Writing Part 1 IELTS - Line graph. I truly appreciate your help.

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Task 1: The line graph illustrates the proportion of total expenditure in a certain European country between 1960 and 2000.

The line graph shows the percentage of a certain European country’s expenditure on food, leisure, clothing, transport, and fuel/energy from 1960 to 2000.

Spending on transport was the only component that increased in the end, while food and leisure expenditure had a downward trend. Meanwhile, people gradually decreased the amount of money spent on clothing and fuel/energy throughout the period.

Specifically, in 1960, about 34% of the expenditure was used for food, 1.8 times that of leisure. However, in the next 40 years, this category showed a rapid decline and ended at around 14% in 2000. By contrast, after a similar but slower period of decrease, leisure spending rose insignificantly in 1990 before dropping again in the following years. On the other hand, the percentage spent on transport had an upward trend and became the largest among all categories by the end of the period.

As for clothing, it took up 1 in 10 of the total expenditure, nearly as twice as the figure for fuel/energy in 1960. From that point, it remained in a relatively equivalent range with transport spending, before gradually going down and stood at only 5% in 2000. On the other hand, also in this year, only 2.5% was spent on fuel/energy, approximately half the 1960’s figure.

AlpheccaStars · Accepted Answer

The important point in this graph is to recognize that percentages and amounts are not the same, they are very different. Use the word "relative" to fix the problem, e.g. "relative amounts."

To illustrate this, suppose the total budget in 1960 is $10000. The amount spent on food is 34% of that or $3400. In 2000, people are more wealthy and their total budget has increased to $30000. The amount spent on food is 14% of $30000 or $4200. So even though the amount spent in 2000 was more than in 1960, the relative spending decreased.

The line graph shows the percentage of a certain European country’s expenditure on food, leisure, clothing, transport, and fuel/energy from 1960 to 2000. (good opening paragraph)

The proportion spent on transport was the only category ~~component~~ that increased in the end, while that of food and leisure ~~expenditure~~ had a downward trend. Meanwhile, people gradually decreased the ~~amount of~~ percentage of money allocated to ~~spent on~~ clothing and fuel/energy throughout the period.

The highest scoring essays have combine categories into groups. They do not treat them independently. For example, you can add up the percentages at the beginning and end of the period. Here is a high-level "overall" paragraph. There are three main observations here:

Overall, in 1960, the total of these five budget categories amounted to more than three quarters of the total budget. In 2000, it had fallen to less than half, mainly due to the drop in relative spending on food.

Similarly, you do not take advantage of combining categories in the detail paragraph.

Specifically, in 1960, about 34% of total spending ~~the expenditure~~ was used for food, 1.8 times that of leisure, which had the second-highest allocation. However, over in the next 40 years, ~~this category~~ (You cannot use "this category", because it refers to the nearest antecedent, which is "leisure", not "food.") relative food expenditures showed a rapid decline and ended at around 14% in 2000. By In contrast, after a similar but slower rate ~~period~~ of decrease, leisure spending rose insignificantly in 1990 ("in 1990" is one year. The graph does not show what happened from January-December in one year. Besides, this curve was continually decreasing.) before dropping again in the following years. On the other hand, the percentage spent on transport had an upward trend and became the highest ~~largest~~ among all categories at by the end of the period.

As for clothing, it took up ~~1 in 10~~ (You can only use 1 in 10 when the subject is countable. For example: 1 in 10 people have been vaccinated. One in ten dogs in my neighborhood is a Brittany Spaniel. ) a tenth of the total expenditure, nearly as twice as much as ~~the figure~~ ("Figure" is mostly used incorrectly by Task 1 writers, so avoid it.) for fuel/energy in 1960. ~~From that point, it remained in a relatively equivalent range with transport spending~~, (That does not make sense.) From 1960 to 1970, it was about the same as transport, around 10%, but then it ~~before~~ gradually ~~going~~ went down and stood at only 5% in 2000. ~~On the other hand,~~ (Incorrect transition) also in this year, only 2.5% was spent on fuel/energy, approximately half the level / value in 1960. ~~figure~~ ~~1960’s .~~

You need to be very careful about "rate" because it is a measure of how fast or slow a linear rise or decline is.

If the curves are nearly straight (linear curves), you can compute and compare their rates of increase or decrease. A flat curve has a zero rate. Here is the calculation for the food category:

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Writing Part 1 IELTS - Line graph. I truly appreciate your help.

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