Potatoes, Pasta and Rice
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
The graph below shows the amount in grams of potatoes, pasta and rice eaten in a European country between 1976 and 2006.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.
Get your personalised IELTS Essay Feedback from a former examiner
Download IELTS eBooks, get everything you need to achieve a high band score
Sample Answer 1
The line graph illustrates the consumption trends of three food items – potatoes, pasta, and rice eaten in a European country over the span of 30 years, from 1976 to 2006. The amount consumed per person per week is measured in grams.
Overall, potatoes were initially the most consumed food among the three, but their popularity diminished over the years. On the other hand, pasta saw a significant rise, surpassing the other two items to become the most popular by the mid-1990s. Meanwhile, the consumption of rice remained relatively low throughout the entire period, with some fluctuations.
In 1976, the intake of potatoes per person was approximately 400 grams per week, leading the chart at that time. Meanwhile, rice and pasta consumption stood at roughly 300 grams each, with rice slightly higher than pasta. However, by 1986, pasta intake surged significantly to nearly 500 grams, while the consumption of rice declined slightly to around 200 grams. During the same period, potato consumption dropped moderately to about 300 grams.
By 1996, pasta had solidified its position as the most consumed food, maintaining its peak consumption level of 500 grams per person per week. In contrast, potato consumption continued its decline, reaching just below 300 grams. Rice, on the other hand, experienced a further drop to about 20 grams during the same period. By 2006, pasta consumption remained stable at 500 grams, while potatoes reached their lowest level of approximately 100 grams. Rice consumption showed a slight recovery from its lowest point, finishing at around 50 grams per person per week.
Download IELTS eBooks, get everything you need to achieve a high band score
Sample Answer 2
The line graph illustrates the trends in the weekly consumption of potatoes, pasta, and rice eaten in a European country between 1976 and 2006, with the amount measured in grams per person.
In broad terms, pasta intake experienced a steady rise, emerging as the most consumed item by the end of the period, while the consumption of both potatoes and rice decreased over time. Potatoes, which were initially the most popular, witnessed a significant decline in popularity, whereas rice consumption fluctuated and remained relatively low throughout the period.
In 1976, the weekly consumption of potatoes stood at over 400 grams per person, while both pasta and rice were consumed at approximately 300 grams each. Over the following two decades, pasta intake rose steadily, reaching its peak at 500 grams in 1996 and maintaining that level until 2006. On the other hand, the amount of potatoes eaten dropped gradually and fluctuated during the first two decades before plummeting to a low point of around 100 grams per person by 2006.
Rice consumption exhibited a slight decline initially, dipping below 200 grams per week by the mid-1990s. However, a moderate increase was observed between 2001 and 2006, with the amount of rice eaten per person rising to approximately 50 grams. Despite this recovery, rice remained the least consumed food item throughout the 30-year span, significantly trailing behind both potatoes and pasta.
Sample Answer 3
The line graph illustrates the weekly consumption, in grams, of potatoes, pasta, and rice eaten in a European country over a 30-year period, from 1976 to 2006, tracking trends in the popularity of these three food items among its population.
From a broader perspective, potatoes initially dominated the dietary preferences, but their consumption dwindled steadily over time. Pasta, in contrast, saw a remarkable rise, surpassing the other two food items by the mid-1990s. Meanwhile, rice consumption remained relatively modest throughout, experiencing some variations but never exceeding the popularity of pasta or potatoes.
In 1976, potatoes were consumed at approximately 400 grams per person each week, which was higher than both pasta and rice at the time. Pasta, initially lagging behind at just under 300 grams, exhibited a sharp upward trend over the next decade, reaching 500 grams by the mid-1990s. In contrast, rice consumption, which initially mirrored that of pasta, declined moderately over time, falling to nearly 50 grams per person per week by 2006.
By 2006, pasta had become the dominant food among the three, maintaining a steady level of 500 grams per person per week for over a decade. Meanwhile, potato consumption had plummeted to roughly 100 grams, marking a significant decline from its initial level. Rice intake, while showing some recovery towards the end of the period, remained the least consumed, stabilizing around 50 grams per week per person.
Sample Answer 4
The line graph displays the trends in the consumption of potatoes, pasta, and rice eaten in a European country between 1976 and 2006, showing how the quantities consumed per person per week evolved over the 30-year period, measured in grams.
Overall, pasta became increasingly popular over the years, overtaking both potatoes and rice to become the most widely consumed food item. Meanwhile, the consumption of potatoes, initially the highest, experienced a continuous decline. Rice consumption fluctuated throughout the period but remained comparatively low.
In 1976, potatoes were the most consumed food, with more than 400 grams eaten per person each week. During the same year, pasta and rice were both consumed in relatively equal amounts, approximately 300 grams per person. Over the following two decades, pasta intake rose dramatically, reaching its peak of 500 grams by 1996, and remained stable at that level through to 2006.
By contrast, potato consumption steadily decreased over time, with a slight fluctuation around 1986, and dropped to about 100 grams per person per week in 2006. Similarly, rice consumption followed an inconsistent pattern, falling slightly to under 200 grams by 1996. However, between 2001 and 2006, the consumption of rice showed a minor rebound, rising to about 50 grams per person per week, though it remained the least consumed item throughout the period.
Get your personalised IELTS Essay Feedback from a former examiner
Download IELTS eBooks, get everything you need to achieve a high band score