Line graph

I. Tips
- You may see 2,3,4 or 5 lines
- Compare, and not describe them separately
- Make a general comparison for overview
- Compare the lines at specific points for detail paragraph
- Select what you think are the key points
- Write at least 1 thing about each line
II. Introduction
- 1 sentence
- using synonyms
- not changing all words
- avoiding mistakes
- changing word forms
- changing sentence structure
- Paraphrase the question
- "Word by word" paraphrasing: Use the task statement (from the question paper) as
your template. Change the main words but keep the same sentence structure.
- "Loose" paraphrasing: Rewrite the task statement in a completely different way,
making sure that the overall message is still correct.
Ex: Task statement
The chart below shows how frequently people in the USA ate in fast food
restaurants between 2003 and 2013.
1. Word by word paraphrasing
The bar chart illustrates the frequency with which Americans ate in fast food
establishments from 2003 to 2013.
2. Loose paraphrasing
The bar chart gives information about fast food eating habits in the US over a
10-year period
- Some common language for paraphrase: give information about, illustrate, over a
period of, from…to, between…and
III. Overview
- 2 sentences, 2 main points
IV. Detail paragraph 1
- Begin with the first year
- Should include all 4 lines
V. Detail paragraph 2
- Should include all the lines (at least 1 point)
Exercise 1:
The line graph compares the amount of
electricity produced in France using
four different sources of power over a
period of 32 years.

It is clear that nuclear power was by far

the most important means of electricity
generation over the period shown.
Renewables provided the lowest
amount of electricity in each year.

In 1980, thermal power stations were

the main source of electricity in France, generating around 120 terawatt hours of power.
Nuclear and hydroelectric power stations produced just under 75 terawatt hours of
electricity each, and renewables provided a negligible amount. Just one year later, nuclear
power overtook thermal power as the primary source of electricity.

Between 1980 and 2005, electricity production from nuclear power rose dramatically to a
peak of 430 terawatt hours. By contrast, the figure for thermal power fell to only 50
terawatt hours in 1985, and remained at this level for the rest of the period. Hydroelectric
power generation remained relatively stable, at between 50 and 80 terawatt hours, for the
whole 32-year period, but renewable electricity production saw only a small rise to
approximately 25 terawatt hours by 2012.

Analysis task:
1. Underline examples of paraphrasing in the introduction, comparing it with the
question.
2. Look again at the 2 main points that I chose for the overview (paragraph 2).
3. Underline the numbers and years that I mentioned in paragraphs 3 and 4. How many
numbers did I mention in the report?
4. Underline examples of ‘comparing’ language in the report.
5. How many sentences did I write in each paragraph?
Vocabulary:
Amount of electricity produced
Source of/ provided/ generating
Means of electricity generation
Over a period of/ over the period shown
By far the most important
A negligible amount
Nuclear power overtook thermal power
As the primary source of electricity
Rose dramatically to a peak of
By contrast
The figure for
Remained at this level, remain stable
Saw only a small rise

Exercise 2
Before we analyse a model answer, look at the line graph task below and think about the
following questions.
1. Can you think of a different way to say the phrase “the proportion of the population”?
2. How long is the total period shown on the graph?
3. Looking only at the beginning and the end of the period (the first and last years), what
happens to the population of each country?
4. Is there a common trend for all three countries?
5. If you only had time to describe the figures for three of the years shown on the graph,
which three years would you choose?
6. Can you find an example of a similarity between countries, and an example of a big
difference or contrast?
7. Can you write a sentence describing just one number on the graph (e.g. the USA in
1940)?

The graph below shows the proportion of the population aged 65 and over between
1940 and 2040 in three different countries.
Now read the model answer, and answer the “analysis questions” below it.
 Model answer:
The line graph compares the percentage of people aged 65 or more in three
countries over a period of 100 years.

It is clear that the proportion of elderly people increases in each country between
1940 and 2040. Japan is expected to see the most dramatic changes in its elderly
population.

In 1940, around 9% of Americans were aged 65 or over, compared to about 7% of

Swedish people and 5% of Japanese people. The proportions of elderly people in
the USA and Sweden rose gradually over the next 50 years, reaching just under
15% in 1990. By contrast, the figure for Japan remained below 5% until the early
2000s.

