IELTS Writing Task 1 Practice Activity

Ok, so here’s an activity I put together for a student I tutor. It’s based on a pretty simple line graph, and I’ve just written a model essay and then removed some words. Sounds pretty easy, right? Why don’t you take a look and see what you think. It’s based on this line graph:

Practice Activity

Read the model essay below and fill in the gaps. There may be more than one possible correct answer.

This line graph shows the price of three different commodities over a period of about thirty years, and _______ them against the consumer-price index for reference. The price of all three items ________ during this period, but the two unhealthy products ________ at a rate that is ________ than the consumer-price index, while the cost of fresh fruits and vegetables ________ at a far greater rate.

In 1979, at the beginning of the recorded period, there is very little _________ between the ____ of these three commodities. Over the following ten years, that _______ stays more or less the same, although there are some small _________, most notably in the case of fresh fruit and vegetables and sugar and sweets.

By the mid-eighties, however, the price of fresh fruit and vegetables had begun to increase at a _______ rate than the other items on the graph. At about this point, the price of sugar and sweets and carbonated drinks also began to ______ at a ________ rate than the consumer-price index. While they continued to grow ________ over the next two decades, the price of fresh fruit and vegetables increased more _______ until 2008, when it finally experienced a small ______.

Answer

This line graph shows the price of three different commodities over a period of about thirty years, and compares them against the consumer-price index for reference. The price of all three items increases during this period, but the two unhealthy products rise at a rate that is less than the consumer-price index, while the cost of fresh fruits and vegetables increases at a far greater rate.

In 1979, at the beginning of the recorded period, there is very little difference between the prices of these three commodities. Over the following ten years, that trend stays more or less the same, although there are some small fluctuations, most notably in the case of fresh fruit and vegetables and sugar and sweets.

By the mid-eighties, however, the price of fresh fruit and vegetables had begun to increase at a greater rate than the other items on the graph. At about this point, the price of sugar and sweets and carbonated drinks also began to grow at a slower rate than the consumer-price index. While they continued to grow slowly over the next two decades, the price of fresh fruit and vegetables increased more rapidly until 2008, when it finally experienced a small drop.

Notes

I felt that the consumer-price index was there as a reference, and divided the other categories accordingly. I grouped them as healthy and unhealthy, which I don’t think is subjective. Beyond that, you will notice I avoided specific references to numbers, instead using some bold phrases to illuminate the main features and comparisons.

You can learn about IELTS writing task 1 structure here. There is more about line graphs for IELTS here.