Line graph – three answers compared

One Task 1 line graph answered at around Band 5.5, 6.5 and 8, with examiner-style commentary, eight sentences upgraded line by line, a checklist and a practice task.

The Writing course teaches you the language of trends. This lesson shows you what that language looks like when it is used well and when it is used badly, on one task. You will read three complete answers to the same line graph, see each marked against the four criteria, and then upgrade the middle answer sentence by sentence.

Read each answer before you read its commentary, and try to predict the problems yourself. That prediction is the skill you need in the exam, when you must examine your own writing.

All band labels in this course are estimates. Examiners work from the published descriptors, and a real script can be stronger on one criterion and weaker on another.

The task

Writing Task 1. You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

The graph below shows how the new cars registered in one country were divided between four types of power in selected years from 2012 to 2024.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Write at least 150 words.

The graph is given here as a table. The figures are percentages of all new cars registered in each year, so each column adds up to 100.

Before you read on, spend two minutes finding the overview yourself. A good overview here answers three questions. Which types fell, and which rose? Which was biggest at the start and at the end? Did any lines cross?

Answer A, around Band 5.5

The line graph shows the percentage of new cars registered in one country by four types of power from 2012 to 2024.

In 2012, petrol cars were the most popular with 57%, and diesel was 40%. Hybrid and electric cars were very low, they were 2% and 1%. In 2014 petrol decreased to 55% and diesel stay at 40%. Hybrid increased to 4% and electric was 1%. Then in 2016 petrol increase to 56% and diesel decrease to 35%. Hybrid was 7% and electric was 2%. In 2018 petrol was 58%, diesel was 26%, hybrid was 12% and electric was 4%.

In 2020 petrol went down to 52%, diesel went down to 17%, hybrid went up to 20% and electric went up to 11%. In 2022 petrol was 44%, diesel was 10%, hybrid was 26% and electric was 20%. In 2024 petrol was 36%, diesel was only 6%, hybrid was 28% and electric was 30%.

In conclusion, petrol and diesel went down and hybrid and electric went up. Electric cars are a good way to protect the environment, so I think more people will buy them in the future.

Examiner-style commentary on Answer A

Task Achievement. The answer reports all 28 figures in the table, year by year, so there is no selection at all. This is the most common Band 5 pattern: the candidate recounts detail mechanically. The only statement of the main trend is the first sentence of the last paragraph, petrol and diesel went down and hybrid and electric went up. It is correct, but it is placed as a conclusion, it is very general, and it is not supported by any comparison of size, because the reader is never told that diesel collapsed while petrol fell moderately, or that electric cars ended near the top. The final sentence, Electric cars are a good way to protect the environment, so I think more people will buy them in the future, gives an opinion and a prediction. Task 1 asks for neither, so this sentence is irrelevant content and also uses words that could have gone into a comparison. There is almost no comparison anywhere. Task Achievement is held at around Band 5.

Coherence and Cohesion. The organisation is chronological, which is logical but unhelpful, and the paragraphs have no central topic beyond these years. Almost every sentence begins with a date, and the only linking words are Then and In conclusion. The reader has to do the work of seeing patterns. There is no referencing at all: petrol is repeated eight times as a bare noun. Around Band 5.

Lexical Resource. The vocabulary is limited and repetitive: was is used as the verb in nearly every clause, and the only change verbs are decreased, increased, went up, went down. There is an error of expression: Hybrid and electric cars were very low (the share was low, not the cars). There is no flexibility, and no word beyond everyday level. Spelling is accurate. The range is just enough to get the message across, which is characteristic of around Band 5.5.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy. Almost every sentence is a simple sentence, so range is narrow. Errors are frequent and mostly of the same kind: verbs without the past ending (diesel stay at 40%, petrol increase to 56%, diesel decrease to 35%), and a comma splice (very low, they were 2% and 1%). The errors do not prevent understanding, but few sentences are error-free. Around Band 5.5.

Estimate: Task Achievement around 5, Coherence and Cohesion around 5, Lexical Resource around 5.5, Grammar around 5.5, which is around Band 5.5 overall.

Answer B, around Band 6.5

The line graph compares the proportion of new cars registered in one country according to four types of power between 2012 and 2024.

Overall, petrol and diesel cars became less popular, while hybrid and electric cars became much more popular. Petrol was the most common type for most of the period.

In 2012, petrol cars accounted for 57% of new registrations and diesel for 40%. Over the following years, the share of diesel cars fell steadily to 26% in 2018 and then dropped sharply to only 6% in 2024. Petrol cars stayed fairly stable at about 55% until 2018, but after that they decreased to 36% in 2024.

On the other hand, hybrid and electric cars were rare at the beginning. Hybrid cars were only 2% in 2012, but they rose gradually to 12% in 2018 and then reached 28% in 2024. Electric cars had the smallest share (1%) in 2012, however they grew rapidly after 2018 and finally reached 30% in 2024, which was higher than hybrid cars. At the end of the period, electric cars was nearly as popular as petrol cars.

