Tech Notes

Topic & Why It Matters

The line graph is the most common Task 1 Academic question type. You are given a graph that shows how one or more variables change over time, and you must describe and compare the key trends in at least 150 words in 20 minutes. The graph can be single-line (one variable over time), multi-line (two or more variables tracked together — the most common version), or partly projected (a dashed segment showing forecast data for future years).

Most marks are lost in two places. The first is the overview: examiners treat a missing or buried overview as a Task Achievement failure regardless of how fluent the rest of the response is. The second is selection: candidates either copy the prompt and run out of words for the body, or list every data point without comparing anything. A response that selects smartly, writes an explicit overview as paragraph two, and uses precise trend verbs will score Band 7 or above even if the grammar is not perfect.

The four scoring criteria (Task Achievement, Coherence & Cohesion, Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range & Accuracy) are averaged. For the line graph specifically, the highest-leverage criteria are Task Achievement (the overview rule) and Lexical Resource (precise trend vocabulary). This chapter is organised to maximise both.

Knowledge Points

Ten facts about the line-graph task. Each includes a short worked example so you can see the rule in action — read them slowly.

Overview is mandatory — and it is paragraph 2

Every Band-6+ Task 1 response contains an overview: one short paragraph that states the most important trend(s) without quoting specific data. If it is missing — or buried at the end — examiners cap Task Achievement at Band 5 regardless of how fluent the rest of the response is. Example overview (no figures, but it earns the mark): 'Overall, all three countries saw a marked rise in internet use, with South Korea consistently in the lead and Nigeria expanding from the lowest base, though the gap between them narrowed by 2020.' Note what this sentence does: it states direction, scope, relative position, and one nuance — and stops.

Tense follows the data, not the question

If the graph covers a past time frame (e.g., 2000–2020), use past simple throughout: 'rose', 'fell', 'peaked'. If the graph shows no dates or a general / ongoing situation, use present simple. For dashed projection lines, use future or modal forms: 'is projected to', 'is expected to', 'will'. Mixed tenses inside one time frame signal poor grammatical control. Correct example with a projection switch: 'Sales rose to 80 million in 2018 and are projected to reach 95 million by 2025.' One switch, exactly at the boundary.

Select — do not describe everything

A graph with four lines over ten data points has forty values. You should mention only the most significant features: the highest and lowest values, the steepest rise or fall, the most surprising deviation, and overall direction. Rule of thumb: four to six specific figures across the whole response is enough. More than that and your writing starts to read like a table caption, not an analysis.

'Rose by' vs 'rose to' — the most common figure error

'Rose by 20%' means the line moved up by 20 (the change). 'Rose to 20%' means the line ended at 20 (the destination). Mixing the two inverts the meaning. Always pair the right preposition with what you are measuring. Example: 'Brazil rose by 40 percentage points, from 34% in 2010 to 74% in 2020' — 'by' gives the magnitude, the prepositional phrase gives the start and end.

Every number needs a unit

Write '44%' not '44'. Write '$3 billion' not '3'. Missing units are counted as inaccurate data reporting and reduce Task Achievement. The one exception: when a sentence has just introduced a unit and a short, immediate sequence of figures clearly continues to use it ('rose from 44% to 68% and then to 83%').

Group lines by behaviour, not by name

When the graph has three or more lines, do not give each one its own paragraph. Group lines that behave similarly: the lines that rose together in Body A, the line that fell or behaved differently in Body B. Grouping forces comparison — which is exactly what the prompt asks for — and keeps the response inside the time budget. Three separate name-by-name paragraphs read like list entries and almost always miss the comparison mark.

Approximate when the exact value is unclear

Graphs have gridlines, not exact decimal values. Write 'approximately 44%' or 'just under $3 billion'. Approximation is accurate and examiner-friendly; inventing a precise figure you cannot read (e.g., '44.3%') is counted as inaccurate. Useful hedges: 'approximately', 'roughly', 'around', 'just over', 'just under', 'almost', 'nearly'.

Read the axes before reading the lines

Thirty seconds spent confirming the axes saves a wasted essay. Check (a) the unit on the y-axis (%, $, millions), (b) the time range and intervals on the x-axis, and (c) what each colour represents in the legend. The classic Task Achievement failure is to misread the unit — for example, treating a y-axis labelled 'population (millions)' as raw counts of people. Once that mistake is in the introduction, every body figure is wrong.

