I.

How to paraphrase Task 1 writing questions

 Take advantage of words on the graph

The graph shows the amount of fruit produced in four countries (France, Spain, Germany, Turkey) from 1970 to 2010.

 The line graph illustrates fruit production in four different nations, including France, Spain,
Germany, and Turkey between the years 1970 and 2010.

 Relative clauses

The pie charts below compare water usage in San Diego, California and the rest of the world.
  The pie charts give information about the water which was used for residential, industrial
and agricultural purposes in San Diego County, California, and the world as a whole.

 Reduced relative clauses

The graph gives information about coffee production in 4 different countries from 1990 to 2010.
 The bar chart gives information about the amount of coffee produced in four countries
between 1990 and 2010.
 Use synonyms

 The pie charts compare Japanese and Malaysian households’ average spending in terms of
five different categories in the year 2010.
 Change word forms
The graph below shows consumers’ average annual expenditure on cell phone, national and
international fixed-line and services in America between 2001 and 2010.

 The line graph illustrates the average amount of money spent annually on mobile phone
services, and, national and international landline services in the US over a period of 9
years.

 Specify
 The pie charts compare the proportion of carbohydrates, protein and fat in three different
diets, namely an average diet, a healthy diet, and a healthy diet for sport.

Common phrases

 The number of + countable noun (plural)

 The amount of + UN
 The percentage/proportion of + N (C or U)
 The figure/figures for + N (C or U)
 Expenditure on = spending on /spend = pay out (+ money + on sth) / the amount of
money spent

Common structure

Subject Verb WHAT WHERE WHEN

The pie show the comparison of different kinds of in France in two separate
charts energy production years.
The compare the proportion/percentage of energy in the country of in 1995 and 2005
charts produced by different sources France
e.g. The pie charts below show the comparison of different kinds of energy production in France in
two years.
 The charts compare the proportion of energy produced by different sources in France in 1995
and 2005

Verbs

Show
Give information about
Illustrate
Compare
Detail

When

- over a period of ….. years = over a …-year period

- between …. and…. = from … to…. = between the years ….and….
- Throughout/during the period shown
- Spanning from…to….

Special structures
- The line graph compares ………… in terms of …………..
e.g. The line graph compares three companies in terms of their waste output
between the years 2000 and 2015.
- The line graph compares figures for/shows changes/trends in
e.g. The line graph compares figures for daily travel by workers in the UK using three
different forms of transport over a period of 60 years.

Lesson 1: Task 1 structures for reporting data -

Special subjects/nouns and Cohesive devices (Task 1)

I. While/Whereas/Though/Although/Relative clause/Reduced relative

clause

 Relative clause/Reduced relative clause

The percentage of water (which is) used by San Diego County stands at 60%.

 While/Whereas

The same proportion of water (23%) is used by industry in San Diego and worldwide, while the
figure for California is 10% higher, at 33%.

 Although/Though (no “but”) (contrast)

Although outer London had the second highest number of cycling commuters in each year, the
percentage change, at only 45%, was the lowest of the twelve areas shown in the table.

II. Task 1 structures for reporting data

1. to be
In the year 2000, the average global oil price was $25 per barrel.
(In the year…. = In…)

While the average global oil price was $25 per barrel, the food price index was just under 90 points
in the year 2000.

The average global oil price was $25 per barrel whereas the food price index was just under 90
points in the year 2000.

2. To stand at + “figure”

The food price index stood at just under 90 points in 2000.

3. Figures as subjects

In 1993, around 18% of English 16 to 24-year-olds living outside London were unemployed.

4. To account for/take up/constitute + “percentage” (mostly in Pie

charts)

The under-18s constitute nearly 25 percent of the town's population.

Agriculture accounts for a massive 69% of global water use.
5. Special structure

France managed to recycle 50% of its waste in 2000.

In 2000, company A produced 12 tonnes of waste.

6. Respective/Respectively

The respective amounts of waste from companies A and B had dropped to 8 tonnes and
only 3 tonnes.

17% and 28% of water usage in San Diego and California respectively.

III. Special subjects/nouns

 The number of + countable noun (plural)

In 1987, the number of those who chose the coast as a travel destination stood at 40,000.

 The amount of + UN

In 2005, the amount of waste produced by Company B was around 10 tonnes.

