Yesterday I looked at this question with my students. When describing a line graph:
- Do not describe each line separately.
- You must compare the figures.
Here is an example of how to compare the 4 lines for the year 1990:
In 1990, almost 90% of 14 to 24 year olds went to the cinema at least once a year. Cinema attendance was about 30% lower than this among people aged 25 to 34 and 35 to 49, while the figure for those aged over 50 was the lowest, at only 40%.
If you can write comparisons like this, you will get a very high score. Try using my comparison as a model to help you compare the figures for 2010.
Hi simon
I have a grammatical question:
I wander which one is true:
"on one hand" or "on the one hand"
and after that
"on other hand" or "on the other hand"
regards
Posted by: bahare | January 06, 2011 at 10:12
Hi Simon
I WROTE THE FOLLOWING
The line graph shows the percentage of different age groups of Australians attending cinema at least once a year between 1990 and 2010.
As can be seen from the graph, the percentage of all age groups went to the cinema increased over the last 2 decades. The highest increase was for people aged 35-49 (25%), this is followed by those aged over 50 (20%) and about 15% for the group aged 25-34. In spite of it was always the highest percentage of all groups (90%), the change in the proportion of increase of the teenage group who went to the cinema was the lowest over the same period (8%).
In 1990, almost 90% of 14 to 24 year olds went to the cinema at least once a year. Cinema attendance was about 30% lower than this among people aged 25 to 34 and 35 to 49, while the figure for those aged over 50 was the lowest, at only 40%. Five years later, the percentage of the three groups aged over 25 increased by about 10%, whereas the figure of the group aged 14- 24 decreased by about 5%, then it returned to 90% in 1995 and remained at this figure from 1998 until 2008 and peaked at 95% in 1996 and 2010. The proportion of groups aged 25-34 and 35-49 increased gradually to cross at 70% in 2006, then in 2010, it decreased by about 7% for the first group and increased by approximately 5% for the second group.
THANKS
Posted by: mhatab | January 06, 2011 at 12:19
In 2010, almost 100% of 14 to 24 year olds went to the cinema at least once a year.
Cinema attendance was about 10-20% lower than this among people aged 25 to 34 and 35 to 49, while the figure for those aged over 50 was the lowest, at only 60%.
Posted by: Choung | January 06, 2011 at 12:32
hi,simon.
could you tell me what the difference between in meaning between the following sentences is ;
1,I will do my homework next week.
2,I will be doing my homework next week.
Posted by: ahmedtawfik13@yahoo.com | January 06, 2011 at 13:32
Hi Simon,
I have a question, if I write only about 1999 and 2010, Do you think that is enough and I will get a high score in the exame?
Many Thanks,
Sara
Posted by: Sara | January 06, 2011 at 14:21
Hi Bahare,
You can say "On one hand" OR "On the one hand".
However, you can ONLY say "On THE other hand".
...
Hi Mhatab,
You've got the right idea. Don't forget to keep mentioning "cinema attendance". From "5 years later" you didn't mention it.
...
Hi Choung,
Excellent, you followed my advice perfectly!
...
Hi Ahmed,
The first sentence is a plan/intention.
The second sentence means you will be doing your homework when something else happens e.g. While you are at the party, I will be doing my homework.
...
Hi Sara,
You could do quite well, but it's best to write something about what happens "in the middle" too. Look at the link below to see a full example.
http://ielts-simon.com/ielts-help-and-english-pr/2010/06/ielts-writing-task-1-line-graph.html
Hope this helps
Posted by: Simon | January 06, 2011 at 16:32
Hi Simon
I think the question is the prediction to 2010 so we should use future tense. Am I right? I mentioned to Choung's writing.
Regards.
Posted by: Long Vuong | January 06, 2011 at 17:47
Hi Simon
According to your advice, I wrote the pragarph 2 for 2010 as follow:
The figure for the age group of 14 to 24 is predicted to continue significant increase of nearly 10% between 1990 to 2010. Cinema attendance will be 10% lower than this among people aged 35 to 49, but 10% higher than those of the age from 25 to 34. Meanwhile, it is projected that the lowest percentage will still take up by the age group over 50, at 60%.
Regards.
Posted by: Long Vuong | January 06, 2011 at 18:22
Hi Simon,
is the following introduction ok?
The line graph shows the number of Australian people in four different age groups visiting cinemas at least once a year between 1990 and 2010.
Thanks a lot
Posted by: Karin | January 06, 2011 at 20:26
thanks a lot dear simon
Posted by: bahare | January 07, 2011 at 07:07
Hi Simon! Could you please post your essay for writing task 1, test 4 of cambridge 6? I have tried doing it but I just can't correlate the 2 bar charts. they don't jibe especially becasue for bar chart 1, the number of divorces increased while in chart 2 it increased. Hope you can post your essay before my exam on January 22. I'll really appreciate it. Thanks a lot!