Significant does not mean extreme — flat lines can matter

A line that stays flat while every other line rises sharply is just as 'significant' as the rising lines, and often more so. Do not confuse 'dramatic' with 'important' — anomalies frequently carry the marks. If one of three countries shows no change at all, that flatness belongs in the overview.

Never give opinions, causes, or recommendations

Task 1 Academic is a description task. Phrases like 'This was due to…', 'This shows that the government should…', or 'In my view, the trend is positive' are out of scope and waste your 20 minutes. Report only what the graph shows. The single exception is reading off a labelled projection line (e.g., 'is forecast to reach…') — that is description of the graph, not personal opinion.

Reading the Graph in 60 Seconds

Do this before you write a single word. Sixty seconds of planning saves four minutes of structural rewriting and prevents almost every Task Achievement failure.

1. Read the title and legend
Identify the variables (what is measured), the unit (%, millions, $), the locations or categories, and the time frame. These four items will form your introduction.
2. Say the y-axis unit out loud
Percent? Millions? Dollars? Saying it aloud blocks the common mistake of treating 'millions' as raw counts. Misreading the unit corrupts every figure in your essay.
3. Find the highest and lowest values on the whole graph
These two values almost always belong in the overview or topic sentences. Note the year as well as the figure — they pair together in any precise sentence.
4. Group the lines by shape, not by name
Sort lines into buckets: rising, falling, flat, or fluctuating. Lines that share a shape become one body paragraph. This decides your structure before you write a word.
5. Write three pencil notes
(a) Overall direction in one phrase. (b) The most important contrast or outlier. (c) One comparison you intend to make in the body. These three notes become your overview paragraph almost verbatim.

Why it works: The first three steps cover Task Achievement (the unit, the highest and lowest values, the time frame). Steps four and five decide your essay structure before you start writing — so the body almost writes itself.

Structure Template

Four paragraphs, roughly 160 words total. Word counts are targets, not hard limits. Each row shows what the paragraph does and a sample opening line taken from the model answer below.

Paragraph	Target	What to Write
Paragraph 1 — Introduction	25–35 words	Paraphrase the question. Name the variables (what is measured), the unit (%, millions, $), and the time frame. Do NOT copy the prompt verbatim — use synonyms and restructure the sentence. e.g. The line graph illustrates the proportion of the population who accessed the internet in three countries — South Korea, Brazil, and Nigeria — across a twenty-year period from 2000 to 2020.
Paragraph 2 — Overview	30–45 words	State the two or three most important trends visible across the whole graph. No specific figures here. Use language like 'Overall, …' or 'In general, …'. This is the most important paragraph for Task Achievement. e.g. Overall, internet adoption rose in all three countries throughout the period, with South Korea consistently in the lead and Nigeria the lowest, though the gap between them narrowed by 2020.
Paragraph 3 — Body A	45–60 words	Describe one group of data in detail (e.g., the lines that rose). Use specific figures, dates, and precise trend vocabulary. Compare lines within the group where relevant. e.g. South Korea began with the highest proportion, at approximately 44%, and climbed steadily to reach 96% by 2020 — the only country to approach near-universal access.
Paragraph 4 — Body B	40–55 words	Describe the remaining data (e.g., the line that fell or behaved differently). End with a comparative or contrastive statement that links back to the overview. e.g. Nigeria's figures were considerably lower throughout, rising sharply from a negligible 0.1% in 2000 to 55% by 2020, a dramatic increase despite the very low starting point.

Golden rule 1: Overview second, not last. Many candidates put the overview at the end. Placing it as the second paragraph signals to the examiner that you understand the task structure — and it guarantees the overview is found.

Golden rule 2: Group lines, do not list them. Body A and Body B should be defined by shared behaviour (rising / falling / flat) — not by line name. Three named paragraphs become a list; two behaviour-grouped paragraphs become a comparison.

Golden rule 3: No figures in the overview. The overview's job is to state the big picture. The moment a specific number appears, the paragraph stops being an overview and starts being part of the body.

Vocabulary & Grammar Toolkit

Organised by function. Aim to use one expression from each category in your response — range matters more than rarity. Memorise the noun forms (third group): they enable nominalisation, a Band 7+ grammar feature most candidates skip.

