Smart English Prep

Academic Writing Task 1 Band 9 Sample: Line Graph Analysis

Analyze this band 9 sample response for an academic Writing Task 1 line graph showing unemployment rates across different countries from 1990-2020.

Article guide

Analyze this band 9 sample response for an academic Writing Task 1 line graph showing unemployment rates across different countries from 1990-2020.

Task Prompt: The line graph below shows unemployment rates in four countries (UK, USA, Germany, Japan) from 1990 to 2020.

Band 9 Sample Answer:

The line graph illustrates the fluctuation in unemployment rates across four developed nations—the UK, USA, Germany, and Japan—over a thirty-year period from 1990 to 2020.

Overall, while all countries experienced varying degrees of unemployment throughout the period, Germany consistently maintained the highest rates, whereas Japan demonstrated remarkable stability with the lowest unemployment figures.

In 1990, Germany began with approximately 7% unemployment, which steadily increased to peak at nearly 12% by 2005, before gradually declining to around 4% by 2020. This dramatic reduction represents the most significant transformation among the four nations.

The USA followed a more volatile pattern, starting at roughly 5.5% in 1990, reaching a peak of approximately 10% during the 2008-2010 financial crisis, then recovering to about 3.5% by 2020. The UK demonstrated similar volatility, beginning at 7%, fluctuating between 4-8% throughout most periods, with a notable spike to 8.5% during the 2008 recession, before settling at 4% by 2020.

Japan maintained the most consistent trajectory, hovering between 2-5% throughout the entire period, with only minor fluctuations during economic downturns, ending at approximately 2.8% in 2020.

Why This Is Band 9: Task Achievement (9): Fully addresses all aspects with clear overview and accurate data interpretation Coherence & Cohesion (9): Excellent logical flow with sophisticated linking devices Lexical Resource (9): Wide range of vocabulary with precise usage ("fluctuation," "trajectory," "volatile pattern") Grammatical Range (9): Complex structures with perfect accuracy

Continue with related Smart English Prep guides and practice resources after reading this article.

Explore Smart English Prep