Sample IELTS Task 1 Line Graph: Proportion of Elderly People

by Rita Yem (Puma_andev)
(Shanghai, China)

The graph shows the proportion of the population aged 65 and over between 1940 and 2040 in three different countries.

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

You should write at least 150 words.

The graph outlines the comparison in the amount of ageing people in Japan, Sweden, and the USA. In general, it reveals that the percentage of elderly people is anticipated to soar to almost 25% by the year 2040.

In 1940 the figures of all three countries were negligible as compared with their results in 2040, only 5% in Japan, just about 7% in Sweden, and 9% in the US. As we can observe the proportion of ageing population slightly enhanced in Sweden and the US, making up 15% by the year 1980. By comparison, Japan’s figures somewhat deteriorated, maintaining 3% from 1960 to 1985 before rising again to 5% in 2000’s.

The graph suggests that amount of older people will almost certainly increase in next three decades in the three countries. The most drastic progress is expected in Japan between 2030 and 2040, by which time all three countries will reach similar highs.

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Corrected Version:

The graph ~~outlines the comparison in~~ compares the ~~amount~~ percentage of ~~ageing~~ elderly people in Japan, Sweden, and the USA. In general, it reveals that the percentage of elderly people is anticipated to soar ~~to almost 25%~~ by the year 2040 to much higher levels than at present.

In 1940 the figures of all three countries were negligible as compared with their results in 2040, at only 5% in Japan, ~~just about~~ approximately 7% in Sweden, and 9% in the US. As we can observe the proportion of ageing population slightly ~~enhanced~~ increased in Sweden and the US, making up 15% by the year 1980. By comparison, Japan’s figures declined somewhat ~~deteriorated~~, maintaining 3% from 1960 to 1985 before rising again to 5% in 2000’s.

The graph suggests that the ~~amount~~ proportion of older people will almost certainly increase in the next three decades in the three countries. The most drastic ~~progress~~ change is expected in Japan between 2030 and 2040, by which time all three countries will reach similar highs.

FURTHER COMMENTS

Overall, it's a good answers, with some good language and good organization. Here is some more specific feedback.

Grouping the Data

It is a good answer as you group the information well - dividing it up into a timeframe of the past and then the future. This makes it easy to follow.

Grammar

Some good use of grammar as you get the tenses correct - past for the first part of the graph and future for the second part.

Overview

It is better not to refer to specific data when you say what is happening generally in the graph, otherwise it will look like, or could be mistaken for, more specific detail.

This is why I changed your second sentence in the introduction.

Vocabulary

Amount = for uncountable nouns e.g. oil, water

Ageing people = you can say 'ageing population', but not 'ageing people'. We say 'elderly'.

Enhanced = This means 'to improve' something in terms of beauty or effectiveness. You can't use it to talk about graphs. It does not mean 'increase'.

Deteriorated = This has a particular connotation which is negative i.e. to get worse. But who is to say it is not postive if the number go down? You need to keep your answer factual in this respect.

Progress = Again, this has positive connotations of improvement and can't be used to explain movements of a graph. In any case, it is debatable if a massive increase in the elderly population is 'positive'.

You have some good vocabulary though:

reveals

anticipated

negligible

maintaining

Comments for Sample IELTS Task 1 Line Graph: Proportion of Elderly People

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Mar 30, 2013
Rating

proportion of elderly people
by: Anonymous

The graph compares the percentage of elderly people in USA, Japan and Sweden during a 100 years period from 1940 to 2040. Generally speaking the proportion of 65 and over aged people in all three countries distinctly increased during the mentioned period.

According to the graph Japan's figure beginning from approximately 5% in 1940 after a period of slightly rising experienced a dramatic increase in the last 10 years and reached to almost 27% in 2040 which is the highest point among all countries. The graph shows that although the percentage of elderly people in USA in 1940 was near 9% which was more than the others, at the end of the period it appeared as the lowest by approximately 25%. The Sweden's figure came between others.

It can be predicted from the graph that in the next future years the proportion of elders will hit a pick.

Jun 09, 2013
Rating

This is my writing can you correct for me
by: Anonymous

The line graph shows the proportion of the population aged 65 and over between 1940 and 2040 in the USA, Sweden and Japan.
In general, there were fluctuations in the proportion of the aging population 65 and over in three countries over the years.

To specify, in the USA, after a strong increase from nearly about 9 % to around 16.5% for the first about ninety years, the proportion of the population aged 65 and over went up dramatically to nearly 23 % in 2040.

By comparison, for the first ninety years, Sweden demonstrated upward fluctuations in the proportion of ageing population, going up from 7% to about 18%, before a rise to a peak of 25% in the last year.

Meanwhile, in Japan, fluctuating significantly between 5% and 10% for the fist ninety years, the rate witnessed an strongly increase to the highest point of nearly 27% in the last year.
Strikingly, only in about 2030 did three countries begin to raise to the highest point in the last year in the proportion od the population aged 65 and over.