Direction verbs — general

Expression	Usage Note
rose / increased / grew	Safe, all-purpose upward movement
fell / declined / decreased / dropped	Safe, all-purpose downward movement
climbed	Steady upward movement, often used in body paragraphs
recovered	Rose after a period of decline

Direction verbs — dramatic

Expression	Usage Note
surged / soared / rocketed	Rapid, dramatic rise — use only for steep slopes
plummeted / plunged	Rapid, dramatic fall — reserve for sharp drops
dipped	Brief, minor fall before recovering — not a long decline

Direction nouns (for nominalisation)

Expression	Usage Note
a rise / an increase / a growth in [X]	Use to turn a verb sentence into a noun phrase — a Band 7+ feature
a fall / a decline / a drop in [X]	Noun form of the downward verbs
a surge / a plunge in [X]	Noun forms of dramatic movement
a fluctuation in [X]	Use for irregular up-and-down motion

Peaks and troughs

Expression	Usage Note
peaked at [value] in [year]	Reached the highest point at a specific value
reached a peak of [value]	Noun-phrase variant of 'peaked at'
bottomed out at [value]	Reached the lowest point
hit a low of [value]	Alternative for the lowest point

Stability and pauses

Expression	Usage Note
levelled off / plateaued	Flattened after a period of change
remained stable / stayed constant	Little or no change — only use for genuinely flat lines
held steady at [value]	Stayed at a specific figure
stagnated	Stayed flat after expected growth — implies an underperforming trend

Speed adverbs

Expression	Usage Note
sharply / steeply / rapidly	Fast and large change in a short time
gradually / steadily	Slow, consistent change
suddenly / abruptly	Change at a single point — use when there is a clear jump

Degree adverbs and adjectives

Expression	Usage Note
slightly / marginally	Small change
dramatically / significantly / considerably	Large change in degree (not necessarily speed)
negligibly	Almost no change — paired well with 'negligible' as an adjective

Time framing

Expression	Usage Note
by [year]	Arrival at a value at a specific point: 'had reached 74% by 2020'
from [year] onwards	Continuous change starting at a point
between [year] and [year]	Closed time window — use when comparing two end points
over the period / over the twenty-year period	Refers to the whole span — avoids repeating dates
throughout (the period)	Continuously across the whole time frame

Comparison and contrast

Expression	Usage Note
while / whereas	Contrast two simultaneous trends in one sentence
in contrast / by contrast	Open a sentence with an opposing trend
similarly / likewise	Introduce a parallel trend
[X] was [number] percentage points higher than [Y]	Precise comparison between two percentages
more than doubled / tripled / halved	Powerful ratio comparison — only when the data supports it

Approximation

Expression	Usage Note
approximately / roughly / around	Qualify a value read from a gridline
just over / just under	Tighter approximation — value sits slightly above or below a label
almost / nearly	Close to but not at a round figure

Forecast / projection language

Expression	Usage Note
is projected to reach [value] by [year]	Standard formal verb for dashed projection lines
is expected to / is forecast to	Alternatives to 'is projected to' — all neutral and reportive
will [verb] (to [value])	Future simple — used for clearly labelled forecast data only

Complex grammar slots

Expression	Usage Note
despite [noun / gerund], …	Concessive opener: 'Despite starting from a low base, Nigeria's figures grew rapidly'
having [past participle], [subject] …	Perfect participle for sequencing: 'Having peaked in 2015, the figure declined'
with [noun] [verb-ing], …	Absolute construction: 'with adoption rising across the region, …'

Sentence Patterns

Ten reusable patterns that cover roughly 90% of what a Band 7.5+ line-graph response needs to say. Memorise them with their slots — the grammar is already correct, you only fill in the data.

Pattern	When to use it
[Subject] rose steadily from [X] in [year] to [Y] by [year].	Linear, steady-growth narrative — the workhorse of Body A.
After peaking at [value] in [year], [subject] declined to [value] by [year].	Two-phase narrative: a peak followed by a fall.
The figure for [X] more than doubled, climbing from [Y] to [Z] over the period.	Ratio comparison — Band 7+ when used at most once or twice in a response.
While [X] saw a sharp rise, [Y] remained virtually unchanged.	Simultaneous-contrast sentence — pairs two lines in a single comparison.
[X] experienced a [adjective] [increase / decrease] of [amount / percentage points].	Nominalisation pattern — turns a movement into a noun phrase for variety.
[X] was [number] percentage points higher than [Y] in [year].	Precise numerical comparison — use when the gap is interesting.
Despite starting from a [negligible / low] base, [X] reached [value] by the end of the period.	Concessive opener — a Band 7+ grammar feature for body paragraphs.
By [year], the gap between [X] and [Y] had narrowed / widened to [value].	Past perfect with a comparison — links two lines through a single endpoint.
[X] is projected to reach [value] by [year].	Forecast language — use only for dashed/labelled projection lines.
Both [X] and [Y] followed a similar upward trajectory, although [X] grew more rapidly.	Pairs two lines under a single description, then adds a small contrast.