Examiner-style commentary on Answer B

Task Achievement. There is a clear overview in its own paragraph: petrol and diesel cars became less popular, while hybrid and electric cars became much more popular. That alone lifts the answer out of Band 5. Selection is much better: the answer reports 11 of the 28 figures and groups the four lines into two pairs. The weaknesses are these. The overview does not say how different the two falling lines were, so petrol and diesel are treated as one trend when diesel fell by 34 points and petrol by 21. Two important features are missing: hybrid cars overtook diesel by 2020, and electric cars overtook both diesel and hybrid. Some description is also inaccurate. Diesel fell steadily to 26% in 2018 and then dropped sharply is a misreading of the pattern, because the fall was 14 points in the four years to 2018 and 20 points in the six years after that, so it was steady throughout and slowing in the end. Petrol cars stayed fairly stable at about 55% hides the fact that the figure reached 58%. Band 6 to 6.5 for this criterion.

Coherence and Cohesion. The paragraphing is logical (overview, falling types, rising types) and each body paragraph has one topic. Progression within paragraphs is clear. The linking is competent but a little mechanical: On the other hand opens the third paragraph as a reflex, since the contrast between falling and rising types has already been made in the overview, and however is used to join two clauses (see below). There is little referencing beyond they and after that. Around Band 6.5.

Lexical Resource. The answer has a good basic set of trend vocabulary, used mostly accurately: accounted for, fell steadily, dropped sharply, stayed fairly stable, rose gradually, rapidly. There is some repetition: popular appears three times and reached twice, in close succession. Little of the vocabulary is uncommon, and the same pattern (cars were only 2%, they rose to) is repeated. Around Band 6.5.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy. There is a mixture of simple and complex sentences: while clauses, which was higher than hybrid cars, until 2018, but after that. Errors are fewer and more isolated: the comma splice in in 2012, however they grew rapidly, and subject-verb agreement in electric cars was nearly as popular. Many sentences are error-free. Around Band 6.5.

Estimate: Task Achievement around 6, Coherence and Cohesion around 6.5, Lexical Resource around 6.5, Grammar around 6.5, which is around Band 6.5 overall.

Answer C, around Band 8

The line graph shows how the new cars registered in one country were divided between four types of power in selected years from 2012 to 2024.

Overall, the market moved decisively away from diesel and, to a lesser extent, petrol, in favour of hybrid and electric models. Petrol remained the most popular option until the final year, when electric cars came within six percentage points of it.

Petrol and diesel began the period with a combined share of 97%, but diesel then lost ground steadily, slipping from 40% in 2014 to 26% in 2018 and just 6% in 2024. Petrol was more resilient: it held at between 55% and 58% until 2018 before falling to 36% over the next six years.

Hybrid and electric cars started from a low base, at 2% and 1% respectively, and neither exceeded 12% until 2020. Hybrids overtook diesel by 2020 (20% against 17%) and went on to reach 28%, while electric cars, which had trailed diesel until 2020, rose fivefold in four years, from 4% in 2018 to 20% in 2022, and edged ahead of hybrids at 30% against 28%.

Examiner-style commentary on Answer C

Task Achievement. The overview is precise and gives the reader the whole story in two sentences: the direction (away from diesel and petrol, towards hybrid and electric), a difference in degree (to a lesser extent), and the position at the end (within six percentage points of petrol, which is still first). The key features are all present, including the three crossings that a weaker answer misses (hybrid over diesel, electric over diesel, electric over hybrid). Figures are chosen to make a point: a combined share of 97% summarises two starting values in one phrase, and fivefold turns two numbers into a trend. Everything is accurate. The only small gap is that petrol’s final figure (36%) is given in the previous paragraph, not beside electric’s 30%, though within six percentage points makes the comparison clear. Around Band 8.

Coherence and Cohesion. Information flows in a logical sequence, from the whole picture to the falling types and then to the rising types. Each paragraph has a clear topic. Cohesion relies on reference and substitution more than on connectors: it, neither, hybrids, models, option. Petrol was more resilient links back to diesel without a signpost. There are no mechanical connectors. Around Band 8.

Lexical Resource. Flexible, precise and mostly natural: lost ground, slipping, resilient, a low base, edged ahead, in favour of. The vocabulary varies from sentence to sentence rather than repeating the same verb. Decisively in the overview and resilient come close to interpretation, but they describe the data, not its causes, so they are acceptable. Around Band 8.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy. A wide range of structures: participle phrases (slipping from… to…, falling to 36%), relative clauses (which had trailed diesel, when electric cars came), a pair of while/but contrasts, a noun phrase with respectively, a parenthesis. Tenses are controlled, with the past perfect used where it is needed. Nearly all sentences are error-free. Around Band 8.

Estimate: Task Achievement around 8, Coherence and Cohesion around 8, Lexical Resource around 8, Grammar around 8, which is around Band 8 overall.

What separates the three answers

Notice that the gap between A and B is mainly task and organisation: an overview, selection, grouping. The gap between B and C is mainly precision: finding the exact feature (the crossings), the exact degree (fivefold), and the exact word (resilient). These are different kinds of improvement, and you can practise them separately.