Posted by: grazilda | January 07, 2011 at 09:22
Hi simon,
it is very urgent. Tomorrow will be m exam.
The ques is when in task1 in bar chart has not showen any time then how should I write? I meant past simple or present simple. Please ans my question.
Posted by: sharmeen | January 07, 2011 at 17:56
Hi Long,
Yes, this test was obviously written before 2010, so it would be better to use the future to predict for 2010. Your description is very good.
As we are now in 2011, the past tense is also acceptable, but in the real exam there will be no confusion.
...
Hi Karin,
Yes, that's a good introduction.
...
No problem Bahare.
...
Hi Grazilda,
For that question, you can write a separate paragraph about each chart. Even though the topic is similar, you cannot compare the 2 charts because they show completely different information - the first shows millions but the second shows percentages. Different years and categories are also shown.
I'll try to do a lesson about this soon, but hopefully it helps you to know that you can describe each chart separately.
...
Hi Sharmeen,
If no years are shown, use present simple.
Posted by: Simon | January 07, 2011 at 19:03
Thank you
sharmeen
Posted by: sharmeen | January 07, 2011 at 19:21
No problem Sharmeen. I hope it went well today.
Posted by: Simon | January 08, 2011 at 17:25
In 2010, almost 98% of 14 to 24 years old went to the cinema at least one a year. But index of people aged 25 to 34 and 35 to 49 in that period was considerably discrepancy (73% and 88%) while the figure for those aged over 50 was the latest at only 60%.
Posted by: Asselkz | January 12, 2011 at 18:16
Hi Asselkz,
You've got the right idea, but you can't say "index of people" or "latest".
Posted by: Simon | January 12, 2011 at 23:01
Hi Simon
I want to thank you alot because I get a benfit from your websit and your advice
so thank you so mach
Posted by: sara | January 17, 2011 at 10:57
Hi Simon
I wrote the introduction
The line graph show a group of people a
round 14 to 50 years old in Australia who
attendence cinema almost once a year
between 1990 to 2010. AS the graph explain
their was dramataclly change in percentage
of age groups people last cuple of years.
thank you
sara John
Posted by: sara | January 17, 2011 at 12:44
Hi Sara,
I'm glad you like the site.
You have a few spelling and grammar mistakes in your introduction. I don't check mistakes on this site, but I think you should show your work to a teacher so that you can get some help and have your mistakes corrected.
Posted by: Simon | January 17, 2011 at 17:08
Thankx alot but over all i am agood in writing or not
Posted by: sara | January 18, 2011 at 08:31
Hi Sara,
I don't give scores here on the website, but I'm afraid I can't say that your writing is "good". It's not bad, but you need to work to improve it.
Posted by: Simon | January 18, 2011 at 15:40
Hi Simon,
This graph is exactly what I have problem with. It is almost easy to compare the figures at the beginning of the period, as we are comparing data at a specific point of time. However, it is very difficult to compare them during the whole period as they follow totally different trends.
I so so much appreciate if you give a complete answer to this graph.
I am addicted to your website and have found it the MOST useful teaching method EVER.
Posted by: Sam | March 05, 2011 at 09:13
Thanks Sam!
I'm not sure when I'll have time to write the full essay, but I'll try to do it soon.
Keep up the good work
Posted by: Simon | March 06, 2011 at 22:17
hi simon,
I need your help. I do not know how start my paragraph. when ı look at the chart,ı am confused because ı do not know where ı can start from ? Could you please give me some tips about writing task 1.
Thank you..
Posted by: ed | May 20, 2011 at 21:57
Hi Ed,
There are many tips and examples in my task 1 lessons. If you work through them, I'm sure you'll learn what to do.
Posted by: Simon | May 23, 2011 at 14:43
A sample answer,comments are welcomed.
The graph compares the popularity of cinema in Australia among four different age groups between 1990 and the present (assuming 2006 as the present!),with projections to 2010.
It is obvious that 14-24 years old enjoyed going to cinema most during the period while Australians older than 50 went for movie least often.The activity is expected to become more popular among all age groups except in 25-34 group by the year 2010.
(Next 2 paragraphs to support this overall picture and trend )
Posted by: Phoyazar | June 07, 2011 at 11:03
You've definitely got the right idea Phoyazar.
Posted by: Simon | June 07, 2011 at 18:11
can we write;
14 to 24 years olds people...
between aged 25 to 34 and 35 to 49...
and also
for those age over 50 years.. what is refer to 'those'...
Posted by: smush | July 09, 2011 at 18:57
Hi Smush,
No, I'm afraid we don't say "14 to 24 years olds people".
You can say "between age 25 AND 34".
"those" means "the people"
Posted by: Simon | July 11, 2011 at 22:41
hello Simon,
the line graph illustrates the attendance proportions for four different age groups in a cinema from the year 1990 to 2010.
