If you’re preparing for the IELTS Writing Task 1 and you get a Line Graph, don’t worry! I’m here to make it super simple for you.

The Structure You Should Follow

To get the highest score, just follow this easy structure:

• Introduction
• Overview
• Body Paragraphs
  • Body Paragraph-1
  • Body Paragraph-2

Let’s break it down step by step using a real example.

The line graph below shows the percentage of tourists to England who visited four different attractions in Brighton.

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

Step 1: Understand the Question

Before you start writing, take a moment to analyze the chart. Ask yourself:

• ✅ What is the chart about?
• 📍 What does the title tell me?
• 📈 What do the axes represent?
• 📊 What are the units?
• 🔄 What is being compared?
• 📆 What is the time frame?
• 🔍 What trends do I see — increases, decreases, fluctuations?

Taking 1–2 minutes to really understand the chart will help you write with clarity and accuracy.

Step 2: Write an Introduction

This part is simple. Just paraphrase the question in your own words using 1–2 sentences.

✅ Include:                 

• Mention: What graph shows, Where it happens and When it occurs
• Identify: Subject, Verb and Tense (Question tense and Correct tense to answer)

Use expressions to start your introduction. You can use this:

• The line graph illustrates…
• The line graph shows…
• The line graph compares…
• The line chart shows information about…
• The line graph/chart provides…
• The line graph/chart provides information about…
• The line graph depicts…
• The line graph indicates…

From the above question:

Step 3: Write an Overview

Now, look at the graph and try to summarize the key features of the chart.

Include:

• Overall or General key trends.
• Noticeable trends (increasing, decreasing, fluctuations), or any natural/common patterns.
• Highest/lowest points
• Do not write any numbers ex: percentages etc.

Start your overview like this:

• Overall, it can be seen that…
• It is clear that…
• Overall, …
• Overall, in general…

Step 4: Write Body paragraphs

Now it’s time to explain the trends — clearly, logically, and with numbers. Break your description into 2 clear paragraphs. You can group the data by:

• Similar trends (increase, decrease, fluctuations)
• Country or Locations

Include:

• Make sure to include numbers in the body paragraph.
• You should start with the beginning of the time period.
• Use a range of linking words, vocabulary and grammar structures to describe the features. Try not to repeat them.
• Follow the tense from the graph.
• Use different time expressions to describe the passage of time.

From the above question: We are describing the features as an “increase pattern” in the first paragraph and a “decrease pattern” in the second paragraph

And this is a possible way to write your body paragraphs :

Writing about a line graph doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With a little practice and this step-by-step structure, you’ll feel confident and ready to take on any line chart question!