IELTS Academic Writing Task 1/ Graph Writing – Line Graphs:
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
The first graph gives the number of passengers travelling by train in Sydney. The second graph provides information on the percentage of trains running on time.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
You should write at least 150 words.
Sample Answer 1:
The line graphs give data on the number of train commuters in Sydney from 1995 to 2004 and outline the ratio of trains that ran on time during the same period. As an overall trend, the number of rail passengers in Sydney gradually increased between 1995 and 2002, and in 2004, a higher percentage of locomotives failed to run on time than in previous years.
As the data suggests, 250 million passengers used trains in 1995 in Sydney, and this number slowly increased during the next 4 years. In 1999, train commuters in Sydney were around 265 million, and it abruptly increased in the next two years before dropping again in 2002. In 2000, 280 million passengers used locomotives, and this number further climbed and reached its highest, 300 million, in 2001. From 2002 to 2004, the train commuters remained constant at 280 million.
Regarding the timeliness of trains in Sydney, it is clear that more than 92% trains in 1995 arrived and reached their destination on time, but this record deteriorated. It dropped to just over 85% in 1997. In 2000, almost 15% trains failed to maintain the schedule, and this scenario was the worst in 2004, when more than 25% trains in Sydney could not run on time.
Model Answer 2:
The line graphs illustrate the annual number of train passengers in Sydney and the percentage of trains that arrived and departed on time between 1995 and 2004.
In general, while the number of train passengers in Sydney increased substantially over the period, the punctuality of trains fluctuated noticeably, showing an almost inverse relationship with the passenger volume in several years.
In 1995, approximately 250 million people used Sydney’s train service, and this figure slowly increased and reached about 270 million in 1998. After that, passenger numbers climbed steadily, adding another 10-12 million during the next two years. The most dramatic rise occurred in 2001, when the figure peaked at roughly 300 million, adding 20 million more passengers in a single year. It dropped to 280 million in 2002, the exact figure of 2000. Afterwards, the number remained stable at 280 million from 2002 to 2004.
In contrast, the proportion of trains running on time showed a declining trend overall. It started at about 92% on time in 1995, then fell gradually as more people used the service. The sharpest drop coincided with the surge in passenger numbers around 2000 and 2001, when punctuality plunged to just 85%. Although there was a minor recovery afterwards, it never returned to the earlier levels. The most dramatic fall in timeliness of the Sydney locomotives could be observed in 2004, when a staggeringly low of just 71% trains were in time, meaning almost three out of ten trains failed to arrive and depart on time.
The line charts illustrate the number of train commuters and the ratio of trains that ran on time in Sydney between 1995 and 2004. It is evident that the number of people catching trains increased while the percentage of trains that ran on time decreased significantly.
Increasing from approximately 250 million passengers in 1995 to over 260 million passengers in 1999, the number of Sydney’s train commuters then soared by approximately 40 million and reached a peak at 300 million in 2001. This was followed by a period of slight decline, with around 280 million passengers in 2002 and then the number remained steady until 2004.
The proportion of trains that ran on time, meanwhile, fluctuated at somewhere between 90% and 95% prior to 1995, before dropping slightly to over 85% in 1997. The following six years saw a dramatic fluctuation in this rate, with lows about 85% in 2000 and highs over 90% in 2002. Subsequently, the figure declined considerably with over 70% in 2004.
The line graphs depict the number of rail users in Sydney from 1995 to 2004, and the percentage of trains on time during the same period. Overall, the number of passengers increased over time until 2001, and more than 85% of trains were able to run on time except in 2004.
As can be seen in the first chart, 250 million people in Sydney used the train as their mode of transportation in 1995. The number gradually increased to 265 million until 1999 and then upsurged to a maximum of 300 million by 2001. However, locomotive users in Sidney remained unchanged at an average of 280 million for the next three years.
According to the second line graph, more than 85% of trains in Sydney from 1995 to 2003, managed to arrive and depart on time to their respective destinations. The value fluctuated between 85% and 93% during this period. Interestingly in 2004, more than 25% of locomotives failed to operate on time.
The first line graph outlines the number of train passengers in Sydney, and the second graph shows the proportion of locomotives that departed or reached stations on time. Both graphs consider data between 1995 and 2004.
Overall, train commuters in Sydney gradually increased between 1995 to 2004 but the highest number of passengers used trains in 2001. Though the majority of trains in Sydney were on time, their performance was somewhat poor in 2004.
According to the illustration, 250 million people in Sydney took trains to commute in 1995 and their number slowly grew till 1999, when about 265 million passengers took trains. Afterwards, it sharply increased to 300 million in 2001, the highest point, before dropping again in 2002. Next three years, around 280 million citizens used trains as a mean of their transportation.
Most of the trains in Sydney followed the train schedule in 1995 when almost 19 out of 20 trains left or reached stations in time. With some fluctuations, 85 to 95 per cent of times, they were on time. But in 2004, they were in time just around 7 out of 10 times, which was the worst among the given period.
In the presented two line graphs, first one gives information about the number of people who travelled in trains between 1995 and 2005 in Sydney, whereas the second one illustrates the percentage of trains that ran on schedule over the same period of time.
At first glance, it can be seen that the maximum number of people used trains in the year 2001 and the least percentage of trains ran on time in the year 2004.
In the year 1995, 250 million people in Sydney relied on trains as their mode of transportation and approximately 92% of the trains were on time. The passenger number increased gradually for the next five years; however, it surged between the year 1999 and 2001 and reached a peak of 300 million passengers in 2001. From there, it dropped to 280 million in the year 2002 and levelled off for the next two years.
From the second graph, it is clear that the percentage of compliance of trains to their actual running time fluctuated between 85% to 93% until 2003. But in 2004, this ratio plummetted and reached as low as 72% in 2004.
The given line graphs present data on the number of Sydney train commuters, and the punctuality of trains in a 9-year period, starting in 1995.
Overall, it is observed that opposing trends can be seen from the two, as the former increased and the latter declined after the years.
To begin with, 250 million passengers travelled by locomotives in 1995 in Sydney, and this figure slightly rose by approximately 15 million four years later. Afterwards, there was a dramatic increase, reaching the peak of 300 million in 2001. From there, the number fell and then flattened off to remain stable from 2002 to 2004 (280 million passengers).
Regarding the percentages of trains that were on time, the diagram suggests that there were a lot of fluctuations. The proportion was 92% in 1995 and then declined to 86% in 1997 before returning to the original point just in the following year. An almost similar pattern can be seen between 1999 and 2002. And finally, there was a sharp decrease at the end of the given period, as one in every four trains failed to depart on schedule.