The graph shows Underground Station passenger numbers in London.
Sample Response
The line graph illustrates how many passengers use the London Underground stationpassengers use the Underground Station between 6:00 and 22:00from 6:00 to 22:00 on a typical day in Londonin a day, in London. Overall, although there is significant variationthere is a significant variation in the number of passengers throughout the period, the two peaksthe highest numbers occurare registered at 8:00 and 18:00. As the graph indicates, at 6:00, a total of 100 people use the underground station. Over the next two hoursDuring the next 2 hours, the figure rises dramaticallythere is a dramatic rise, with the numbernumbers of travellers reaching a peaktopping the charge at 400 passengers at 8:00at 8:00 with 400 passengers. The following 8 hours, is featured with fluctuations, and at 16:00 reaching the same level at the starting point (100 passengers). Over the next two hoursIn two hours, another substantial increasea new substantial increase is seen, reachingis seen accounting about 380 passengersjust below 400 passengers at 18:00. The next 4 hours is characterized by a reduction in the number, besides the discrete increase at 21:00 with just above 150 people and ending at 22:00 with roughly 150 users of the Underground Station.
Why this response received Band 6.5
The response highlights both daily peaks and accurately traces the major rises and falls, giving the reader a clear sense of the overall pattern. Its main limitation is that several midday changes are compressed into a vague reference to fluctuations, while awkward collocations and faulty clause structures reduce fluency. The highest priority is to group the day into clearer phases and describe each with precise, grammatically complete comparisons.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
A clear overview identifies the two peaks, and the main movements are accurately reported, though the midday pattern is insufficiently detailed.
Include one or two precise comparisons for the fall after 8:00 and the gradual rise from 10:00 to 14:00.
Coherence and Cohesion
The response follows the timeline logically, but the single dense progression and repetitive time-linking make some stages less distinct.
Separate the morning and later-day trends into clear paragraphs and use links that emphasise comparison rather than only chronology.
Lexical Resource
The response uses a reasonable range of trend vocabulary, but several collocations, including "topping the charge" and "featured with fluctuations," are inaccurate.
Prefer established graph phrases such as "reached a peak," "fluctuated," and "stood at just under 400".
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Simple and complex forms are attempted, but agreement errors and incomplete clause attachments recur in the later sentences.
Rewrite each trend sentence around a clear subject and finite verb, checking agreement in phrases such as "the next four hours were".
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IELTS Academic Writing Task 1
The graph shows Underground Station passenger numbers in London.
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.