example of graph analysis essay

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20 Recent IELTS Graph samples with answers

The chart below shows how much money is spent in the budget on different sectors by the uae government in 2000..

The charts below show the growth in the population in some of the world’s largest cities as well as the population distribution in urban and rural areas.

The average prices per kilometre of clothing imported into the European Union from six different countries in 1993 and 2003 are shown in the bar chart below.

The bar charts below show the number of hours each teacher spent teaching in different schools in four different countries in 2001.

The line graphs below show the production and demand for steel in million tonnes and the number of workers employed in the steel industry in the UK in 2010.

The bar charts and line graph below show the results of a survey conducted over a three-year period to discover what people who live in London think of the city.

The pie charts below show the online sales for retail sectors in New Zealand in 2003 and 2013.

The number of tourists visiting Malaysia and Dubai from 1995 to 2003 is presented below.

The bar chart below shows the estimated sales of jeans for two companies next year in Turkey. The pie chart shows the projected market share of the two companies in jeans at the end of next year.

The graph below shows a survey result of 4000 participants who expressed what important aspects they have learned from the internship they have completed.

The graph below shows the top priorities by business companies in the USA in 2016.

The graphs below show the average monthly expenditure on children’s sports and participation in different sports in the UK from 2008 to 2014.

The pie charts below show the online shopping sales for retail sectors in Australia in 2010 and 2015.

The bar chart below shows Scotland’s exports to the rest of the UK and the rest of the world for the year 2014.

The chart below shows the changes in sales of four different types of books from 2002 to 2012.

The diagram shows the procedure for university entry for high school graduates.

The chart below shows Morocco’s income from different economic sectors in 2003 as well as its income from fishing from 1982 to 2003.

The bar chart below shows the proportions of English men and women of different ages who were living alone in 2011. The pie chart compares the numbers of bedrooms in these one-person households.

The diagram below shows the life cycle of a salmon, from egg to adult fish.

The table below shows the worldwide market share of the notebook computer market for manufacturers in the years 2006, 2007 and 2014.

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A summary of a line graph

Learn how to describe a line graph.

Do the preparation task first. Then read the text and tips and do the exercises.

Preparation

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The graph below shows how people buy music. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Overall, both downloads and physical sales of music have steadily declined. The latter has slumped since 2011, while the downturn for the former began in 2014. However, there has been a sharp rise in people streaming music since 2013.

In 2011, the majority of music sales were of CDs, at 55% of all sales. In contrast, streaming was not common at all at only 5%. Also, although people had started to download music, it only represented 35% of sales. As sales of CDs began to fall, downloads started to rise. They rose steadily and downloads overtook physical sales in mid-2013. During the same period, streaming doubled to 10% but then it started to grow more dramatically.

Downloads peaked in 2014 at about 43% of sales but fell to 30% by 2018. This was slightly higher than physical sales, which shrank to 25%. Streaming, on the other hand, overtook both of them and accounted for just over 40% of sales in 2018.

Please note: This page was designed for writing practice only. Information in the graph may not be accurate.

• Change the words in the question to introduce your answer, e.g. This graph shows = This graph illustrates .
• The second paragraph should give an overview of the main points the graph shows (imagine you're describing the results to someone who can't see the graph).
• The following paragraphs should describe the main patterns or trends in more detail.
• Use precise vocabulary like steadily declined and a sharp increase to describe trends. Use linking expressions like while and in contrast to make comparisons.
• The question asks you only to 'Summarise the information'. Don't give reasons why these trends might have occurred, or your personal preferences on the topic.

TrueOrFalse_MjMxNjY=.xml

ReorderingHorizontal_MjMxNjc=.xml

GapFillDragAndDrop_MjMxNjk=.xml

What are the trends in the way you have been buying and listening to music over the last five to ten years?

Language level

This graphical representation depicts or illustrates the revenue generation status of three major activities which are relevant to music industry namely Streams, Downloads and CD purchases. The graph is plotted with respect to the percentage of above across the range of years from 2011 till 2018. Detailed analysis of the statistics clearly indicate that the financial outcome obtained from CDs was highest during the year 2011 contributing about 50 to 60 percent of the revenue. However, the same has declined gradually over a period of time. On the contrary, the sales pattern of Streams depicts a consistent rise eventually leading to favorable profit margin. Both of these items have experienced significant variations. As compared with above two, the cost returns from Downloads seems to be having potential variations with frequent rise and fall. It has produced a peak of profit margin somewhere in the year 2014. However, it has failed to maintain its stability in span of years. The above study indicates a comparison of concrete statistical data in terms of music as an entertainment sector in the range of years.

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I would like to take advantage of my age and go deeper back into the past until the eighties when I started to listen to music using cassettes we recorded from the radio! The quality was very bad but we liked it anyway, spending hours listening to songs interrupted by the voice of the radio's announcer or the surrounding noises of our home. In the nineties the CD appeared with its incredible high quality of sound. I spent a lot of money buying CDs because I thought they would last for a lifetime. But 20 years later all changed with the music streaming and I no longer use my almost 500 CDs that are now only a nice memory of my youth.

As far as I remember I have been always fond of music. In any period of my life, I was attracted to a specific style of music based on my mental and emotional condition. Sometimes wordless, epic, happy, dance, meditation, and relaxing music. Listening to music has become one of my personality habits, so to speak. In fact, I think the music listening trend has been a constant line for me and only the styles have changed.

I usually listen to audio files, when I'm coding, taking a walk, meditating, controlling my anger, cleaning my room, in the bathroom, subway, in noisy places, and so on.

Of course, because my sense of hearing is strong and I generally learn many things through listening. besides music, I listen to lots of educational audio files.

But as it turned out, especially in the last five years, I have gotten really interested in wordless, meditation, and relaxing music. This type of music makes my mind orderly and calm and increases its performance.

About buying music, I have always downloaded music for free though if I like one that is paid, I will definitely buy it.

Over the last five to ten years I have been listening and downloading music from various social media sites like spotifly tiktok or youtube.

When I was a teenager, I would love to listen to the radio. During that time, FM radio, which aired trendy songs, were popular. Moreover, I did buy some copied CD from the illegal seller and listened to those English Songs. Unfortunately, I have to admit that I did not have much knowledge about copyrights and much thinking about how much effort that the artists had to put for their art pieces. Nowadays, I mostly stream on Spotify and YouTube for my favourite songs.