In brief, over the years, the two countries significantly exceed the last country for the first ninety years but the opposite was true in the last years.

Jun 18, 2014
Rating

my opinion
by: saicharan

can introduction be like this

The graphs illustrates the percentage of elderly aged population in three different countries between the years 1940 and 2040.The graphs is evident that by 2040 the percentage of elderly aged population has increased by 25%.

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No - You can't say "The graphs is evident that...". It does not make sense. Say something like "Overall,.."

IELTS buddy

Sep 18, 2014
Rating

I have a question
by: Anonymous

what can be other form of concluding

Nov 02, 2014
Rating

pls check my essay
by: Anonymous

Given is the graph that illustrates the percentage of the population aged 65 and over till 1940 to 2040 in 3 various nations,namely Japan, Sweden as well as USA
First of all, Japan were lowest percentage of population at the beginning of the period.However, Usa were highest proportion of people aged 65 and over in 1940
Secondly, all that 3 nations proportion of population were upward trend between 1940 and 2040. USA was approximately 9%, Sweden was 7% as well as Japan was 5% at the beginning of the period,but, at the end of figure, they were approximately 23%, 25% and 28% respectively
In conclude, Japanese population were slightly increase between 1940 and 2030, but it were dramatically grow at the end of figure rather than USA, Sweden's proportion of population,

Feb 06, 2015
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other synonymous of conclusion
by: Anonymous

To conclude - to crux , to sum up, to put in a nut shell, to recapitulate in short

Apr 18, 2015
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please Buddy, correct my write up on this essay on Proportion of Elderly People
by: Athan Onwuka

The graph illustrates the percentage of a certain group (65 years and above) in three different countries from 1940 to 2040. Generally, Japan had the least percentage of elderly population from the start of the period, until at the end when it overtook the other two countries.

To begin, USA and Sweden has a fluctuation of elderly population. there is no significant difference between the percentage of people aged 65 years and above in USA and Sweden. they recorded 7% and 9% respectively in 1940 with little fluctuation, but USA took the lead in 1980 with 15% and Sweden 13%. Both countries had a tie in 2000 with a percentage of roughly 14, however, Sweden overtook USA and reached a fifth after year 2000. The fluctuation continued for these two countries, but it is proposed that the elderly population would nearly be a quarter for Sweden and little less than a quarter for USA.

The same can not be said about Japan whose proportion of elderly population was recorded as 5%in 1940 and continued to hit a low over the years unlike USA and Sweden. However,there would be a significant rise after year 2020, which is shown to be one in ten, and would continue to increase to a quarter thereafter, Finally, this population peaked a little above a quarter more than the other two countries at the end of the period.

Jun 20, 2015
Rating

comment for my writing, please
by: Anonymous

The given line graph shows the comparison of the aged population in three countries, namely: the USA, Sweden and Japan.

As it is clearly seen from the graph,the three countries population has undergone some fluctuation from 1940 to 2040.

To specify more explicitly, japan has a very significant increase in its elderly people between nearly 2030 to 2040 by 15% compared to the USA and Sweden which have a rise of approximately 9% and 7% respectively.

Overall, the percentage of aged population reveals that there will be an increasing trend over the years

Sep 08, 2015
Rating

please check this answer :)
by: Anonymous

The graph demonstrates the proportion of ageing population in three different countries, over a period of a decade. Time on the horizontal axis is plotted against ageing percent on the vertical axis.

In 1940, the proportion of people aged 65 or more stood at only 5% in Japan, approximately 7% in Sweden and 9% in the US. The proportions of elderly people in the USA and Sweden went up over a next 60 years while, the proportion of japan has a dramatic fall and reached a starting level at early 20s.
This ratio of population is supposed to increase suddenly till 2020 in japan and reach a peak at 28%.while, despite some fluctuations, the ageing population in Sweden and USA is analyzed to continue reaching 25% and 23% respectively in the same period.

Overall, the percentages of aged population in all the three countries is distinctly is increased over the mentioned period.

Sep 30, 2015
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line graph
by: Anonymous

good explanation.

Dec 09, 2015
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Score of this task
by: Anonymous

Could you write please, how much this task has been scored?

Jan 25, 2016
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Pls check my graph - Proportion of Elderly People
by: 7 Bands

The given line graph shows the increasing and decreasing of population of 65 years old people and above among three countries namely Japan, Sweden, and USA.The x-axis shows the number of years while y-axis shows the percentage of order people.

In the beginning of 1940, the population of Japan, Sweden, and USA were 5%, 7%, and 9% respectively. After twenty years, Japan's population was reduced by 3% while Sweden and USA were increased by 9% and 10%. In the next twenty years Japan remain constant and rest of countries slightly exceeded by 5% only.Sweden and USA intersect to each other at the percentage of 14 before five years of 2000. Afterward USA remain same while Sweden has slightly increased.