Pattern Training Game

Reading the patterns above never sticks — you have to type them. The training game drills eight of these patterns in three stages each, so the structure becomes muscle memory before you sit down to write.

Stage	What you do
Trace	Type the full sentence character by character. Errors flash red, combo counts up. Builds the muscle memory.
Fill	The example is gutted down to its skeleton — you type back the structural words. Proves you remember the shape, not just the vocabulary.
Compose	Given a fresh scenario, write your own sentence in the pattern, hit the required markers, then check against a model answer.

Open the training game →

About 20–25 minutes to clear all eight patterns · progress saved in your browser

Nominalisation — a Band 7+ Variety Trick

Nominalisation means converting a verb-led sentence into a noun-led one. It buys you grammatical variety — examiners reward Grammatical Range when they see both forms inside the same response. Aim for one or two nominalised sentences per essay, no more (over-using them sounds bureaucratic).

Verb-led (common)	Noun-led (nominalised)
Sales rose sharply between 2010 and 2015.	There was a sharp rise in sales between 2010 and 2015.
The figure declined gradually after 2018.	A gradual decline in the figure followed 2018.
Internet use grew more than threefold over the period.	Internet use saw more than threefold growth over the period.
Production fluctuated throughout the decade.	Production experienced significant fluctuations throughout the decade.
Prices peaked at $80 in 2020.	Prices reached a peak of $80 in 2020.

How to spot the swap: The verb (rose / fell / grew) becomes a noun (a rise / a fall / growth), and a light verb (was / saw / experienced / followed) takes the verb slot. Adverbs (sharply, gradually) become adjectives (sharp, gradual).

Common Pitfalls

Each pitfall includes a wrong → right pair so you can recognise the error in your own writing.

Copying the prompt word for word

The introduction must paraphrase. Replace key nouns and verbs with synonyms, and restructure the sentence.

Bad:The graph shows the percentage of people using the internet in three countries from 2000 to 2020.

Good:The line graph illustrates the proportion of the population who accessed the internet in South Korea, Brazil, and Nigeria across a twenty-year period from 2000 to 2020.

Omitting (or burying) the overview

Write a dedicated overview paragraph as paragraph 2. Start it with 'Overall,' and state the two most important trends — with no figures.

Bad:[Intro] → [In 2000, South Korea had 44%, while Brazil had 3% and Nigeria 0.1%. By 2005…]

Good:[Intro] → [Overall, internet adoption rose in all three countries throughout the period, with South Korea consistently in the lead and Nigeria expanding from the lowest base, though the gap narrowed by 2020.] → [Body A] → [Body B]

Listing every data point

Select only the most significant values (highest, lowest, sharpest change). Aim for four to six specific figures in the whole response.

Bad:In 2000 it was 44%. In 2005 it was 68%. In 2010 it was 83%. In 2015 it was 90%. In 2020 it was 96%.

Good:South Korea climbed steadily from approximately 44% in 2000 to 96% by 2020.

Wrong tense for dated data

A graph dated 1990–2010 uses past simple throughout. Mixing tenses inside one time frame signals poor grammatical accuracy.

Bad:The figure rises from 30% in 1990 to 45% in 2010.

Good:The figure rose from 30% in 1990 to 45% in 2010.

Inventing precise figures

If the gridline shows approximately 44%, write 'approximately 44%' — not '44.3%'. Use hedges where the value is ambiguous.

Bad:Brazil reached 74.3% in 2020.

Good:Brazil reached approximately 74% in 2020.

Writing Practice — Write the Full Response

Patterns and vocabulary are scaffolding. The actual skill is sitting down for 20 minutes and producing a 150+ word response under time pressure. Do this now, before you read the model answer below — looking at the model first makes this exercise almost useless.

Set a 20-minute timer. Plan for 60 seconds using the five-step workflow above, then write your response. Resist looking at the model answer until you finish.