 The quantity of + uncount/count noun

Quantity: tránh dùng cho người, tiền/chi tiêu/thời gian hoặc những danh từ trừu tượng,
không hữu hình ; thay bằng “number” or “amount”

The quantity of broilers consumed in 1961 was around 15 pounds per capita.

 The percentage/proportion of + N (C or U)

The percentages of men and women between the ages of 15 to 24 who were regularly
involved in physical activity were 52.8% and 47.7% respectively.

 The figure/figures for + Noun (C or U) (The figure for + names of category, no need for
paraphrasing)

The figure for Castle in 1980 was highest, at 30%.

(The percentage of visitors to Castle )
 An average of + figure /on average
e.g. US consumers spent an average of $700 on residential phone services.
US consumers spent, on average, $700 residential phone services

 16 to 24-year-olds = 16 to 24-year-old people = people (who are) aged 16 to 24 =

people who are 16 to 24 years old.

A paraphrasing exercise
 30-40:

 60 and over:

 Younger than 30:

 women in the 25-30 age group/range/bracket, women between the ages of 25 and
30, women within the age group of 25 to 30, women aged 25 years and older, women
younger than 25

A paraphrasing exercise
 Australian people in the 25-30 age group

 Expenditure on = spending on /spend = pay out (+ money + on sth) / the amount of

money
Spend the most/the least/more/less (than)

The consumers’ average yearly expenditure/spending on national fixed-line services was $700 in
2001.

The amount of money spent on international fixed-line services by American consumers was
around $250 in 2001.

American consumers spent $200 on cell phone services in 2001.

American consumers paid out $200 on cell phone services in 2001.

American consumers spent the most on national fixed-line services while they spent the least on
cell phone services in 2001.
American consumers spent more on international fixed-line services than on cell phone services in
2001.
IV. Cohesive devices

 In addition, additionally, also, meanwhile, furthermore

 However, by/in contrast, conversely
 Similarly
 Subsequently/after that/afterwards

V. Approximation

 (just) under, below

 above, (well) over
 Approximately = roughly = about = nearly = around = almost
 Be close to
e.g. In the year 2000, the average global oil price was close to $25 per barrel.

Lesson 2: Rising and Falling Trends (Task 1)

1. Verb + adverb

to + a point/ by + a gap

(rising): rise, increase, grow, go up + to/by

(rising): reach + figure
(rising quickly and suddenly): surge, soar + to/by

(falling): drop, reduce, fall, decrease, go down, decline, diminish + to/by

(falling quickly and suddenly): plummet, plunge + to/by

 Adverbs

 dramatically, drastically, quickly, sharply, steeply

 considerably, significantly, substantially
 steadily, gradually, slightly, insignificantly, modestly, marginally
 relatively, fairly
 Consistently

The average annual spending on cell phone services rose sharply/surged to $500/by $300
from 2001 to 2006 while the figure for national fixed-line services went down
drastically/plummeted to 500$/by $200 over the same period.

The amount of money spent yearly on International fixed-line services increased slightly to
around $320 between 2001 and 2003.

2. Adjective + Noun

 Noun

to + a point/of + a gap

(rising): rise, increase, growth, an upward trend, surge + to/of

(falling): drop, fall, decrease, a downward trend, decline, plunge + to/of

 Adjectives

- dramatic, drastic, quick, sharp, steep, ,major

- considerable, significant, substantial
- steady, gradual, slight, insignificant, modest, marginal, minor
- relative, fair
- Consistent

S + see/witness/experience (tense) + a/an + (adjective) + noun + (of + a

gap/ to + a point) + in…. + year.

The transport sector saw a small increase in emissions, reaching a peak of 1 million tonnes
in 2005.
The most/A + (adjective) + noun + (of + a gap/ to + a point) + to be +

seen/witnessed/experienced + in ….. + year.

A dramatic increase was seen in both commodity prices from 2007 to 2008.

There + is/was + a/an + (adjective) + noun (of + a gap/ to + a point) +

in……

There was a small drop of approximately 0.5 million in the number of bus users.

3. Peak/Bottom

To reach a peak of …/reach its peak, at…./ rise to a peak of…

Peak (v)

e.g. Oil prices reached peaked at $130 per barrel.

e.g. Oil prices reached a peak of approximately $130 per barrel.