Looking into the future, a sudden increase in the percentage of elderly people is
predicted for Japan, with a jump of over 15% in just 10 years from 2030 to 2040. By
2040, it is thought that around 27% of the Japanese population will be 65 years old or
more, while the figures for Sweden and the USA will be slightly lower, at about 25%
and 23% respectively.

Analysis questions:
1. How many paragraphs and sentences does the answer contain?
2. What examples of paraphrasing can you find in the introduction (when you compare it
with the question statement)?
3. Why do you think the present tense (“increases”) is used in the first sentence of
paragraph two?
4. Which two main trends are described in the second paragraph? Highlight those trends
on the graph.
5. Which years are mentioned in paragraphs 3 and 4? Underline the years. Why do you
think those years were chosen?
6. How many specific numbers (percentages) are mentioned in the answer? Underline
them.
7. Which verb tenses are used in paragraphs 3 and 4? Why are those tenses used?
8. Can you find any words or phrases that are used to compare or contrast information?
9. Can you find any words or phrases that are used to describe how the percentages
changed?
Answers to analysis questions:
1. 4 paragraphs, 8 sentences (usually we try to write 9 sentences, but the final sentence
in this answer is particularly long).
2. Graph = line graph, shows = compares, the proportion of the population = the
percentage of people, aged 65 and over = aged 65 or more, between 1940 and 2040 =
over a period of 100 years.
3. When describing a period that includes past, present and future years, we need to use
the present simple.
4. First, the overall trend in all three countries over the whole period. Second, the
country with the biggest changes.
5. 1940, 1990, early 2000s, 2030, 2040. The years chosen were the beginning and end of
the period, plus a few key years in the middle.
6. Nine specific percentages were mentioned.
7. Paragraph 3 is in the past simple (e.g. were, rose, remained.) Paragraph 4 is about the
future (e.g. is predicted, will be)
8. The most dramatic, compared to, and, by contrast, while, respectively
9. The proportion increases, is expected to see the most dramatic changes, rose
gradually, reaching just under, remained below, a sudden increased is predicted, with a
jump of, will be slightly lower

Exercise 3:
Let’s write a simple description of the line graph below. Our description will contain
nine sentences, following the instructions below the graph.

The graph shows changes in the proportion of Internet users in three different
countries from 1999 to 2009.

Write ONE sentence for

each instruction below.
1. Write an introduction
sentence that paraphrases
the question statement
above the graph.
2. Begin a new paragraph.
Write a sentence that
describes the general trend
in all three countries over
the whole of the period.
3. Say which country saw
the fastest growth in
Internet usage and which country had the lowest
proportion of users.
4. Begin a new paragraph. Write a sentence describing the figure for the USA in 1999.
5. Describe the figures for Canada and Mexico in 1999.
6. Say what happened in 2002 (Canada overtook the USA…).
7. Begin a new paragraph. Say what happened to the figures for Internet use in each
country in the year 2005 (i.e. compare all three countries in that year).
8. Say which country had the highest proportion of Internet users in 2009.
9. Give the figures for all three countries in 2009.

Here’s a sample answer, following the instructions above.

Note: I probably wouldn’t show the following answer to students - I would use and edit
their sentences instead. Just use my sample as a guide.

The line graph compares the percentage of people in three countries who used the
Internet between 1999 and 2009.

It is clear that the proportion of the population who used the Internet increased in each
country over the period shown. Canada experienced the fastest growth in Internet usage,
whereas Mexico remained the country with the lowest proportion of people who
accessed the Internet.

In 1999, the proportion of people using the Internet in the USA stood at about 20%. By
contrast, the figures for Canada and Mexico were significantly lower, at around 10% and
5% respectively. However, in the year 2002, Canada overtook the USA in terms of the
proportion of its citizens who went online.

In 2005, Internet usage in both the USA and Canada rose to around 70% of the
population, while the figure for Mexico reached just over 25%. Four years later, in 2009,
the percentage of Internet users was considerably higher in Canada than in the other two
countries. In that year, almost 100% of Canadians used the Internet, compared to about
80% of Americans and only 40% of Mexicans.