Writing Templates & Sample Paragraphs
Pick a question type, read the Band 6 vs Band 9 side-by-side, check the common mistakes, and run through the pre-submit checklist before every practice essay.
Line Graph
Line graphs show how one or more quantities change over time. You must describe the overall trend, key highs/lows, and compare lines where relevant.
How to recognise this type
- A graph with data points connected by lines
- An x-axis showing time (years, months, decades)
- Instructions saying 'summarise the information' or 'describe the main features'
- Multiple lines representing different categories
Sample exam question
“The graph below shows the percentage of households in owned and rented accommodation in England and Wales between 1918 and 2011. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.”
Pick a paragraph below. Read the Band 6 version first, then Band 9. The notes show exactly what changed and why.
Introduction (Paraphrase the prompt)
“The line graph shows information about owned and rented homes in England and Wales from 1918 to 2011.”
Why this loses marks
Copies words directly from the prompt ('owned', 'rented')
Missing the unit of measurement (percentage)
No attempt to paraphrase — examiners penalise this
Bare and mechanical — does not signal what the graph reveals
“The line graph illustrates the proportion of households in owner-occupied versus rented accommodation in England and Wales across nearly a century, from 1918 to 2011.”
Why this scores higher
'proportion' paraphrases 'percentage' — different word, same meaning
'owner-occupied' paraphrases 'owned' — precise academic vocabulary
'across nearly a century' adds analytical depth without inventing data
Clear scope: who, what, where, when — examiner knows exactly what follows