The food price index reached its peak, at almost 240 points.

To reach a bottom at…

e.g. The food price index reached a bottom, at almost 240 points.

Bottom (v)

e.g. The food price index bottomed at almost 240 points.

…………saw/witnessed an increase/decrease in…., reaching a

peak/bottom of ….

Company C saw a dramatic increase in its waste output, reaching a peak of around 10
tonnes.
Company B witnessed a drastic downward trend in its waste production, reaching a bottom
of 3 tonnes.

4. ….., (with) a/an + (adjective) + noun + of………… (+ a gap)

e.g. A sudden increase in the percentage of elderly people is predicted for Japan,
with a jump of over 15% in just 10 years from 2030 to 2040.

Level off (v) If a rate or amount levels off, it stops rising or falling and

stays at the same level

e.g. House prices now seem to be leveling off after the steep rises of the last few years.
Unemployment rose to ten percent and then leveled off.

Reach a plateau of

plateau noun [C] (NO CHANGE)

a period during which there are no large changes

e.g. The US death rate reached a plateau in the 1960s, before declining suddenly.
Lesson 3: Comparisons (Task 1)

 Be higher/lower than that/those of/for - to be (the) highest/lowest

e.g. The proportion of adults who were unemployed in Scotland at any time between
1993 and 2012 was significantly higher than that of adults without work in London.
The graph below shows consumers’ average annual expenditure on cell phone, national and
international fixed-line and services in America between 2001 and 2010.

The average expenditure on International fixed-line services was higher than that of cell
phone services, at around $250 and exactly $200 respectively in 2001.

More money was spent on International fixed-line services than on cell phone services in
2001, at around $250 and exactly $200 respectively in 2001.

The amount of money American people paid out on national-fixed line services in 2004 was
highest, at exactly $700.
 The highest/lowest figure belongs to .....,at....

e.g. The highest figure belonged to the category of further education, at 40%.

 A [topped] the table/chart at …., followed by B, C, D

A [took] the lead, accounting for …..percent, followed by B (%), C (%), D

(%).

A took the top/highest position at …., followed by B (figure), C (figure), D

(figure).

A, B, C, D are categories
The graph below shows consumers’ average annual expenditure on cell phone, national and
international fixed-line and services in America between 2001 and 2010.
National fixed line services topped the chart in 2001, at $700, followed by International fixed-line
services (around $250) and cell phone services ($200).
 A took the bottom position/place at ….

Agricultural water usage takes the bottom position, at only 17% of the total water consumption in
San Diego.

Modification
 At the top/highest position was A, accounting for … percent.
 At the bottom/lowest position was A, accounting for … percent.
 The top and bottom position was held by ….., at…..

 State figures, then compare

e.g. In 1999, the proportion of people using the Internet in the USA was about 20%.
The figures for Canada and Mexico were lower, at about 10% and 5% respectively.

 …………, ………+ be + ….% higher/lower/more than/less than, at….%

e.g. In 1993, around 18% of English 16 to 24-year-olds living outside London were
unemployed, but the figure for those living in the capital was 5% higher, at 22%.
The overall adult unemployment rate in London, at 14%, was 4% higher than the rate
in the rest of England.

 Compared to/with + figure or in comparison to/with + figure

e.g. In 2001, US consumers spent an average of nearly $700 on residential phone

services, compared to only around $200 on cell phone services.
 Stay/Remain + higher/lower/lowest/highest

to be consistently higher/lower/highest/lowest….

e.g. The oil price was consistently below 3 million per barrel during the period.
The oil price remained/stayed below 3 million per barrel during the period.

Lesson 4: Task 1 (Special structures)

 fluctuate (v) - fluctuation (n) - vary (v) - variation (n)

e.g. From 2005 to 2015, the daily expenditure of business travellers and tourists fluctuated
around the $200 mark./between…and….
There were minor/significant fluctuations in…….

e.g. The percentage of cyclists varied between 25% and 40% between 1990 and 2000.
There was a significant variation of 15% in the percentage of cyclists between 1990 and
2000.

 rank third/thirtieth, etc.

e.g. The chemical company will rank 17th among U.S. chemical companies based on sales.
 be ranked third/thirtieth, etc.
e.g. The Japan fund has gone from strength to strength and is ranked fourth in its sector.
 rank (sth) among sth
e.g. The district ranks among the bottom ten in the state for residents' income.
She was ranked among the 25 most powerful business women in the world.

 rank low/high
e.g. Energy costs rank high in importance in consumer's minds.
 rank above/below sth
e.g. England ranked below many other European countries for employment.