The upgrade

Here are eight sentences from Answer B, each rewritten to the standard of Answer C, with the reason.

1. B: The line graph compares the proportion of new cars registered in one country according to four types of power between 2012 and 2024. C: The line graph shows how the new cars registered in one country were divided between four types of power in selected years from 2012 to 2024. Why: Divided between tells the reader the data are parts of a whole, and selected years describes the table accurately. According to is awkward after compares.

2. B: Overall, petrol and diesel cars became less popular, while hybrid and electric cars became much more popular. C: Overall, the market moved decisively away from diesel and, to a lesser extent, petrol, in favour of hybrid and electric models. Why: The rewrite shows the different sizes of the two falls and avoids repeating popular.

3. B: Petrol was the most common type for most of the period. C: Petrol remained the most popular option until the final year, when electric cars came within six percentage points of it. Why: Most of the period is vague. The rewrite names the exact point at which the pattern changes and adds a figure-based comparison.

4. B: Over the following years, the share of diesel cars fell steadily to 26% in 2018 and then dropped sharply to only 6% in 2024. C: Diesel then lost ground steadily, slipping from 40% in 2014 to 26% in 2018 and just 6% in 2024. Why: Dropped sharply was inaccurate, since the fall slowed. One verb phrase now covers the whole period correctly, and the participle slipping removes a clause.

5. B: Petrol cars stayed fairly stable at about 55% until 2018, but after that they decreased to 36% in 2024. C: Petrol was more resilient: it held at between 55% and 58% until 2018 before falling to 36% over the next six years. Why: A range (between 55% and 58%) is more exact than about 55%, and more resilient makes the comparison with diesel explicit.

6. B: On the other hand, hybrid and electric cars were rare at the beginning. C: Hybrid and electric cars started from a low base, at 2% and 1% respectively. Why: Respectively gives both figures in one clause. The contrast with the previous paragraph is already clear, so the connector is deleted.

7. B: Hybrid cars were only 2% in 2012, but they rose gradually to 12% in 2018 and then reached 28% in 2024. C: Hybrids overtook diesel by 2020 (20% against 17%) and went on to reach 28%. Why: A crossing is a key feature and Answer B did not report one for hybrids. A comparison between lines is worth more than a third consecutive figure for the same line.

8. B: Electric cars had the smallest share (1%) in 2012, however they grew rapidly after 2018 and finally reached 30% in 2024, which was higher than hybrid cars. C: Electric cars, which had trailed diesel until 2020, rose fivefold in four years, from 4% in 2018 to 20% in 2022, and edged ahead of hybrids at 30% against 28%. Why: The comma splice is removed, rapidly is replaced by a quantity (fivefold in four years), and edged ahead states exactly how large the lead is.

Checklist for a line graph

Use this after you have written, and use it again when you review a practice answer.

1. Overview. Does a separate paragraph or sentence say which lines rose, which fell and which was highest at the start and end? Does it say anything about the difference in degree?
2. No raw listing. Have you left out at least a third of the figures? Is each figure you kept there for a reason: a start, an end, a peak, a low or a crossing?
3. Crossings. Have you said when one line passed another, using a figure from each line?
4. Grouping. Are lines that behave alike in the same paragraph, and does the order of paragraphs follow the story, not the calendar?
5. Accurate verbs. Does every verb of change match the size and speed of the change? Check any word like dramatically, sharply or plummeted against the numbers.
6. Tenses. Is the past tense used for past years, the past perfect after by plus a date, and the present for the description of the graph?
7. No opinion and no cause. Delete any because, I think or prediction.
8. Variety. Have you used participle phrases, while or whereas contrasts and relative clauses, not just In 2016, X was…?
9. Spot your errors. Check for the three mistakes you make most often. For many learners these are verb endings, the and by/to.

Practice task

Writing Task 1. The graph below shows the average number of visits per person per year to four types of venue in one country between 1990 and 2020. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.

Short plan

• Overview. Two lines moved in one direction (libraries down, sports events up). Cinema rose and then fell. Theatre barely changed. Libraries began far ahead of the others, and by 2020 sports events were first.
• Paragraph 1. The two big movers: libraries fell from 5.2 to 1.9, and sports events rose from 1.5 to 4.5. Report the crossing, which happened between 2005 and 2010 when sports events overtook libraries.
• Paragraph 2. The two minor lines: cinema peaked at 3.4 in 2005, then fell back to 2.6 and ended above libraries. Theatre was the lowest throughout and rose only slightly.
• Check. Use at least two comparisons, one participle phrase and one range (for example between 2.9 and 3.4). Aim for 170 words, and compare your overview with the checklist.

Key points

• Answer A lists, B reports, and C interprets the data. The overview and selection decide whether you pass Band 5 for Task Achievement.
• A crossing between two lines is a key feature. Missing every crossing is one of the commonest reasons for Band 6.
• Verbs of change must fit the numbers, so test words like sharply against the data.
• Opinions, causes and predictions have no place in Task 1.
• At Band 8, comparison is built into nearly every sentence, and exact quantities (fivefold, six percentage points) replace vague words.

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