Sample 1
The line graph
compares figures for daily travel by workers in the UK using three different forms of
transport over a period of 60 years.
It is clear that the car is by far the most popular means of transport for UK commuters
throughout the period shown. Also, while the numbers of people who use the car and train
increase gradually, the number of bus users falls steadily.
In 1970, around 5 million UK commuters travelled by car on a daily basis, while the bus and
train were used by about 4 million and 2 million people respectively. In the year 2000, the
number of those driving to work rose to 7 million and the number of commuting rail
passengers reached 3 million. However, there was a small drop of approximately 0.5
million in the number of bus users.
By 2030, the number of people who commute by car is expected to reach almost 9 million,
and the number of train users is also predicted to rise, to nearly 5 million. By contrast,
buses are predicted to become a less popular choice, with only 3 million daily users.
(188 words)
Sample 2
The line graph illustrates the amount of fast food consumed by teenagers in Australia
between 1975 and 2000, a period of 25 years.
Overall, the consumption of fish and chips declined over the period, whereas the amount of
pizza and hamburgers that were eaten increased.
In 1975, the most popular fast food with Australian teenagers was fish and chips, being
eaten 100 times a year. This was far higher than Pizza and hamburgers, which were
consumed approximately 5 times a year. However, apart from a brief rise again from 1980
to 1985, the consumption of fish and chips gradually declined over the 25 year timescale to
finish at just under 40 times per year.
In sharp contrast to this, teenagers ate the other two fast foods at much higher levels. Pizza
consumption increased gradually until it overtook the consumption of fish and chips in
1990. It then leveled off from 1995 to 2000. The biggest rise was seen in hamburgers,
increasing sharply throughout the 1970’s and 1980’s, exceeding fish and chips
consumption in 1985. It finished at the same level that fish and chips began, with
consumption at 100 times a year.
(191 words)
Sample 3
The graph shows the number of weekly hours spent studying in the library, with a tutor or
lecturer or using the internet during a 2 year course.
Overall, use of the internet increased, while time in class and lectures declined and time in
the library varied.
The most striking trend is that there is a dramatic increase in the use of the internet
throughout the period, especially between the first and second semesters of each year,
with hours increasing from about 3 at the beginning of the course to over 10 by the end.
Hours spent in a classroom or lecture were initially the highest at approximately 7 hours a
week, increasing to 8 hours in the second semester of the first year. However, the figure fell
during the second year to finish at only 5 hours a week.
Time in the library was the most fluctuating, initially falling from 4 hours down to about 3
hours, then rapidly increasingly to 8 hours before once again declining to end at about 6
hours.
(174 words)
Sample 4
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 figures 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.
(178 words)
Sample 5
The line graph compares four sectors in terms of the amount of acid rain emissions that
they produced over a period of 17 years in the UK.
It is clear that the total amount of acid rain emissions in the UK fell considerably between
1990 and 2007. The most dramatic decrease was seen in the electricity, gas and water
supply sector.
In 1990, around 3.3 million tonnes of acid rain emissions came from the electricity, gas and
water sector. The transport and communication sector was responsible for about 0.7 million
tonnes of emissions, while the domestic sector produced around 0.6 million tonnes. Just
over 2 million tonnes of acid rain gases came from other industries.
Emissions from electricity, gas and water supply fell dramatically to only 0.5 million tonnes
in 2007, a drop of almost 3 million tonnes. While acid rain gases from the domestic sector
and other industries fell gradually, the transport sector saw a small increase in emissions,
reaching a peak of 1 million tonnes in 2005.
(169 words)
Sample 6
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. Overall, a much larger percentage of Canadians and
Americans had access to the Internet in comparison with Mexicans, and Canada
experienced the fastest growth in Internet usage.
In 1999, the proportion of people using the Internet in the USA was about 20%. The figures
for Canada and Mexico were lower, at about 10% and 5% respectively. 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%.
By 2009, the percentage of Internet users was highest in Canada. Almost 100% of
Canadians used the Internet, compared to about 80% of Americans and only 40% of
Mexicans.
(151 Words)