The Hallyu Wave of K-Pop obviously, started in 2016. For the past six years, I was listening to korean music, from alt/indie to k-pop and from r&b to ballad. But, if I may take the times to years before that, I was just listening to some mainstream pop and r&b, sang by famous pop stars. On the other hand, for the last 2-3 years, I have been listening to many artists from various genres. I like how quite diverse it turns my playlist to and I will probably keep up this trend for a while.

Through the years, all I do to find out music is watching YouTube. Recently I start watching rhythm gamers, and I found many good songs that I never heard of (started using internet since 2016 so yea), like Fallen Symphony or At the Speed of Light.

I used to listen to music on a casette player, I remeber I would play my favorite song again and again, Nowadays due to the advancement of technology listening to music becomes more convenient and accessible.

Over the last five to seven years I have been listening and downloading music from various social media sites.

The trend in the world I'm seeing that future is all about streaming. I listen music on streaming not download and buying CD. In the future trends of streaming is dramatically rise.

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How To Write a Line Graph Essay: Step By Step Guide

• Post author By admin
• March 13, 2024

Have you ever stared at a line graph in a textbook, wondering how to turn that squiggly line into a compelling essay? Fear not, fellow learners! This guide will equip you with the knowledge and skills to write a stellar line graph essay, even if you’re new to data analysis or academic writing. So, let’s start with a guide on how to write a line graph essay?

Table of Contents

Why Line Graphs Matter

Data surrounds us, from weather patterns to social media trends. Line graphs are a fantastic tool to visualize changes over time, making them crucial in various fields like science, economics, and even social media marketing. Understanding how to interpret and write about line graphs is a valuable skill for academic success and beyond.

How To Analyze the Graph?

Before putting pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard), take a close look at your line graph. It’s like deciphering a secret code! Here’s what you need to identify:

• The Big Picture: What’s the title? Does it give you a clue about the subject matter?
• Axes in Action: Identify the X-axis (horizontal) and Y-axis (vertical). What information do they represent? Are there units of measurement (e.g., years, dollars)?
• Labels for Clarity: Look for labels for each line on the graph. What do they represent? Are there any legends or keys explaining the lines?
• Time Traveler: What time frame does the graph cover? Is it a few months, years, or even decades?
• The Ups and Downs: This is where the magic happens! Analyze the trends. Does the line generally increase, decrease, or fluctuate? Are there any specific peaks or drops?

How To Write a Line Graph Essay?

Now that you’ve unlocked the secrets of the graph, let’s craft your essay.

Introduction: Setting the Scene (100-120 words)

• Hook: Start with a captivating sentence that grabs the reader’s attention. This could be a surprising fact related to the graph’s topic or a thought-provoking question.
• Keyword Introduction: Mention the importance of line graphs and how they help us understand data.
• Thesis Statement: Briefly state that you’ll be analyzing the line graph and explaining the trends you observe.

Did you know that smartphone usage has skyrocketed in the last decade? This essay will analyze a line graph depicting this trend, exploring the reasons behind the increase and its potential impact on society.

Overview Paragraph: The Big Picture (80-100 words)

• Briefly paraphrase the title of the graph and describe what it depicts.
• Highlight the main trends you observed – is there a steady increase, a sharp decline, or something else?
• Mention any interesting comparisons between the lines on the graph (if applicable).

The line graph titled “Global Smartphone Usage 2010-2020” reveals a significant rise in smartphone users over this decade. The data shows a steady upward trend, with a slight acceleration in recent years. Notably, the graph also shows a difference in the growth rates between developed and developing countries.

Body Paragraphs: Diving Deeper (300-400 words each)

This is where you showcase your detective skills and explain the trends you identified. Here’s what to focus on in each body paragraph:

• Pick a Specific Trend: Choose a key trend you observed in the graph (e.g., a constant increase, a sudden drop).
• Support Your Claims: Use evidence from the graph! Mention specific years, numbers, or percentages to illustrate your points.
• Explain Why: Don’t just describe, explain! What factors might be contributing to the trend? Consider possible causes related to the topic of the graph.

One significant trend is the steady rise in smartphone users globally. According to the graph, the number of users doubled between 2010 and 2020, from 1 billion to 2 billion.  This growth can be attributed to several factors, including the increasing affordability of smartphones, the development of user-friendly apps, and the expansion of internet access in many regions.

Conclusion: Wrapping it Up (80-100 words)

• You can optionally add a final thought or prediction about the future based on the graph’s data.

In conclusion, the line graph clearly demonstrates the explosive growth in smartphone usage over the past decade. This trend is likely to continue as technology advances and internet access becomes more widespread. Understanding these changes is crucial for businesses, educators, and policymakers to adapt and shape the future of technology and its impact on society.

Key Points To Enhance Reader Experience

• Visuals: Consider including an image of the line graph you’re analyzing (with proper attribution if necessary). Annotating specific trends on the image can further enhance understanding.
• Real-world Examples: Where relevant, connect the data in the line graph to real-world examples to add context and make your essay more relatable.

Common Mistakes to Avoid: How To Write a Line Graph Essay

• Just Describing, Not Explaining: Don’t simply describe the trends in the graph. Analyze them and explain why they might be happening.
• Ignoring the Title and Labels: The title, axes labels, and any legends are crucial for interpreting the data. Make sure you use the information they provide in your essay.
• Making Up Data: Don’t invent information or draw conclusions that aren’t supported by the graph. Stick to the facts!

Bonus Tips: How To Write a Line Graph Essay

• Transition Words for a Smooth Flow: Transition words like “however,” “furthermore,” and “in addition” will help connect your ideas and create a logical flow in your essay.
• Vary Your Sentence Structure: Don’t be afraid to mix up short and long sentences to keep your writing engaging.
• Proofread and Edit: Once you’ve finished writing, take the time to proofread your essay for any grammatical errors or typos. Double-check that your data and interpretations align with the graph.

Additional Tips for Advanced Line Graph Essay Writing

• Compare and Contrast: If your line graph has multiple lines, delve deeper into the comparisons between them. Analyze how they rise, fall, or interact with each other.
• Consider External Factors: Are there any external events or developments that might explain the trends in the graph? Think outside the box and explore these connections.
• Acknowledge Limitations: No data source is perfect. Briefly mention any limitations of the data presented in the graph, such as the timeframe or sample size.

