Task 1 · line graph · 18 samples

The graph below shows the consumption of 3 spreads from 1981 to 2007.

Data or diagram for the writing questionPractise this task →

Plan your answer

Try your own response before reading the samples.

Ideas to explore

  • Identify the overall direction of each line separately: margarine and butter fall over the full period, while the low-fat variety rises after it appears and then declines.
  • Highlight key turning points: butter peaks in 1986, margarine reaches a plateau around 100 grams in 1991–1996, and the low-fat line surges by 2001.
  • Mention crossovers where they change the ranking: Low Fat & Reduced Spreads is highest in 2001, while butter and margarine are no longer the leading series.

Suggested structure

  1. Introduce the graph, naming all three spreads, the years and the unit.
  2. Give an overview that accurately summarises the different overall patterns and the late-period ranking.
  3. Describe butter and margarine together, using their start values, peaks or plateaus and final values.
  4. Describe the later-starting low-fat series and compare its 2001 peak with the other spreads.
Useful vocabulary & examples
reached a peak of
rose to its highest recorded value

Butter reached a peak of approximately 160 grams in 1986.

remained stable at
stayed at approximately the same level

Margarine consumption remained stable at around 100 grams from 1991 to 1996.

overtook both alternatives
became higher than the other two series

Low Fat & Reduced Spreads overtook both alternatives in 2001.

eased to
fell slightly or gradually to a lower value

The low-fat spread eased to about 70 grams by 2007.

Sample answers

AI-completed learning example

207 words · Illustrative target band

The percentages of employed women in the four countries between 1985 and 2005 are demonstrated in the line graph. Overall , what stands out from the graph is that all of the countries experienced a significant growth in the number of occupied women while in Afghanistan , it declined enormously during the given period . The description above does not match the supplied visual: the graph shows the consumption of margar…

Read full answer & analysis →

AI-completed learning example

188 words · Illustrative target band

The line graph illustrates the amount of 3 different kinds of spreads(Margarine, low fat & reduced spreads, Butter) which were consumed between 1981 and 2007. Units are measured in grams. Overall, margarine and butter spreads showed a downward trend over a period, while the percentage of low fat & reduced spreads rose. Initially, Butter was the most popular spread, at about 140 grams. Its consumption then climbed to …

Read full answer & analysis →

AI-completed learning example

190 words · Illustrative target band

The line graph illustrates the daily consumption of three different spreads per person between 1981 and 2007 in a country. Overall, butter showed dramatic fall throughout the period, reaching around 50 grams in 2007. Margarine fluctuated between around 90gm and 40gram, while low fat and reduced spreads accounted highest usage, reaching around 70 gram in 2007. In 1981, butter was the most popular spread, at about 140 …

Read full answer & analysis →