Academic Task 1
IELTS Academic Writing Task 1: Population by age group (line graph)
Question type: Academic Task 1: line graph
The question
The line graph below shows the percentage of the population of one country in three age groups between 1980 and 2020, with predictions for 2040.
- Aged 0 to 14
- Aged 15 to 64
- Aged 65 and over
View the data as a table
| 1980 | 2000 | 2020 | 2040 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 14 | 30 | 24 | 18 | 15 |
| Aged 15 to 64 | 62 | 65 | 64 | 58 |
| Aged 65 and over | 8 | 11 | 18 | 27 |
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
- Check the dates. The last point is a prediction, so you need future forms such as 'is expected to' for 2040.
- Overview: the working-age group is always largest; children fall and older people rise until they change places.
- Use 2020 as the turning point, because the youngest and oldest groups are equal in that year.
Model answer
202 words (minimum 150). Written to show the features of a Band 8-level answer.
The line graph gives information about the share of one country's population in three age groups from 1980 to 2020, and shows what is expected in 2040.
Overall, people of working age, between 15 and 64, made up by far the largest group throughout and are predicted to remain so. The proportion of children fell steadily, whereas the proportion of older people rose, and the two are expected to have changed places by the end of the period.
In 1980, 62% of the population was aged 15 to 64. This figure rose slightly to 65% in 2000 and was almost unchanged in 2020, at 64%, but it is forecast to drop to 58% by 2040.
The other two groups moved in opposite directions. Children aged 0 to 14 accounted for 30% of the population in 1980, nearly four times the figure for people aged 65 and over, which was only 8%. By 2020 the share of children had fallen to 18%, while that of older people had more than doubled to reach exactly the same level. The gap is predicted to widen again by 2040, when 27% of the population will be 65 or older and just 15% will be under 15.
Useful language from this answer
- are predicted to remain so
- a future figure that does not change rank
- is forecast to drop to
- a predicted fall
- are expected to have changed places
- two groups swap positions by a future date
- was almost unchanged
- a very small difference between two years
- had more than doubled
- past perfect for a change completed by a date
Common mistakes with this question
- Missing the overview. A report without a clear summary of the main features cannot score above Band 5 for Task Achievement.
- Using the past tense for 2040. Predictions need 'will', 'is expected to' or 'is forecast to'.
- Saying the number of children fell. The chart shows percentages of the population, not numbers of people.
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.