By following these steps and incorporating these tips for How To Write a Line Graph Essay, you’ll be well on your way to writing compelling line graph essays that demonstrate your analytical and communication skills.

Remember, practice makes perfect! The more you analyze line graphs and write about them, the more confident you’ll become. So grab your data, get ready to explore trends, and write those essays like a pro!

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Figures and Charts

What this handout is about.

This handout will describe how to use figures and tables to present complicated information in a way that is accessible and understandable to your reader.

Do I need a figure/table?

When planning your writing, it is important to consider the best way to communicate information to your audience, especially if you plan to use data in the form of numbers, words, or images that will help you construct and support your argument.  Generally speaking, data summaries may take the form of text, tables or figures. Most writers are familiar with textual data summaries and this is often the best way to communicate simple results. A good rule of thumb is to see if you can present your results clearly in a sentence or two. If so, a table or figure is probably unnecessary. If your data are too numerous or complicated to be described adequately in this amount of space, figures and tables can be effective ways of conveying lots of information without cluttering up your text. Additionally, they serve as quick references for your reader and can reveal trends, patterns, or relationships that might otherwise be difficult to grasp.

So what’s the difference between a table and a figure anyway?

Tables present lists of numbers or text in columns and can be used to synthesize existing literature, to explain variables, or to present the wording of survey questions. They are also used to make a paper or article more readable by removing numeric or listed data from the text. Tables are typically used to present raw data, not when you want to show a relationship between variables.

Figures are visual presentations of results. They come in the form of graphs, charts, drawings, photos, or maps.  Figures provide visual impact and can effectively communicate your primary finding. Traditionally, they are used to display trends and patterns of relationship, but they can also be used to communicate processes or display complicated data simply.  Figures should not duplicate the same information found in tables and vice versa.

Using tables

Tables are easily constructed using your word processor’s table function or a spread sheet program such as Excel. Elements of a table include the Legend or Title, Column Titles, and the Table Body (quantitative or qualitative data). They may also include subheadings and footnotes. Remember that it is just as important to think about the organization of tables as it is to think about the organization of paragraphs. A well-organized table allows readers to grasp the meaning of the data presented with ease, while a disorganized one will leave the reader confused about the data itself, or the significance of the data.

Title: Tables are headed by a number followed by a clear, descriptive title or caption. Conventions regarding title length and content vary by discipline. In the hard sciences, a lengthy explanation of table contents may be acceptable. In other disciplines, titles should be descriptive but short, and any explanation or interpretation of data should take place in the text. Be sure to look up examples from published papers within your discipline that you can use as a model. It may also help to think of the title as the “topic sentence” of the table—it tells the reader what the table is about and how it’s organized. Tables are read from the top down, so titles go above the body of the table and are left-justified.

Column titles: The goal of column headings is to simplify and clarify the table, allowing the reader to understand the components of the table quickly. Therefore, column titles should be brief and descriptive and should include units of analysis.

Table body: This is where your data are located, whether they are numerical or textual. Again, organize your table in a way that helps the reader understand the significance of the data. Be sure to think about what you want your readers to compare, and put that information in the column (up and down) rather than in the row (across). In other words, construct your table so that like elements read down, not across. When using numerical data with decimals, make sure that the decimal points line up. Whole numbers should line up on the right.

Other table elements

Tables should be labeled with a number preceding the table title; tables and figures are labeled independently of one another. Tables should also have lines demarcating different parts of the table (title, column headers, data, and footnotes if present). Gridlines or boxes should not be included in printed versions. Tables may or may not include other elements, such as subheadings or footnotes.

Quick reference for tables

Tables should be:

• Centered on the page.
• Numbered in the order they appear in the text.
• Referenced in the order they appear in the text.
• Labeled with the table number and descriptive title above the table.
• Labeled with column and/or row labels that describe the data, including units of measurement.
• Set apart from the text itself; text does not flow around the table.

Table 1. Physical characteristics of the Doctor in the new series of Doctor Who

Table 2. Physical characteristics of the Doctor in the new series of Doctor Who

Using figures

Figures can take many forms. They may be graphs, diagrams, photos, drawings, or maps. Think deliberately about your purpose and use common sense to choose the most effective figure for communicating the main point. If you want your reader to understand spatial relationships, a map or photograph may be the best choice. If you want to illustrate proportions, experiment with a pie chart or bar graph. If you want to illustrate the relationship between two variables, try a line graph or a scatterplot (more on various types of graphs below). Although there are many types of figures, like tables, they share some typical features: captions, the image itself, and any necessary contextual information (which will vary depending on the type of figure you use).

Figure captions

Figures should be labeled with a number followed by a descriptive caption or title. Captions should be concise but comprehensive. They should describe the data shown, draw attention to important features contained within the figure, and may sometimes also include interpretations of the data. Figures are typically read from the bottom up, so captions go below the figure and are left-justified.

The most important consideration for figures is simplicity. Choose images the viewer can grasp and interpret clearly and quickly. Consider size, resolution, color, and prominence of important features. Figures should be large enough and of sufficient resolution for the viewer to make out details without straining their eyes. Also consider the format your paper will ultimately take. Journals typically publish figures in black and white, so any information coded by color will be lost to the reader.  On the other hand, color might be a good choice for papers published to the web or for PowerPoint presentations. In any case, use figure elements like color, line, and pattern for effect, not for flash.

Additional information

Figures should be labeled with a number preceding the table title; tables and figures are numbered independently of one another. Also be sure to include any additional contextual information your viewer needs to understand the figure. For graphs, this may include labels, a legend explaining symbols, and vertical or horizontal tick marks. For maps, you’ll need to include a scale and north arrow. If you’re unsure about contextual information, check out several types of figures that are commonly used in your discipline.

Quick reference for figures

Figures should be:

• Labeled (under the figure) with the figure number and appropriate descriptive title (“Figure” can be spelled out [“Figure 1.”] or abbreviated [“Fig. 1.”] as long as you are consistent).
• Referenced in the order they appear in the text (i.e. Figure 1 is referenced in the text before Figure 2 and so forth).
• Set apart from the text; text should not flow around figures.

