IELTS Essay Bank · Task 1 Academic · Line graph
Mobile Phone Subscriptions Line Graph: Band 6 Sample Answer
193 words · Topic: Technology ·
The question
The line graph below shows the number of mobile phone subscriptions, measured in millions, in three countries between 2005 and 2020.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.
Chart data (summarised):
- Vertical axis: subscriptions in millions (0–120); horizontal axis: 2005, 2010, 2015 and 2020.
- Country A: the lowest in 2005 at about 20 million; rises steeply throughout and overtakes the other two countries, reaching about 110 million by 2020.
- Country B: the highest in 2005 at roughly 60 million; grows only gently, finishing at around 80 million.
- Country C: about 35 million in 2005; climbs steadily to a peak of 70 million in 2015, then levels off and ends the period at 70 million.
Band 6 sample report
Highlighted = useful vocabularyThe line graph show the number of mobile phone subscriptions in three countries (A, B and C) between 2005 and 2020, and it is measured in millions.
In 2005, Country B had the highest number of subscriptions with about 60 million. Country C had about 35 million and Country A was the lowest, with only 20 million. After that, the subscription in Country B increased gradually and in 2020 it was around 80 million, so there was not a big change for this country during the 15 years.
Country A was very different. Firstly, its number increased dramaticly in every five years. Secondly, it became higher than Country C and Country B, and by the end of the period it reached about 110 million, which was the highest of all. It is more than five times bigger than in 2005.
For Country C, the number rose steadily from 35 million to a peak of 70 million in 2015. After that it decreased a little bit, and in 2020 it was also about 70 million.
In conclusion, the mobile phone subscriptions in all of the three countries were changed a lot in these years.
Word count: 193
Write your own answer → get an AI band score
The same question is ready on its practice page, with a Band 8–9 model answer to compare.
Why this is Band 6: criterion by criterion
Task Achievement
Band 5The report selects the right figures and describes all three countries, but there is no clear overview of the main trends, which is why Task Achievement is Band 5 even though the other criteria reach 6. The final sentence tries to summarise, but "were changed a lot" is vague and actually misleading, because Country B grew only modestly. There is also an inaccuracy: Country C did not "decrease a little bit" after 2015 — it levelled off at 70 million. Comparisons are limited to one clause ("it became higher than Country C and Country B"); a Band 6 answer needs at least a recognisable overview, such as Country A grew far faster than the others and ended with the most subscriptions.
Coherence and Cohesion
Band 6The information is organised coherently country by country, so there is a clear overall progression. However, the linking is mechanical: "Firstly" and "Secondly" are used to describe a single line, as if listing arguments in an essay. Referencing is sometimes unclear — in the first sentence "it is measured in millions" has no clear noun for "it", and "its number" is vague. This is typical Band 6 cohesion: it works, but it is faulty in places.
Lexical Resource
Band 6There is an adequate range of trend vocabulary for the task, including "increased gradually", "rose steadily" and "a peak of". Range is limited by repetition of "number" and "about", and there is a spelling error ("dramaticly" for dramatically) and a preposition slip ("in every five years" for every five years or in each five-year period). The phrase "a little bit" is too informal for an academic report. These errors do not prevent understanding, so Band 6 is appropriate.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Band 6The writer uses a mix of simple and complex forms, including a relative clause ("which was the highest of all") and a result clause with "so". Errors are frequent but rarely cause confusion: subject–verb agreement ("The line graph show"), a singular for a plural ("the subscription in Country B"), a tense shift ("It is more than five times bigger" for was) and a passive used with an intransitive verb ("were changed a lot" — changed). Control of this level fits Band 6.
Useful vocabulary and collocations
- had the highest number of
- accurate and useful; a Band 7 alternative is had by far the largest number of.
- increased gradually
- correct trend phrase; for more precision, try grew only modestly.
- by the end of the period
- a natural time phrase that avoids repeating the final year.
- the highest of all
- clear comparative; an upgrade is overtaking both of the other countries.
- rose steadily
- precise and well chosen for Country C's growth up to 2015.
How this report could reach Band 7
- 1Add a two-sentence overview after the introduction, for example: Overall, all three countries saw growth, but Country A rose far more quickly than the others and ended with the most subscriptions, while Country C levelled off after 2015.
- 2Describe the data accurately: Country C remained stable after 2015, and Country B's rise of about 20 million should be called modest, not "a lot".
- 3Replace "Firstly/Secondly" with time and comparison links (after this, by 2020, whereas) and fix agreement errors such as "The line graph show".
This is an original sample report written by IELTS-Bank to illustrate Band 6 against the public IELTS Writing band descriptors. The band scores are our assessment, not an official IELTS result. IELTS-Bank is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia, or Cambridge University Press & Assessment. "IELTS" is a registered trademark of its respective owners and is used here for descriptive purposes only.