 The trends for both … were very similar/opposite.

e.g. Furthermore, the trends for both commodities were very similar, and so a strong
correlation (93.6%) is suggested.

 ….…+ to be + in inverse relation to + …..

e.g. The trend for the oil price was in inverse relation to that for the food price index.

 The opposite trend can be seen when we look at

E.g. The opposite trend can be seen when we look at water consumption for agriculture

 There were significant changes in ……/There were no significant changes (in the trends

for) / there was almost no difference in the figures for

e.g. There were significant changes in the amounts of waste produced by all three
companies shown on the graph.
There were no significant changes in the trends for pork and turkey consumption over the
period as a whole.

 Such dramatic differences are (not) seen when we compare the

figures for
E.g. Such dramatic differences are not seen when we compare the figures for industrial
water use.

 …………., (before/after) + V-ing (remove the same subject)

e.g. Over the following four years both prices remained relatively stable, before rising
steadily between 2004 and 2007.
The proportion of two-car families rose steadily, reaching about 26% in 2007.
 ………., with +S+ V-ing (with figures + V-ing)

e.g. A dramatic increase in both commodity prices was seen from 2007 to 2008, with oil
prices reaching a peak of approximately $130 per barrel and the food price index rising to
220 points.

 Stay/Remain stable/unchanged/above/below

e.g. Both prices remained relatively stable.

 Stabilize/reached a period of stability
 to be consistently below/above….
e.g. The oil price was consistently below 3 million per barrel during the period.

 Total (a, n, v)

E.g. It is clear that the total amount of acid rain emissions in the UK fell considerably between 1990
and 2007.
At that time of day, cars with only one occupant accounted for almost 80 percent of the total.
A total of 21 horses were entered in the race.
The amount of acid rain emissions in the UK totaled 10.5 million tonnes in 1990.

In total

We made $1,000 in total, over three days of trading.

 double to… (v)

e.g. By 2007 (past perfect), the average oil price had more than doubled, to nearly $60 per
barrel.
The number of unemployed people doubled between 2005 and 2009.

'double' (adj)
e.g. The cost of going to the movies is almost double what it was a few years ago.

 'twice as...as/compared to', 'three times as...as/compared to'

e.g. There were twice as many unemployed people in 2009 as in 2005.

Twice as many people were unemployed in 2009 compared to 2005.
'twofold', 'threefold' (adjective or adverb), “triple”

e.g. There was a twofold increase in the number of unemployed people between 2005 and
2009. (adjective with the noun 'increase')

The number of unemployed people increased twofold between 2005 and 2009. (adverb
with the verb 'increase')

to reduce/decrease by half = to halve

e.g. The figure for acid rain emissions in the UK reduced by half to only 3 million tonnes in
2009.

 The year……..marks the point at which…………overtook that

for……………….

e.g. The year 2006 marks the point at which expenditure on mobile services overtook that
for residential phone services.
 Surpass
e.g. A considerable rise can be seen in the consumption of broilers, with figures eventually
surpassing those for beef.

 …….by far the most/least……..

e.g. Car is by far the most popular means of transport for UK commuters throughout the
period shown.
Turkey was by far the least popular meat, with figures below 10 pounds per capita each
year.

 Similar (to)/identical/the same

e.g. The percentages of students who studied engineering and literature were similar.
An identical amount of electricity was generated by coal and oil.
The amount of electricity generated by coal was similar/identical to that by oil.
 As many/much + N + as

as+adj+as

e.g. As many females as males studied for 6 hours a day.

Other means of transport were not as popular as motorbike.

 Future (body 1: past, body 2: future)

Be + expected to, be + predicted to, Be+ anticipated to, be forecasted to…

It is thought that….will….

S + expect/anticipate + N (increase/decrease) + in + ….
e.g. By 2040, it is thought that around 27% of the Japanese population will be 65 years old
or more, while the figures for Sweden and the USA will be slightly lower, at about 25% and
23% respectively.