Every graph is a figure but not every figure is a graph. Graphs are a particular set of figures that display quantitative relationships between variables. Some of the most common graphs include bar charts, frequency histograms, pie charts, scatter plots, and line graphs, each of which displays trends or relationships within and among datasets in a different way. You’ll need to carefully choose the best graph for your data and the relationship that you want to show. More details about some common graph types are provided below. Some good advice regarding the construction of graphs is to keep it simple. Remember that the main objective of your graph is communication. If your viewer is unable to visually decode your graph, then you have failed to communicate the information contained within it.

Pie charts are used to show relative proportions, specifically the relationship of a number of parts to the whole. Use pie charts only when the parts of the pie are mutually exclusive categories and the sum of parts adds up to a meaningful whole (100% of something). Pie charts are good at showing “big picture” relationships (i.e. some categories make up “a lot” or “a little” of the whole thing). However, if you want your reader to discern fine distinctions within your data, the pie chart is not for you. Humans are not very good at making comparisons based on angles. We are much better at comparing length, so try a bar chart as an alternative way to show relative proportions. Additionally, pie charts with lots of little slices or slices of very different sizes are difficult to read, so limit yours to 5-7 categories.

The chart shows the relative proportion of fifteen elements in Martian soil, listed in order from “most” to “least”: oxygen, silicon, iron, magnesium, calcium, sulfur, aluminum, sodium, potassium, chlorine, helium, nitrogen, phosphorus, beryllium, and other. Oxygen makes up about ⅓ of the composition, while silicon and iron together make up about ¼. The remaining slices make up smaller proportions, but the percentages aren’t listed in the key and are difficult to estimate. It is also hard to distinguish fifteen colors when comparing the pie chart to the color coded key.

The chart shows the relative proportion of five leisure activities of Venusian teenagers (tanning, trips to Mars, reading, messing with satellites, and stealing Earth cable). Although each of the five slices are about the same size (roughly 20% of the total), the percentage of Venusian teenagers engaging in each activity varies widely (tanning: 80%, trips to Mars: 40%, reading: 12%, messing with satellites: 30%, stealing Earth cable: 77%). Therefore, there is a mismatch between the labels and the actual proportion represented by each activity (in other words, if reading represents 12% of the total, its slice should take up 12% of the pie chart area), which makes the representation inaccurate. In addition, the labels for the five slices add up to 239% (rather than 100%), which makes it impossible to accurately represent this dataset using a pie chart.

Bar graphs are also used to display proportions. In particular, they are useful for showing the relationship between independent and dependent variables, where the independent variables are discrete (often nominal) categories. Some examples are occupation, gender, and species. Bar graphs can be vertical or horizontal. In a vertical bar graph the independent variable is shown on the x axis (left to right) and the dependent variable on the y axis (up and down). In a horizontal one, the dependent variable will be shown on the horizontal (x) axis, the independent on the vertical (y) axis. The scale and origin of the graph should be meaningful. If the dependent (numeric) variable has a natural zero point, it is commonly used as a point of origin for the bar chart. However, zero is not always the best choice. You should experiment with both origin and scale to best show the relevant trends in your data without misleading the viewer in terms of the strength or extent of those trends.

The graph shows the number of male and female spaceship crew members for five different popular television series: Star Trek (1965), Battlestar (1978), Star Trek: TNG (1987), Stargate SG-1 (1997), and Firefly (2002). Because the television series are arranged chronologically on the x-axis, the graph can also be used to look for trends in these numbers over time.

Although the number of crew members for each show is similar (ranging from 9 to 11), the proportion of female and male crew members varies. Star Trek has half as many female crew members as male crew members (3 and 6, respectively), Battlestar has fewer than one-fourth as many female crew members as male crew members (2 and 9, respectively), Star Trek: TNG has four female crew members and six male crew members, Stargate SG-1 has less than one-half as many female crew members as male crew members (3 and 7, respectively), and Firefly has four female and five male crew members.

Frequency histograms/distributions

Frequency histograms are a special type of bar graph that show the relationship between independent and dependent variables, where the independent variable is continuous, rather than discrete. This means that each bar represents a range of values, rather than a single observation. The dependent variables in a histogram are always numeric, but may be absolute (counts) or relative (percentages). Frequency histograms are good for describing populations—examples include the distribution of exam scores for students in a class or the age distribution of the people living in Chapel Hill. You can experiment with bar ranges (also known as “bins”) to achieve the best level of detail, but each range or bin should be of uniform width and clearly labeled.

XY scatter plots

Scatter plots are another way to illustrate the relationship between two variables. In this case, data are displayed as points in an x,y coordinate system, where each point represents one observation along two axes of variation. Often, scatter plots are used to illustrate correlation between two variables—as one variable increases, the other increases (positive correlation) or decreases (negative correlation). However, correlation does not necessarily imply that changes in one variable cause changes in the other. For instance, a third, unplotted variable may be causing both. In other words, scatter plots can be used to graph one independent and one dependent variable, or they can be used to plot two independent variables. In cases where one variable is dependent on another (for example, height depends partly on age), plot the independent variable on the horizontal (x) axis, and the dependent variable on the vertical (y) axis. In addition to correlation (a linear relationship), scatter plots can be used to plot non-linear relationships between variables.

The scatter plot shows the relationship between temperature (x-axis, independent variable) and the number of UFO sightings (y-axis, dependent variable) for 53 separate data points. The temperature ranges from about 0°F and 120°F, and the number of UFO sightings ranges from 1 to 10. The plot shows a low number of UFO sightings (ranging from 1 to 4) at temperatures below 80°F and a much wider range of the number of sightings (from 1 to 10) at temperatures above 80°F. It appears that the number of sightings tends to increase as temperature increases, though there are many cases where only a few sightings occur at high temperatures.

XY line graphs

Line graphs are similar to scatter plots in that they display data along two axes of variation. Line graphs, however, plot a series of related values that depict a change in one variable as a function of another, for example, world population (dependent) over time (independent). Individual data points are joined by a line, drawing the viewer’s attention to local change between adjacent points, as well as to larger trends in the data. Line graphs are similar to bar graphs, but are better at showing the rate of change between two points. Line graphs can also be used to compare multiple dependent variables by plotting multiple lines on the same graph.