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

The line graph below shows the percentage of the population using the internet in three countries — South Korea, Brazil, and Nigeria — from 2000 to 2020.

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

Write at least 150 words.

Graph data (use this to write your response):

Year	South Korea	Brazil	Nigeria
2000	44%	3%	0.1%
2005	68%	21%	3%
2010	83%	41%	28%
2015	90%	60%	47%
2020	96%	74%	55%

30-second plan before you write: All three rise → that is the overview direction. South Korea and Brazil share a similar shape → group them in Body A. Nigeria starts near zero and grows fastest in percentage terms → Body B. The gap between South Korea and Nigeria narrows from ~44 to ~41 percentage points → mention this in the overview.

My Response

0 / 150 words

150 more words needed

Model AnswerBand 7.5+ · ~165 words

The line graph illustrates the proportion of the population who accessed the internet in three countries — South Korea, Brazil, and Nigeria — across a twenty-year period from 2000 to 2020.

Overall, internet adoption rose in all three countries throughout the period, with South Korea recording consistently the highest rates and Nigeria the lowest, though the gap between them narrowed considerably by 2020.

South Korea began with the highest proportion, at approximately 44%, and climbed steadily to reach 96% by 2020 — the only country to approach near-universal internet access. Brazil, starting from a far lower base of around 3%, followed a similar upward trajectory and had reached 74% by the end of the period, more than doubling its figure between 2010 and 2020.

Nigeria's figures were considerably lower throughout. Usage stood at a negligible 0.1% in 2000 before rising sharply to 28% by 2010. Growth then continued at a rapid rate, with the figure reaching 55% by 2020 — a dramatic increase over the full period, despite the country starting from a negligible base.

Annotated Commentary

Each paragraph is quoted, then broken down by examiner criteria. Study which phrases earn marks and why — these are the moves you copy.

[ Paraphrase ]Paragraph 1 — Introduction

The line graph illustrates the proportion of the population who accessed the internet in three countries — South Korea, Brazil, and Nigeria — across a twenty-year period from 2000 to 2020.

Lexical upgrade'proportion of the population' replaces 'percentage of people'

Lexical upgrade'accessed the internet' replaces 'used the internet'

Syntax change'across a twenty-year period from' restructures the original time phrase

PunctuationEm-dashes around 'South Korea, Brazil, and Nigeria' embed the list without a clumsy relative clause

[ Thesis ]Paragraph 2 — Overview

Thesis (overview)States direction (rose), scope (all three), and relative positions — no specific figures

Cohesive device'Overall,' signals the overview paragraph to the examiner

Complex grammar'with South Korea recording … and Nigeria the lowest' — absolute construction (Band 7+ feature)

Complex grammar'though the gap between them narrowed considerably' — concessive clause adding nuance

Lexical upgrade'adoption' (noun) instead of 'use'; 'consistently' for precision

[ Topic sentence ]Paragraph 3 — Body A

Topic sentenceOpens with the dominant line (South Korea) and its defining feature (highest throughout)

Complex grammarDash construction ('— the only country to…') adds a relative observation without a full new sentence

Complex grammar'Brazil, starting from a far lower base of around 3%, …' — present-participle reduction (Band 7+)

Cohesive device'a similar upward trajectory' achieves cohesion through lexical reference rather than overusing linkers

Lexical upgrade'trajectory' instead of 'trend'; 'approach near-universal' instead of 'almost reach 100%'

Ratio comparison'more than doubling its figure' is a powerful, concise comparison

Approximation'approximately 44%', 'around 3%' — hedged values used where the gridline does not give an exact figure

[ Contrast ]Paragraph 4 — Body B

Topic sentence'Nigeria's figures were considerably lower throughout' contrasts directly with the overview, signalling the new paragraph's focus

Cohesive device'then' links the two time phases within the paragraph

Complex grammar'despite the country starting from a negligible base' — concessive participle construction (Band 7+)

Complex grammar'with the figure reaching 55% by 2020' — 'with + noun + -ing' absolute construction

Lexical upgrade'negligible' instead of 'very small'; 'usage stood at' instead of 'it was'

Data accuracyAll figures match the graph; approximation words are omitted where the value is exact

How the Model Answer Was Built

The model answer above did not come out fully formed. Here is the decision path behind it — five steps that you can copy on test day.

