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Academic Task 1

IELTS Academic Writing Task 1: House prices (line graph)

Question type: Academic Task 1: line graph

The question

The line graph below shows the average price of a house, in thousands of dollars, in three cities between 2000 and 2020.

Average house price (thousand dollars)
0100200300400500thousand dollars20002005201020152020City X, 2000: 180 thousand dollarsCity X, 2005: 260 thousand dollarsCity X, 2010: 240 thousand dollarsCity X, 2015: 330 thousand dollarsCity X, 2020: 420 thousand dollarsCity Y, 2000: 150 thousand dollarsCity Y, 2005: 170 thousand dollarsCity Y, 2010: 175 thousand dollarsCity Y, 2015: 190 thousand dollarsCity Y, 2020: 210 thousand dollarsCity Z, 2000: 120 thousand dollarsCity Z, 2005: 200 thousand dollarsCity Z, 2010: 140 thousand dollarsCity Z, 2015: 150 thousand dollarsCity Z, 2020: 230 thousand dollars
  • City X
  • City Y
  • City Z
View the data as a table
20002005201020152020
City X180260240330420
City Y150170175190210
City Z120200140150230

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

Write at least 150 words.

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How to approach it

  1. Describe the shape of each line in a few words: steep rise, slow steady rise, and up-and-down.
  2. Overview: prices rose everywhere, City X rose most and stayed the most expensive, City Z was unstable.
  3. You do not need every figure. Choose start and end points, plus the peaks and falls.

Model answer

195 words (minimum 150). Written to show the features of a Band 8-level answer.

The line graph illustrates changes in the average price of a house, in thousands of dollars, in three cities from 2000 to 2020.

Overall, prices rose in all three cities over the period, but at very different rates. City X was the most expensive throughout and saw the largest increase, whereas prices in City Y grew slowly and steadily. City Z was the most unstable.

In 2000, the average house cost 180 thousand dollars in City X, 150 thousand in City Y and 120 thousand in City Z. Prices in City X then climbed to 260 thousand in 2005. After a small fall to 240 thousand in 2010, they rose sharply again, to 330 thousand in 2015 and 420 thousand in 2020, more than double the starting figure.

City Y changed far less. Its prices increased a little in each period, from 170 thousand in 2005 to 190 thousand in 2015, and ended at 210 thousand. City Z, by contrast, fluctuated. Prices jumped to 200 thousand in 2005, overtaking City Y, but dropped back to 140 thousand in 2010. They recovered slowly at first and then rapidly, finishing at 230 thousand, slightly above City Y.

Useful language from this answer

at very different rates
comparing how fast things changed
more than double the starting figure
comparing the end with the beginning
grew slowly and steadily
a small, regular increase
fluctuated
went up and down
dropped back to
fell again after a rise

Common mistakes with this question

  • Missing the overview. A report without a clear summary of the main trends cannot score above Band 5 for Task Achievement.
  • Writing '180 dollars' instead of '180 thousand dollars'. Check the unit on the axis.
  • Using 'increase' in every sentence. Vary it with 'climbed', 'rose sharply' and 'jumped'.

Now write your own answer

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This model answer was written by TestWise Prep to show the features of a high-scoring answer. It is not official IELTS material. Use it for ideas and language, not to memorise.