Example of an XY line graph:

The line graph shows the age (in years) of the actor of each Doctor Who regeneration for the first through the eleventh regeneration. The ages range from a maximum of about 55 in the first regeneration to a minimum of about 25 in the eleventh regeneration. There is a downward trend in the age of the actors over the course of the eleven regenerations.

General tips for graphs

Strive for simplicity. Your data will be complex. Don’t be tempted to convey the complexity of your data in graphical form. Your job (and the job of your graph) is to communicate the most important thing about the data. Think of graphs like you think of paragraphs—if you have several important things to say about your data, make several graphs, each of which highlights one important point you want to make.

Strive for clarity. Make sure that your data are portrayed in a way that is visually clear. Make sure that you have explained the elements of the graph clearly. Consider your audience. Will your reader be familiar with the type of figure you are using (such as a boxplot)? If not, or if you’re not sure, you may need to explain boxplot conventions in the text. Avoid “chartjunk.” Superfluous elements just make graphs visually confusing. Your reader does not want to spend 15 minutes figuring out the point of your graph.

Strive for accuracy. Carefully check your graph for errors. Even a simple graphical error can change the meaning and interpretation of the data. Use graphs responsibly. Don’t manipulate the data so that it looks like it’s saying something it’s not—savvy viewers will see through this ruse, and you will come off as incompetent at best and dishonest at worst.

How should tables and figures interact with text?

Placement of figures and tables within the text is discipline-specific. In manuscripts (such as lab reports and drafts) it is conventional to put tables and figures on separate pages from the text, as near as possible to the place where you first refer to it. You can also put all the figures and tables at the end of the paper to avoid breaking up the text. Figures and tables may also be embedded in the text, as long as the text itself isn’t broken up into small chunks. Complex raw data is conventionally presented in an appendix. Be sure to check on conventions for the placement of figures and tables in your discipline.

You can use text to guide the reader in interpreting the information included in a figure, table, or graph—tell the reader what the figure or table conveys and why it was important to include it.

When referring to tables and graphs from within the text, you can use:

• Clauses beginning with “as”: “As shown in Table 1, …”
• Passive voice: “Results are shown in Table 1.”
• Active voice (if appropriate for your discipline): “Table 1 shows that …”
• Parentheses: “Each sample tested positive for three nutrients (Table 1).”

Works consulted

We consulted these works while writing this handout. This is not a comprehensive list of resources on the handout’s topic, and we encourage you to do your own research to find additional publications. Please do not use this list as a model for the format of your own reference list, as it may not match the citation style you are using. For guidance on formatting citations, please see the UNC Libraries citation tutorial . We revise these tips periodically and welcome feedback.

American Psychological Association. 2010. Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association . 6th ed. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

Bates College. 2012. “ Almost everything you wanted to know about making tables and figures.” How to Write a Paper in Scientific Journal Style and Format , January 11, 2012. http://abacus.bates.edu/~ganderso/biology/resources/writing/HTWtablefigs.html.

Cleveland, William S. 1994. The Elements of Graphing Data , 2nd ed. Summit, NJ: Hobart Press..

Council of Science Editors. 2014. Scientific Style and Format: The CSE Manual for Authors, Editors, and Publishers , 8th ed. Chicago & London: University of Chicago Press.

University of Chicago Press. 2017. The Chicago Manual of Style , 17th ed. Chicago & London: University of Chicago Press.

You may reproduce it for non-commercial use if you use the entire handout and attribute the source: The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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Over 60 New York Times Graphs for Students to Analyze

A collection of graphs, maps and charts organized by topic and graph type from three years of “What’s Going On in This Graph?”

Graphs, Charts and Maps From Three Years of “What’s Going On in This Graph?”

View Slide Show ›

By The Learning Network

Note: Register for our free November 5 webinar about teaching with graphs , or watch a previously recorded on-demand webinar here .

For the last three years, we have collaborated with the American Statistical Association (A.S.A.) to produce “ What’s Going On in This Graph? ” This weekly feature invites students to analyze and interpret graphs previously published in The New York Times, first by noticing and wondering, and then by creating a catchy headline and considering what impact this data might have on them and their communities.

Scroll through the dozens of graphs in the slide show above or explore each graph further in the collection below. This curated list is organized by topic and graph type — ranging from science to sports, and from bar graphs to bubble charts.

If you’re new to the feature, here is how it works:

Each week during the school year we take a graph that has been published elsewhere in The New York Times and ask students to share what they notice and wonder about it. This feature is completely free, and it runs from September to May.

We post these graphs on Thursdays, and include them in our free weekly newsletter , so teachers can plan for the coming week.

Then, on Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Eastern time, we host a live-moderated discussion where students from around the world post their observations and analysis while moderators from A.S.A. facilitate the student conversation.

Your class can join the discussion any day of the week, not just Wednesdays, and students can even comment on graphs in our archive.

On Thursday afternoons, a week after we publish each graph, we add a “reveal” to the post which includes additional background about these graphs, shout-outs for great student headlines, and relevant statistical concepts.

Graphs Organized by Topic

Environment, Science and Technology

Houston May Get 50 Inches of Rain. How Long Does it Take Your City to Get That Much?

It’s Not Your Imagination. Summers Are Getting Hotter .

The Places in the U.S. Where Disaster Strikes Again and Again

Where Are America’s Winters Warming the Most?

How Does Your State Make Electricity?

Hang On, Northeast. In Some Parts, Spring Has Already Sprung.

Read a Hurricane Map the Right Way

2018 Continues Warming Trend, As 4th Hottest Since 1880

What’s the Right Number of Taxis?

The Most Detailed Map of Auto Emissions In America

Your Questions About Food and Climate Change, Answered

Privacy Policies Are a Mess

2019 Was the Second-Hottest Year Ever, Closing Out the Warmest Decade

Teach About Climate Change With These 24 New York Times Graphs

Six Myths About Choosing a Major

Old Skills, New Careers: Workers in Fading Jobs Often Already Have What It Takes to Succeed in Growing Ones

Where Education Drives Mobility

How Bad Will the Crisis Get?

Why We Need to Keep the Curve Flat

You Can Break the Chain of Transmission

What If We Open America Too Early?

Seven Ways to Explore the Math of the Coronavirus

How the Virus Transformed How Americans Spend Their Money

How Long Will a Vaccine Really Take?

Is It Safer to Visit a Coffee Shop or a Gym?

