WRITING
Review Writing Task 1 – Graphs with a trend
IELTS Writing Task 1 requires you to write at
least 150 words in response to a graph, table,
chart, map or process. You will be presented with
factual information and asked to select and report
the main features of the data in under 20
minutes.
Types of questions in
Writing Task 1
Introduction: Explain in your own words what the graph(s), table(s), or
Paragraph 1 diagram(s) is showing
Overview: In general terms, tell what main/interesting features are.
Paragraph 2
Body 1/2: Explain these features in detail. If you have numbers, this is
Paragraph 3 & 4 a good place to include them. Use two body paragraphs if you have
two graphs/tables/diagrams.
PARAPHRASE THE QUESTION
INTRODUCTION
shows information
illustrates data The chart SHOWS the PROPORTION of renewable energy in total
energy supply in 4 countries FROM 1997 TO 2010
demonstrates information
highlights data
gives information
provides data
presents data
Percent From … to…
Percentage Between … and
Over the period of
Proportion
Over the span of
Introduction – Structure
shows information
The line graph(s) illustrates data
demonstrates information
The bar chart(s) highlights data about
gives information
The pie chart(s)
provides data
presents data
Introduction
Sample
The line graph illustrates information about the amount
of three kind of spreads (margarine, low fat and reduced
spreads and butter) which were consumed over the
period of 26 years from 1981 to 2007
Types of trends
Vocabulary to show the changes
Trends Verb form Noun form
Increase rise / increase / go up / rocket(ed) / climb / a rise / an increase / an upward trend / a
upsurge / soar/ shot up/ improve/ jump/ growth / a leap / a jump / an
leap/ move upward/ skyrocket/ soar/ surge. improvement/ a climb.
Decrease fall / decrease / decline / plummet / plunge / a fall / a decrease / a reduction / a
drop / reduce / collapse/ dip / dive / go down downward trends /a downward
/ take a nosedive / slum / slide / go into free- tendency / a decline/ a drop / a slide / a
fall. collapse / a downfall.
Steadiness unchanged / level out / remain constant / a steadiness/ a plateau / a stability/ a
remain steady / plateau / remain the same / static
remain stable / remain static
Gradual an upward trend / an upward tendency /
increase ------------ a ceiling trend
Vocabulary to show the changes
Trends Verb form Noun form
Gradual a downward trend / a downward
decrease ------------ tendency / a descending trend
Standability/ level(ed) off / remain(ed) constant /
Flat remain(ed) unchanged / remain(ed) no change, a flat, a plateau.
stable / prevail(ed) consistency /
plateaued / reach(ed) a plateau /
stay(ed) uniform /immutable / level(ed)
out/ stabilize/ remain(ed) the same.
Rapid ups wave / fluctuate / oscillate / vacillate / wave/ fluctuations / oscillations /
and downs palpitate vacillations / palpitations
Vocabulary to present changes in graphs
Type of change Adverb form Adjective form
Rapid change dramatically / rapidly / sharply / dramatic / rapid / sharp / quick /
quickly / hurriedly / speedily / hurried / speedy / swift / significant /
swiftly / significantly/ considerable / substantial /
considerably / substantially / noticeable
noticeably
Moderate change moderately / gradually / moderate / gradual / progressive
progressively / sequentially / sequential.
Steady change steadily/ ceaselessly steady/ ceaseless
Slight change slightly / slowly / mildly / tediously slight / slow / mild / tedious
Types of Changes
Differences and Vocabulary to present them
Great change / Huge difference:
Medium change / Moderate difference:
Adjectives Adverbs
Adjectives Adverbs
Overwhelming Overwhelmingly
Somewhat Somewhat
Substantial Substantially
Moderate Moderately
Enormous Enormously
Big change / Big difference: Minor change / Small difference:
Adjectives Adverbs Adjectives Adverbs
Significant Significantly Fractional Fractionally
Considerable Considerably Marginal Marginally
Slight Slightly
VOCABULARY - TRENDS
See Saw
Experience Experienced
Witness Witnessed
Undergo Underwent
Predict Predicted
Expect Expected
Forecast Forecasted
Overview – Structures
❖ What stands out from the chart is that S+V+O
❖ Another interesting point is that
❖ It is clear from the graph that
❖ As can be seen,…
❖ As is highlighted in the graph,
❖ It can be clearly seen that…
❖ It is noticeable that..
❖ In general,
❖ The most striking feature from the graph is that
As/while + data of the category 1 + experience(d)/ witness(ed) … + a/an + ADJ + N ( downward
trend), data of the category 2 + V ( upward trend ) + ADV + at the same time
Ex. While Margarine and Butter experienced a remarkable decrease, Low fat and reduced
spreads increased significantly at the same time
Overview
Sample
What stands out from the graph is that in the first
15 years low fat & reduced spreads were not
consumed by people. Another interesting point is
that while Margarine and Butter experienced a
remarkable decrease, Low fat and reduced
spreads saw an upward trend.
Structures for describing trends
There + be + a/an + ADJ + N + in + data of the category + prep + time
Ex. There was a significant growth in the number of visitors in Vietnam in 2020
A/an + ADJ + N + can be + seen / illustrated/ shown… + in + data of the category + prep + time
Ex. A significant growth can be seen in the number of visitors in Vietnam in 2020
Data of the category + experience(d)/ witness(ed)… + a/an + ADJ + N + prep + time
Ex. The number of visitors in Vietnam experienced a significant growth in 2020
Structures for describing trends
Data of the category + V + ADV + prep + time
Ex. The number of visitors in Vietnam decreased significantly in 2020
There + be + a/an + ADJ + N (downward trend) + in + data of the category + prep + time +
,followed by + a/an + ADJ + N ( upward trend)
Ex. There was a significant decrease in the number of visitors in Vietnam in 2020, followed by a
dramatic growth in 2021
Data of the category + experience(d)/ witness(ed)… + a/an + ADJ + N ( upward trend) + prep +
time + before hitting a free + N (downward trend) + time
Ex. The number of visitors in Vietnam experienced a significant growth in 2020 before
hitting a free all in 2021
Important Prepositions
• Stand at/ start at + number / proportion
• At about / at around + number / proportion
At
• V + by + number/ proportion -> increased by 10%
• Used to express total amount of an increase or decrease
By
• V + to + number/ proportion -> reached to 98%
• Used to express the ending point of an increase or decrease
To
Words/ Phrases of Approximation
» Approximately » Just over
» Nearly » Just under
» Roughly » Just around
» Almost » Just about
» About » Just below
» Around » A little more than
» More or less » A little less than.
BODY – Sample
