before then rising steeply to finish at 300, which represented the highest level of borrowing of the four.
Borrowing at West Eaton and Church Mount, meanwhile, followed very similar patterns, with both starting quite low at 50 per month, but then gradually increasing to finish at 150.
Moving on to the types of books borrowed, fiction was in demand the most, at 43%. The next most popular books were biographies, accounting for around a fifth of the total. The borrowing of science and history were identical, at 14% each, leaving self-help as the least popular at 10%.
(211 Words)
Evaluation of the model answer
Your description of the line graph and pie chart is clear and well-structured, with a good balance between both visual elements. However, there are a few areas where clarity, grammar, and cohesion can be improved.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 8
- The structure is logical, with clear distinctions between the description of the line graph and pie chart.
- The use of phrases like “moving on to” helps transition between ideas smoothly.
Language and Grammar: Band 7-8
- Verb tense: In “the borrowing of books at Sutton Wood and Ryeslip began fairly high,” consider using “started” instead of “began” for consistency.
- Parallelism: In the phrase “borrowing at Sutton Wood followed a much more erratic pattern,” adding a parallel comparison could improve clarity, such as “followed a much more erratic pattern compared to Ryeslip.”
- Punctuation: In “it plummeted to 100 in August, before then rising steeply,” consider removing the comma after “August” for smoother reading.
- Article usage: In “fiction was in demand the most,” it would be more natural to say “fiction was the most in demand.”
Task Achievement: Band 8
- You have effectively summarized both the line graph and pie chart, and your key insights (such as fiction being the most popular genre) are well-supported by data.
- The numbers and trends are clearly stated, although a more direct comparison between libraries in the line graph section could be made.
Suggestions for Improvement:
- Try rephrasing long sentences for conciseness. For example: “Borrowing at Sutton Wood was more erratic, dropping to 100 in August but rising sharply to 300 by September, the highest level of any library.”
- Add a final sentence or two to link the two visuals together. For instance, mention that “although borrowing levels varied among libraries, fiction remained the dominant genre overall.”
Overall Evaluation: Band 8
This is a well-written and thorough response with only minor issues in phrasing and clarity. With some adjustments to sentence structure and minor language improvements, it could easily score higher.
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