IELTS Academic Task 1 — Line Graph: a Band 9 sample answer
Updated 2 July 2026 · 2 min read · ieltspractice.app
A Band 9 Task 1 answer reworded the task, gives a clear overview of the main trends, and reports the key figures with accurate comparisons. Below is a full model answer to a line-graph task, followed by an examiner-style breakdown of why it scores 9.0 — and the exact trend language you can reuse.
The question
The line graph below shows the number of international visitors, in millions, to three countries — Spain, Turkey and Croatia — between 2005 and 2020. Spain rose steadily from 55 million in 2005 to 84 million in 2020. Turkey climbed from 20 million in 2005 to a peak of 45 million in 2015, then fell to 39 million by 2020. Croatia grew gradually from 8 million in 2005 to 17 million in 2020. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Band 9.0 model answer
The line graph illustrates how many international tourists, measured in millions, travelled to Spain, Turkey and Croatia over the fifteen-year period from 2005 to 2020.
Overall, Spain attracted by far the largest number of visitors throughout the period, while all three countries welcomed more tourists in 2020 than in 2005. Turkey was the only nation whose figures fell towards the end.
In 2005, Spain already received 55 million visitors, and this total climbed steadily to reach 84 million by 2020, remaining the clear leader at every stage. Croatia, by contrast, began with a modest 8 million and rose gradually to 17 million, roughly doubling its figure over the fifteen years, though it stayed the least visited of the three.
Turkey followed a markedly different pattern. Its visitor numbers surged from 20 million in 2005 to a peak of 45 million in 2015, narrowing the gap with Spain. After this high point, however, the figure declined to 39 million by 2020, leaving Turkey well below the Spanish total once again.
Why this scores Band 9.0
Task Achievement
The task is reworded in the first line, a clear overview names the main trends, and the key figures are reported with comparisons. Nothing important is missed and no personal opinion is added, which is exactly what Task 1 requires.
Coherence and Cohesion
The answer follows the ideal shape: introduction, overview, then two detail paragraphs. Referencing such as "this total" and "this high point" links sentences smoothly without repeating the figures.
Lexical Resource
A precise range of trend language is used accurately: climbed steadily, rose gradually, surged, peak and declined. Comparison phrases like "by far the largest" and "the least visited" avoid repetition.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Complex sentences with participle clauses ("narrowing the gap", "leaving Turkey well below") are handled accurately, and tenses stay consistent throughout the description.
Useful vocabulary
- illustrates
- shows or makes clear (used to introduce what a graph shows)
- climbed steadily
- rose at a slow, even rate
- rose gradually
- increased slowly over time
- surged
- increased quickly and strongly
- peak
- the highest point reached
- declined
- went down or decreased
Frequently asked questions
How long should an IELTS Academic Task 1 answer be?
You must write at least 150 words. Most Band 8–9 answers are 170–200 words — long enough to give an overview and report the key figures, short enough to stay accurate in 20 minutes.
Do I need an overview in Task 1?
Yes. A clear overview of the main trends is essential. An answer without one cannot reach the top bands, even if every figure is correct.
Is this a real IELTS question?
No. This is an original, IELTS-style task and answer written for practice. We never reproduce real exam materials.
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