Step 1 — Read the graph and write three pencil notes

Before writing a single sentence, the writer noted: (a) 'overall: all three rose'; (b) 'SK highest throughout, NG lowest'; (c) 'gap narrowed by 2020'. These three notes become the overview paragraph almost verbatim. The 60 seconds spent here is the single highest-leverage minute of the whole task.

Step 2 — Decide the grouping (the most important structural choice)

South Korea and Brazil both rose along a similar steep trajectory — they are grouped together in Body A. Nigeria is the outlier: it started near zero and grew fastest in percentage terms, so it gets its own paragraph in Body B. Grouping by behaviour rather than by name halves the writing load (two stories, not three) and forces comparison rather than listing.

Step 3 — Write the overview second, not last

Direction ('rose') + scope ('all three') + relative position ('SK highest, NG lowest') + one nuance ('gap narrowed'). No figures. Done in one sentence. Placing this second signals task awareness to the examiner.

Step 4 — Pack Body A with three to four figures, not all of them

South Korea start (44%), South Korea end (96%), Brazil start (3%), Brazil end (74%), plus one ratio statement ('more than doubling'). That is five figures — enough to demonstrate accurate reporting without veering into a list. The figure for 2010 (the start of Brazil's doubling) is implicit in the phrase 'between 2010 and 2020'.

Step 5 — Build Body B around the contrast

Open with 'Nigeria's figures were considerably lower throughout' — this contrasts directly with the overview and signals the paragraph focus immediately. Close with a Band 7+ concessive: 'despite the country starting from a negligible base'. The concession reframes the figures as more impressive than they look in absolute terms — a small interpretive layer that stays inside Task 1's descriptive scope.

Band Descriptor Map

Why does the model answer score Band 7.5+? This table maps it to the four official criteria — useful for self-marking your own practice responses.

Criterion	Evidence in the model answer
Task Achievement	Clear overview as paragraph 2 with no figures; all key features covered; figures accurate and appropriately hedged; no opinions, causes, or recommendations.
Coherence & Cohesion	Logical paragraphing (intro → overview → Body A → Body B); explicit linkers used sparingly ('Overall,', 'while', 'in contrast'); cohesion also achieved by lexical reference ('a similar upward trajectory').
Lexical Resource	Topic-precise vocabulary ('trajectory', 'negligible', 'adoption', 'near-universal'); both verb and noun forms of movement ('rose' / 'a rise'); approximation language ('approximately', 'around'); no informal phrasing.
Grammatical Range & Accuracy	Variety of structures: concessive ('despite … starting from'), absolute ('with the figure reaching'), reduced relative ('the only country to approach'), past perfect ('had reached by'), participle ('starting from a far lower base'); consistent past simple throughout.

Self-Check

Answer these from memory before looking back. If you cannot answer all, re-read the relevant section.

What is the single most important paragraph for Task Achievement, and what must it NOT contain?
A graph is dated 1990–2010. A student writes: 'The figure rises from 30% in 1990 to 45% in 2010.' What is the error?
You want to compare two lines: South Korea and Brazil. Write one sentence using 'while' or 'whereas' with at least one specific figure.
What is the difference between 'rose by 20%' and 'rose to 20%'?
A graph has six lines. Should each line get its own body paragraph? If not, what should you do instead?
Re-write the verb sentence 'Sales fell sharply after 2015' as a noun-phrase sentence (nominalisation).
The graph contains a dashed line covering 2025–2030. What tense or modal forms should you use, and why?

Answers: (1) The overview — it must contain no specific figures or data points, only the main trend(s). (2) The tense is wrong: 'rises' should be 'rose' because the graph covers past time (1990–2010). (3) Sample: 'South Korea recorded 96% by 2020, while Brazil reached 74% over the same period.' — any grammatically correct contrastive sentence with at least one figure is acceptable. (4) 'Rose by 20%' describes the amount of change (the line moved up by 20). 'Rose to 20%' describes the final value (the line ended at 20). They mean very different things. (5) No. Group lines by behaviour (rising, falling, flat). Six paragraphs would blow the time budget and weaken comparison; two well-organised body paragraphs are far stronger. (6) Sample: 'There was a sharp fall in sales after 2015.' Variant: 'A sharp decline in sales followed 2015.' (7) Use forecast / future forms: 'is projected to', 'is expected to', 'is forecast to', or future simple 'will'. The dashed line indicates projected data, so past simple would misrepresent the graph.

Task 1 Academic — Line Graph