IS IT TOO COMPLICATED OR CAN I WRITE LIKE THIS??
pls do reply..
thanks in advance
Posted by: suman | April 17, 2012 at 13:02
It doesn't look too complicated to me.
Posted by: Jim | April 19, 2012 at 15:19
Hi Simon,
- lower than this among
- for those aged
what 'this' and 'those' are referred to?
Posted by: boon | April 21, 2012 at 20:17
hi Simon
Can you please check I used your model applied with this paragraph
In 1940, around 9% of Americans were aged 65 and over. Elderly people was about 2.5% lower than among Swedish, while the figure for those lived in Japan was the lowest, at only 40%.
Cambridge IELTS book 5 (page 29).
The graph below shows the proportion of the population aged 65 and over between 1940 and 2040 in three different countries.
thank you
Posted by: zen | April 21, 2012 at 20:39
I'll try to answer:
Boon,
'this' refers to the number in the sentence before (90%), and 'those' means 'the people'.
Zen,
I think you should write "the proportion of elderly people was about 2.5% lower..." in the second sentence (not just "elderly people was...")
Posted by: Jim | April 23, 2012 at 11:57
thanks Jim :)
Posted by: zen | April 26, 2012 at 17:52
HI SIMON
Can I just write ”Cinema attendance among people aged 25 to 34 and 35 to 49 was about 30% lower than this “ ?
Posted by: cherry | June 10, 2012 at 05:29
Hi Simon,
Could you please check if I got the right idea?
This line graph shows the changes of cinema attendance in different age groups in Australia over a period of 20years.
It is clear that all of the age groups attending cinema was increased, although there were certain period which decreased. The proportion of people at the age of between 35 and 49, and over 50 were increased most remarkably.
In 1990, the percentage of people aged 14 to 24 ages was the highest, reaching almost 90 %. But only about 40% people who are above 50 years attended the cinema at least once a year, while each about 60% of two group, 25-34 year and 35 year olds, went to cinema.
The third age group in the graph exceeded the second age group in 2006 and kept rising until nearly 85%. By contrast, the second group fell to almost 70% in 2010. But the other two group, 14-24 year olds and above 50 year olds, rose to nearly 100% and 60% respectively.
Posted by: min | November 11, 2012 at 14:09
Hi Simon
You wrote "14 to 24 year olds". I am not sure do you confused because as far as I know, it is "14 to 24 years old" (year --->years)
Thank you very much.
Posted by: Tuan | October 18, 2014 at 10:27
Hi Simon,
I wrote the introduction and the overview of the line chart. Can you can an eye over mine, please? I will appreciate it.
The line chart illustrates the percentage of Australians in four different age groups going to the cinema at least once a year between 1990 and 2010.
It is clear that the 14 to 24-year-old group had the highest rate of cinema-goers, at nearly 100% in the year 2010. However, the figure for the those aged over fifty remained lowest over the period shown.
Thanks a lot.
Posted by: Lisa | June 12, 2015 at 09:20
Sorry that I made some mistakes in my previous comments. I would like to correct it.
The line chart illustrates the percentage of Australians in four different age groups going to the cinema at least once a year between 1990 and 2010.
It is clear that the 14 to 24-year-old group had the highest rate of cinema-goers, at nearly 100% in the year 2010. However, the figure for those aged over 50 remained lowest over the period shown.
Posted by: Lisa | June 12, 2015 at 09:22
Hello simon,
thank you for your help!
Can i write "In 2010, almost 99% of 14 to 24 year olds went to the cinema at least once a year. Cinema attendance was about 20% and 15% lower than this among people aged 25 to 34 and 35 to 49 respectively, while the figure for those aged over 50 was the lowest, at only 50%"
thank you so much, simon!
Posted by: Phamthoa | July 14, 2015 at 05:47
Hi Simon, Can you please post the complete answer of this question......
Posted by: Treesa | September 17, 2015 at 18:23
The graph gives the percentage of cinemagoers according to their age group in Australia from 1990 to the present, with forecast to 2010.
It is clear that the cinema attendant in all groups (except in 25-34 year olds group) has increased and is projected to increase compared with the initial amount in 1990.Also, It is noticeable that enthusiasm for going to the cinema among 14-24 year olds group has been significantly higher than other groups and the same trend is expected to 2010.
Posted by: Behnam | June 29, 2016 at 07:27
In the year 2010, almost 95% of those aged 14 to 24 went to a cinema at least once a year. Cinema attendance was about 10% and 20% lower than this among the 35-to-49-year-olds and 25 to 34-year-olds. The figure was lowest for those aged 50 and above, atjust over 60%.
Posted by: 6324upup | August 06, 2019 at 09:23
Can we not write numbers in overall
Posted by: Nidhi royal | October 08, 2020 at 16:54