The Arts, Sports and Culture

The Words Men and Women Use When They Write About Love

What Music Do Americans Love the Most? 50 Detailed Fan Maps

Pumpkin Pie in Miami: Thanksgiving Flight Patterns

What if a $250 Shoe Actually Made You Race Faster ?

How a New Kind of Pop Star Stormed 2018

Do Summer Songs Sound the Same?

Manny Machado Signed a $300 Million Deal; Bryce Harper’s Could Be for More. Will They Be Worth It?

How Popular Is Baseball, Really?

Inside Footballs’ Campaign to Save the Game

Three Months’ Salary for an Engagement Ring? For Most People, It’s More Like Two Weeks

Health and Wellness

Is Sushi Healthy? What About Granola? Where Americans and Nutritionists Disagree

Obesity Was Rising as Ghana Embraced Fast Food. Then Came KFC

The Age That Women Have Babies: How a Gap Divides America.

A Picture of Social Connectedness in America

How Bad Was Her Commute? This $8,650 Scarf Tells the Tale

F.D.A. to Limit How Stores Sell Vaping Flavors

Bigger, Saltier, Heavier: Fast Food Since 1986 in 3 Simple Charts

Why Euthanasia Rates at Animal Shelters Have Plummeted

The Major Issue of Mental Health

United States Economy, Politics, History and Civics

Unemployment Is So 2009: Labor Shortage Gives Workers an Edge

How the Growth of E-Commerce Is Shifting Retail Jobs

What Explains U.S. Mass Shootings? International Comparisons Suggest an Answer

Apple Is Worth $1,000,000,000,000. Two Decades Ago, It Was Almost Bankrupt.

With Kennedy’s Retirement, the Supreme Court Loses Its Center

A Fast-Food Problem: Where Have All the Teenagers Gone?

The Myth of the Lazy November

Political Bubbles and Hidden Diversity: Highlights From a Very Detailed Map of the 2016 Election

A Typical “Dreamer” Lives in Los Angeles, Is From Mexico and Came to the U.S. at 6.

The Monopolization of America

Is America’s Military Big Enough?

How Much Political Experience Does It Take to Be Elected President?

Undocumented Population and Crime Rate

Data Shows Decline in Number of White Neighborhoods

Why Afghanistan Became an Invisible War: Yearly Front-Page Headlines About War

Mystery of the Missing Bus Riders

How the Virus Transformed How Americans Spent Their Money

Anti-Immigration Shift in U.S. Promoted Rise of a Young Firebrand

Global Economies, History, Politics and Culture

Migrants Are on the Rise Around the World, and Myths About Them Are Shaping Attitudes.

Obesity Was Rising as Ghana Embraced Fast Food. Then Came KFC.

Graphs Organized by Type

Distribution (values and their frequency)

Six Myths About Choosing a Major (boxplot)

It’s Not Your Imagination. Summers Are Getting Hotter . (histogram)

The Age That Women Have Babies: How a Gap Divides America (histogram)

Data Shows Decline in Number of White Neighborhoods (histogram)

Three Months’ Salary for an Engagement Ring? For Most People, It’s More Like Two Weeks (histogram)

Association (relationship between two or more variables)

Is Sushi Healthy? What About Granola? Where Americans and Nutritionists Disagree (scatter plot)

The Words Men and Women Use When They Write About Love (bubble chart)

What Explains U.S. Mass Shootings? International Comparisons Suggest an Answer (scatter plot)

Obesity Was Rising as Ghana Embraced Fast Food. Then Came KFC. (scatter plot)

Old Skills, New Careers: Workers in Fading Jobs Often Already Have What It Takes to Succeed in Growing Ones (scatter plot)

Manny Machado Signed a $300 Million Deal; Bryce Harper’s Could Be for More. Will They Be Worth It? (scatter plot)

Serena Williams Reaches For Margaret Court (line chart)

What’s the Right Number of Taxis? (scatterplot)

Undocumented Population and Crime Rate ” (scatter plot)

Privacy Policies Are a Mess ” (scatter plot)

How Bad Will the Crisis Get? (scatter plot)

How the Virus Transformed How Americans Spend Their Money (bubble chart)

Is It Safer to Visit a Coffee Shop or a Gym? (bubble chart)

Unemployment Is So 2009: Labor Shortage Gives Workers an Edge (line time series)

How the Growth of E-Commerce Is Shifting Retail Jobs (step time series)

The Places in the U. S. Where Disaster Strikes Again and Again (dot and column time series)

With Kennedy’s Retirement, the Supreme Court Loses Its Center (line time series)

A Fast-Food Problem: Where Have All the Teenagers Gone? (line time series)

Student Loan Rates Are Rising. Here’s What You Need to Know. (area chart)

Where Are America’s Winters Warming the Most? (diverging bar graph time series)

The Monopolization of America (slope time series)

F.D.A. to Limit How Stores Sell Vaping Flavors (line time series)

2018 Continues Warming Trend, As 4th Hottest Since 1880 (time series with baseline)

Why Euthanasia Rates at Animal Shelters Have Plummeted (stacked area time series)

How Popular Is Baseball, Really? (time series)

How Much Political Experience Does It Take to Be Elected President? (timeline)

The Most Detailed Map of Auto Emissions In America (Line time series & stacked area time series)

An Ecological Crisis as 2.9 Billion Birds Vanish (time series)

Why We Need to Keep the Curve Flat (time series)

Mystery of the Missing Bus Riders (time series)

What If We Open America Too Early? (time series)

2019 Was the Second-Hottest Year Ever, Closing Out the Warmest Decade (time series)

Anti-Immigration Shift in U.S. Promoted Rise of a Young Firebrand (time series)

How Long Will a Vaccine Really Take? (critical path diagram)

Comparing Categories

Apple Is Worth $1,000,000,000,000. Two Decades Ago, It Was Almost Bankrupt. (area graph)

The Myth of the Lazy November (pictogram)

What if a $250 Shoe Actually Made You Race Faster ? (dot plot)

A Typical “Dreamer” Lives in Los Angeles, Is From Mexico and Came to the U.S. at 6. (bar graph)

How Bad Was Her Commute? This $8,650 Scarf Tells the Tale (stacked time series graph)

How Does Your State Make Electricity? (ranking area graph)

