LESSON

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IELTS writing task 1 – line graphs

by Mairi Joanne Anderson

Age: Teenagers / Adults 5. Distribute the Group A suggested answers to the

Level: Intermediate – advanced As and the Group B suggested answers to the Bs
Time: 40 minutes – one copy per group of four students will suffice.
Objective: to practise the adjective + noun and verb Get any feedback and resolve any doubts. Some
+ adverb collocations required to describe students might suggest different collocations to
trends on line graphs in IELTS writing task 1; those on the answer sheet so you may need to
to practise identifying main trends remind them that only certain collocations are
Key skills: writing, speaking possible. You may want to introduce your students
Materials: one copy of worksheet A for half the class; to a concordancer at this point.
one copy of worksheet B for half the class;
6. Now, put the students in pairs: one A with one B.
a few copies of the suggested answer
Do not let them look at each other’s worksheets.
sheets 1, 2 and 3 for the students (about
Ideally, they should sit face to face. The students
Lesson Share TEACHER'S NOTES

one copy per group of four will suffice;

will take it in turns to describe their graphs with one
alternatively, you can project the answers).
student listening and the other drawing the lines
on his or her graph. You should circulate and make
Before the class notes of any problem language to focus on at the
end. When the students have finished, they can
Cut up the first suggested answers sheet as shown. compare worksheets to check their answers. Get
Procedure feedback.

1. Tell your class you are going to practise the 7. Now, ask the pairs to look at the language notes
vocabulary required to describe trends and they made on their worksheets. Have them write
statistics in IELTS writing task 1, in which students beside these their equivalent verb or verb + adverb
write a report. collocations, (e.g. a sharp increase > increase
sharply). Circulate and help, then distribute the
2. Divide your classroom in two and have all the second suggested answers sheet (one for every
people on one side work on worksheet A and all four students) or project it so students can check
the people on the other on worksheet B. If you their work. Get feedback.
have a very large class, put the people working on
worksheet A into smaller groups and do the same 8. Focus on any errors you noted down during the
for those doing worksheet B. The important thing is activity by writing them up on the board and asking
that As and Bs do not confer. the students to find the problem and correct it.

3. Distribute worksheet A to the As and worksheet B 9. Explain that one of the biggest difficulties for IELTS
to the Bs. Point out that worksheet A and worksheet students is identifying the main trends. Ask the
B are opposites: As will focus on graphs 1 and 3, students to use a coloured pen to circle the main
while Bs will focus on graphs 2 and 4. trends on their graphs. Check together, giving out
one copy of suggested answers sheet 3 per group
4. Tell the groups to brainstorm all the language they of four students or, alternatively, projecting it.
might need in order to describe their graphs and
write them under the graphs. This can take the form
of adjective + noun combinations (e.g. a gradual Extension activity
increase), or nouns on their own (e.g. a fall). Give Ask the students to write up their notes for homework in
the examples just mentioned, or similar ones of the form of a mini report on each or one of the graphs.
your own, so students know what kind of language
you are after, then set a time limit of approximately
five minutes.
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LESSON SHARE / Reading / IELTS writing task 1 – line graphs

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 LESSON
SHARE

IELTS writing task 1 – line graphs

by Mairi Joanne Anderson
Graph 1 Notes
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Notes
Graph 2
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Lesson Share WORKSHEET A

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Notes
Graph 3
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Graph 4 Notes
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LESSON SHARE / Reading / IELTS writing task 1 – line graphs

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 LESSON
SHARE

IELTS writing task 1 – line graphs

by Mairi Joanne Anderson
Graph 1 Notes
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Notes
Graph 2
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Lesson Share WORKSHEET B

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Notes
Graph 3
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Graph 4 Notes
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LESSON SHARE / Reading / IELTS writing task 1 – line graphs

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 LESSON
SHARE

IELTS writing task 1 – line graphs

by Mairi Joanne Anderson

"
Group A
Graph 1
• a gradual/steady + increase/rise
• a levelling off
Lesson Share SUGGESTED ANSWERS 1

• a plateau
• double

Graph 3
• a dramatic/rapid/sharp/significant + decrease/drop/decline/fall
• a jump/surge
• a plummet/slump
• a gradual/steady + increase/rise/fall/decrease
• a levelling off

"
Group B
Graph 2
• a dramatic/rapid/sharp/significant + decrease/drop/decline/fall
• a plummet/slump
• a plateau
• a slight + recovery/increase/drop/decrease
• a dramatic/rapid/sharp/significant + increase/recovery
• a jump

Graph 4
• a gradual/steady/slight/marginal + increase/rise
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LESSON SHARE / Reading / IELTS writing task 1 – line graphs

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 LESSON
SHARE

IELTS writing task 1 – line graphs

by Mairi Joanne Anderson

Graph 1
• increase/rise + gradually/steadily
• level off
• plateau
• remain steady
Lesson Share SUGGESTED ANSWERS 2

• double

Graph 2
• decrease/drop/decline/fall + dramatically/rapidly/sharply/significantly
• plummet/slump
• plateau
• recover/increase/drop/decrease + slightly/marginally
• increase/recover + dramatically/rapidly/sharply/significantly
• jump

Graph 3
• decrease/drop/decline/fall + dramatically/rapidly/sharply/significantly
• jump/surge
• plummet/slump
• increase/rise/fall/decrease + gradually/steadily
• level off

Graph 4
• increase/rise + gradually/steadily/slightly/marginally
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LESSON SHARE / Reading / IELTS writing task 1 – line graphs

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 LESSON
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IELTS writing task 1 – line graphs

by Mairi Joanne Anderson
Graph 1 Notes
Rates double between 1990 and 2020.

After 2020, they level off.

Females stay in the lead position throughout the

period.
Lesson Share SUGGESTED ANSWERS 3

Notes
Graph 2
There are more drop-outs at the beginning/end of
12
IELTS – intensive courses the course.
10
There are more drop-outs at home than abroad.
% drop-outs

8
6 The period with the fewest drop-outs is mid-course.
abroad
4
2 at home
0
1-5 6-10 11-15 16-20 21-25 26-30
30-week course

Graph 3 Notes
The late nineties saw IELTS overtake other exams.

The increase in IELTS and decrease in other exams

slowed down shortly after this date.

Graph 4 Notes
Each country maintains its position but the gap
between them gradually widens.
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LESSON SHARE / Reading / IELTS writing task 1 – line graphs

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