Academic Task 1
IELTS Academic Writing Task 1: Internet access (line graph)
Question type: Academic Task 1: line graph
The question
The line graph below shows the percentage of households with internet access in three countries between 2000 and 2020.
- Country A
- Country B
- Country C
View the data as a table
| 2000 | 2005 | 2010 | 2015 | 2020 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Country A | 22% | 45% | 68% | 84% | 95% |
| Country B | 8% | 20% | 41% | 63% | 82% |
| Country C | 2% | 6% | 18% | 39% | 61% |
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.
Write your own answer first. Then get an estimated band and corrections from our AI marker.
Answer this questionHow to approach it
- All three lines rise, so the overview should say that, and note that Country A stayed highest.
- Describe each country's starting point and end point, plus one middle year.
- Compare speed of growth: Country C grew fastest from the lowest start.
Model answer
156 words (minimum 150). Written to show the features of a Band 8-level answer.
The line graph illustrates the percentage of households with internet access in three countries between 2000 and 2020.
Overall, internet access increased significantly in all three countries over the twenty-year period. Country A had the highest level of access throughout, while Country C had the lowest, although the gap between the countries narrowed considerably.
In 2000, 22% of households in Country A had internet access, compared with 8% in Country B and just 2% in Country C. Country A saw steady growth, reaching 68% in 2010 and almost universal access, at 95%, by 2020.
Country B followed a similar upward pattern but at a lower level. Its figure rose to 41% in 2010 and then to 82% in 2020. Country C started much more slowly, with only 6% of households connected in 2005 and 18% in 2010. However, growth then accelerated sharply, and the proportion more than tripled over the following decade to 61% in 2020.
Useful language from this answer
- illustrates
- an alternative to 'shows'
- the gap… narrowed considerably
- the difference became much smaller
- almost universal access
- nearly everyone had it
- followed a similar upward pattern
- comparing two trends
- growth then accelerated sharply
- the increase became much faster
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.
- Giving your opinion or explaining why the changes happened. Task 1 Academic only asks you to describe the data.
- Listing every number in order instead of selecting the key figures and making comparisons.
Now write your own answer
Reading a model helps, but writing is what improves your band. Answer this question and get an estimated band for all four criteria, with corrections taken from your own sentences.
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.