Do Summer Songs Sound the Same? (radar graph)

Where Education Drives Mobility (data chart)

Bigger, Saltier, Heavier: Fast Food Since 1986 in 3 Simple Charts (back-to-back bar graphs)

Your Questions About Food and Climate Change, Answered (bar graphs)

An Ecological Crisis as 2.9 Billion Birds Vanish (bar graph)

Inside Football’s Campaign to Save the Game (infographic)

Water Crisis May Grip One-Quarter of Humanity (dot plot)

Three Months’ Salary for an Engagement Ring? For Most People, It’s More Like Two Weeks (bar chart)

Out with the Old, In with the Young (bar chart)

Why Afghanistan Became an Invisible War: Yearly Front-Page Headlines About War (bar graph)

How the Virus Transformed How Americans Spent Their Money (bubble chart)

Parts to Whole

How a New Kind of Pop Star Stormed 2018 (segmented bar graph)

Where Education Drives Mobility (segmented bar graph)

The Major Issue of Mental Health (segmented bar graph)

How Long Will a Vaccine Really Take? (probability tree diagram)

Houston May Get 50 Inches of Rain. How Long Does it Take Your City to Get That Much? (heat map)

What Music Do Americans Love the Most? 50 Detailed Fan Maps (heat map)

Migrants Are on the Rise Around the World, and Myths About Them Are Shaping Attitudes. (directed graph)

Political Bubbles and Hidden Diversity: Highlights From a Very Detailed Map of the 2016 Election (heat map)

Pumpkin Pie in Miami: Thanksgiving Flight Patterns ( directed graph)

A Picture of Social Connectedness in America (heat map)

Is America’s Military Big Enough? (bubble map)

Hang On, Northeast. In Some Parts, Spring Has Already Sprung. (time series heat map)

Read a Hurricane Map the Right Way (map)

A ‘Full’ Nation in Dire Need of New Faces (heatmap)

An Ecological Crisis as 2.9 Billion Birds Vanish (heatmap)

Water Crisis May Grip One-Quarter of Humanity (heatmap)

You Can Break the Chain of Transmission (tree diagram)

• Ebooks & Courses
• Practice Tests

How To Write an IELTS Line Graph Essay

Here is the 5 steps process I recommend for planning and writing   IELTS line graph essays:

1)  Analyse the question

2)  Identify the main features

3)  Write an introduction

4)  Write an overview

5)  Write the details paragraphs

I’m going to take you through the whole process step-by-step as we work on a practice question.

Many students are reluctant to spend time on steps 1 and 2 as they want to spend as much of the 20 minutes allowed for the essay as possible actually writing it. However, it is essential that you do them as they are the key to writing a high-scoring IELTS line graph essay.

Before we begin, here’s a model essay structure that you can use as a guideline for all IELTS Academic Task 1 questions.

Ideally, your essay should have 4 paragraphs:

Paragraph 1  – Introduction

Paragraph 2  – Overview

Paragraph 3  – 1 st  main feature

Paragraph 4  – 2 nd  main feature

Now that we have all these tools we need, we’re ready to begin planning and writing our IELTS line graph essay.

Here’s our practice question:

The graph below shows radio and television audiences throughout the day in 1992.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Write at least 150 words.

Source: Official IELTS website

Step 1 –  Analyse the question

The format of every Academic Task 1 question is the same. Here is our practice question again with the words that will be included in all questions highlighted .

The  graph below shows radio and television audiences throughout the day in 1992.

Every question consists of:

• Sentence 1 – A brief description of the graphic
• Sentence 2 – The instructions
• The graphic – chart, graph, table, etc.

Sentence 2 tells you what you have to do.

You must do 3 things:

1.     Select the main features.

2.     Write about the main features.

3.     Compare the main features.

All three tasks refer to the ‘ main features ’ of the graphic. You  do not  have to write about everything. Just pick out 2 or 3 key features and you’ll have plenty to write about.

Step 2 – Identify the Main Features

The graphic in IELTS line graph questions should not be difficult to interpret. Each question has been created to  test your language skills, not your mathematics ability.

All you are looking for are the main features. These will usually be the easiest things to spot. There will be lots of information in the graphic to help you identify them.

Here are some useful questions to ask?

• What information do the 2 axes give?
• What are the units of measurements?
• What are the time periods?
• What can you learn from the title and any labels?
• What is the most obvious trend?
• Are there any notable similarities?

(I give more detail on how to use these questions, plus downloadable checklists for identifying the main features of all 7 different types of IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 questions, in the lesson on  How To Understand & Analyse Task 1 Questions .)

So, what main features stand out in our practice graphic?

Here's our IELTS line graph again.

The timeline will give you the biggest clues as to the most significant trends. Look for general trends.

There are 2 main features/trends in this line graph:

Main feature 1:  The peak time for TV audiences is in the evening (8 pm).

Main feature 2:  The peak time for radio audiences is in the morning (8 am).

The general trends you select will be the starting point for your essay. You will then go on to add more detail. However, with just 20 minutes allowed for Task 1, and a requirement of only 150 words, you won't be able to include many details.

We’re now ready to begin writing our essay. Here’s a reminder of the 4 part structure we’re going to use.

Step 3 – Write an Introduction 

In the introduction, you should simply paraphrase the question, that is, say the same thing in a different way. You can do this by using synonyms and changing the sentence structure. For example:

Introduction (Paragraph 1): 

The line graph illustrates the proportion of people in the UK who watched TV and listened to the radio over 24 hours from October to December 1992.

This is all you need to do for the introduction.

Step 4 – Write an Overview (Paragraph 2)

In the second paragraph, you should report the main features you can see in the graph, giving only general information. The detail comes later in the essay. You should also make any clear comparisons you spot.

This is where we write about the general trends. Here are the ones we picked out above.

Now form these ideas into two or three sentences with a total of around 40 words. State the information simply using synonyms where possible. No elaborate vocabulary or grammar structures are required, just the appropriate words and correct verb tenses.

For example:

Overview  (Paragraph 2): 

Overall, a significantly greater percentage of the TV audience watched in the evening while radio had the most listeners in the morning. Over the course of each day and night, more people watched TV than listened to the radio.