In 2020, Japan suddenly increased and reached up to 8% and USA by 1% and Sweden has little declined by 2%. In the last twenty years the population was changed dramatically and rose. In Japan it rose and reached to around 27% while America and Sweden increased by same percentage that was near to 5.
To sum up all the information given above, in the last 60 years from 1940 to 1980,the population of three countries were fluctuating with slightly difference. From the rising trend of graph it can predict that it will rise almost three times.

Feb 09, 2016
Rating

pls chck my task...Line Graph: Proportion of Elderly People
by: Anonymous

The line graph portrays the volume of elderly people and above over a time period of 1940 to 2040 among three different countries.The data is given in percentage.

In Swedan, in 1940 the ratio of elderly people was started from approximate at 7% while for USA it was just 9%. for the next 40 years,sweden was followed by USA but in 1990 the scope of elderly people increased as compared to USA.In 2040,sweden and USA reached at 25% and 23% respectively.

On the flip side,Japan had very less proportion of aged people that was only 5% in 1940. In 2030 there was a inclined in proportion and reached at 25% and
it reached at 27% in 2040 that was peak value of japan.

overall,it is crystal clear that while japan had less proportion of aged populace as compared to other two countries in starting but it gained a peak value in last year.

Feb 22, 2016
Rating

am i correct?
by: Anonymous

The line graph compares the percentage of elderly people in the three countries namely USA, Sweden and Japan in the year 1940 and until 2040. It is clearly seen that majority of elderly are in USA in the first given year but eventually replaced by Japan in the year 2040.

In the beginning of the year, almost 9% of the population of the elderly belonged to USA, which is slightly higher than sweden and japan having just over 6% and 5% respectively.Both USA and sweden increased for a period of 20 years while, japan drop to about 4% and remained constantly stable until 1980. Likewise, for USA it maintained a percentage of 17% until 2020 and gradually rose up to a quarter.
On the other hand, sweden and japan kept rising up to 20% and 7% respectively. A prominent feature is that the proportion for elderly living in japan rocketed to just over 26%. Followed by sweden with a slight difference of 2% compared to USA.
Overall, as the years past by japan being the lowest source of elderly in the year 1940 it modestly increase and eventually soared the highest at the end year.

Feb 24, 2016
Rating

Average and estimated growth of elderly population
by: DANE

The line graph illustrates the average and estimated growth of elderly population between three countries USA, Japan and Sweden from 1940 to 2040. Overall, it is evident that the growth of senior citizens in these three countries increases over the time frame.

In 1940, USA had the highest multitude of senior citizen where it stood at under 10% and Japan had the lowest at 5%, whereas Sweden came in between them at roughly 7%. After four decades, in 1980, USA increased by more than 5%, while Sweden doubled its previous level at roughly under 14%. In the contrary, Japan's elderly citizens gradually declined and levelled at the same period just below 5%.

Subsequently, in 2000, the population in the USA of over 65 will be expected to slightly decline at under 15%, while Sweden and Japan will continue to escalate with 20% and 10% respectively. However, a further rise is speculated to happen by 2040, skyrocketing Japan's senior citizens into a new a height at over a quarter, while leaving the other two countries at under 25%.

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May 18, 2016
Rating

Line graph - 65 and over population
by: Guido

The line chart displays the percentages of elderly population in Japan, Sweden and the USA from 1940 to 2040.

Overall, all the three countries increased significantly their 65 and over 65 aged population over the period. America and Sweden showed similiar upward trends and Japan is predicted to have the highest rise in this specific population.

In 1940 the USA a tenth of the population was 65 or over years old, the highest proportion, and it progressively grow up to more than 15% in 1980, after that it remains relatively stable up to 2020, but a significant growth is forecasted in the following two decades, reaching more than 23%. Sweden the second most old country in 1940 with around 7,5% of the total population, showed a similiar increasing trend to America for 4 decades, but overtook it in 1990 and it's predicted to have a quarter of its population aged 65 or over in 2040.

Jaban, with just over 5% people in 1940, doubled its eledery population up to 2030, but it is expected to jump up to nearly 27% of the whole population in 2040, becoming the oldiest country.

Nov 03, 2016
Rating

Rahi shah
by: Anonymous

IELTS buddy plz check my graph:

The line graph illustrates the percentage of elderly people in Japan, Sweden and USA during the period of 1940 to 2040.

Overall, it is clearly seen that population of old age group was less at the beginning of period. Whilst, it would be boomed to over 25 % in Japan than others during 2030 to 2030.

In 1940,there was only 5% population of 65 aged group in Japan. While,the score of older people remarked about 7% in Sweden and 9%in USA respectively but this figure of older people went up approximately 15% from 1941 to 1980 in both counties. However, this percentage of elderly people declined nearly 3% in Japan in two decades.
Meanwhile, there is fluctuation in the expected percentage at the present time.the population of old people will be dramatically continue to increase at 25% between 2030 to 2040 in three western countries

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