Step 5  – Write the 1st Detail Paragraph

Paragraphs 3 and 4 of your IELTS line graph essay are where you include more detailed information about the data in the graphic. In paragraph 3, you should give evidence to support your first key feature. Don’t forget to make comparisons when relevant.

Here is our first main feature again:

And this is an example of what you could write:

Paragraph 3 :

Less than 10% of people watched TV between 1 am and 12 noon but at 4 pm this figure increased rapidly, reaching a peak of almost half the population at 8 pm. After this, the graph records a sharp decline in viewers, reaching a low of only a tiny percentage by 3 am.

Step 6  – Write the 2nd Detail Paragraph

For the fourth and final paragraph, you do the same thing for your second key feature. 

Here’s an example of what you could write:

Paragraph 4 :

Radio, on the other hand, shows a very different trend. The most popular time for listeners to be tuned in was just after 8 am when around 27% of the population was listening. After a brief peak, the numbers dropped steadily to barely 2%, apart from fluctuations at around 4 pm and 10.30 pm. The percentage of listeners remained low overnight before beginning a rapid ascent from 6 am to the 8 am high.

Here are the four paragraphs brought together to create our finished essay.

Finished IELTS Line Graph Essay

This sample IELTS line graph essay is well over the minimum word limit so you can see that you don’t have space to include very much detail at all. That’s why it is essential to select just a couple of main features to write about.

Now use what you’ve learnt in this lesson to practice answering other IELTS line graph questions. Start slowly at first and keep practicing until you can plan and write a complete essay in around 20 minutes.

Want  to watch and listen to this lesson?

Click on this video.

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Ielts academic writing task 1 – all lessons.

IELTS Academic Writing  –  A summary of the test including important facts, test format & assessment.

Academic Writing Task 1  – The format, the 7 question types & sample questions, assessment & marking criteria.  All the key information you need to know.

Understanding Task 1 Questions  – How to quickly and easily analyse and understand IELTS Writing Task 2 questions.

How To Plan a Task 1 Essay  –  Discover  3 reasons why you must plan, the 4 simple steps of essay planning and learn a simple 4 part essay structure.

Vocabulary for Task 1 Essays  –  Learn key vocabulary for a high-scoring essay. Word lists & a downloadable PDF.

Grammar for Task 1 Essays   – Essential grammar for Task 1 Academic essays including, verb tenses, key sentence structures, articles & prepositions.

The 7 Question Types:

Click the links below for a step-by-step lesson on each type of Task 1 question.

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IELTS Line Graph Examples

Continuing with the sites IELTS line graph examples, this is an example of a line graph comparing car theft.

It's important to organise your graph clearly, draw out the key trends and make comparisons. 

That has been done well in this answer. 

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

The line graph shows thefts per thousand vehicles in four countries between 1990 and 1999.

Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant.

Write at least 150 words.

IELTS Line Graph Examples - Model Answer

The line graph compares the number of cars stolen for every 1000 vehicles in four countries from 1990 to 1999. Overall, it can be seen that car thefts were far higher in Great Britain than in the other three counties throughout the whole time frame.

To begin, car thefts in Sweden, France and Canada followed a fairly similar pattern over the first five years, all remaining at between 5 and 10 per thousand. The general trend though for France and Canada was a decline in the number of vehicles stolen over the period, with both at around 6 in 1999. In contrast, Sweden experienced an upward trend, starting the period at approximately 8, and finishing at just under 15.

Interestingly, car thefts in Great Britain started at 18 per thousand, which far exceeded that of the other countries. It then fluctuated over the next nine years, reaching a peak of 20 thefts per 1000 in 1996, and ending the period slightly lower than where it began, at approximately 17 per thousand.

(Words 174)

This graph would score highly in the IELTS test.

The graph starts with an overview that highlights the key information presented in the graph.

It has also been organised very clearly around the main trends.

The first body paragraph describes Sweden, France and Canada together as they follow a very similar pattern, whereas Great Britain is discussed separately in the second body paragraph as this follows a very different pattern.

This makes the description easy to follow and read and shows the writer has been able to make comparisons of the data. 

There is also a good range of vocabulary and accurate grammar.

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More on IELTS Line Graphs:

Line Graph Quiz

Line Graph Quiz: Have a go at this fun quiz to help you find out what you know about graphs and to help you improve your IELTS score.

IELTS Sample Line Graph

This is an IELTS Sample Line Graph with model answer that you can use to help you prepare to write your answer for a task 1 that describes changes over time.

IELTS Line Graph Sample Answer: Average carbon dioxide (Co2) emissions

View an IELTS line graph sample answer that would score highly in the exam. It's well organised and covers all the requirements of the task.

IELTS Task 1 Line Graph Structure Using Groups

For an IELTS Task 1 Line Graph there are different ways to organise your answer. Grouping information is a good way to get a logically structured response.

Tips for Organising an IELTS Line Graph

Organising an IELTS Line Graph - This lesson shows you have to improve the coherency of your graph in order to achieve a high band score.

IELTS Line Graph Worksheet: Practice the language of change

IELTS Line Graph Worksheet - this is a gap fill to help you practice the language of change for IELTS graphs over time.

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Describing Graphs

   This blog offers two great lessons on describing, analysing and evaluating graphs / charts / tables.

The first lesson begins with naming different graph / chart types and describing a range of different lines (peak, plummet, etc..). It finishes with a fun activity where students describe and plot the lines on four graph s.

The second lesson   provides the language necessary for describing, analysing and evaluating graphs. It is followed by researching and analysing graphs/charts/tables from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) and giving a short presentation on the findings.

The basic features of a graph

• Label the basic parts on this graph

18 more different graphs / charts / tables with paid version. 

Other topics: life satisfaction / divorce / religion / mental health / alcohol / mobile phones / murder / technology / leisure / population growth / life expectancy / etc..

Describing Results (questionnaire data)  [new 2023]

This lesson teaches students how to describe the results from a questionnaire. It provides language for describing quantities, group sizes, specific features and reporting verbs. It includes model answers and a range of practice activities.  Example   Level: ** *** [B1/B2/C1] TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

  Academic description, analysis & evaluation

This lesson helps to improve students’ awareness and understanding of the difference between description, analysis and evaluation. It includes paragraph analysis, a detailed language review reference sheet and graph and sentence level quotation analysis.  Example. Time: 120mins.   Level *** ** [ [B2/C1]   TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

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