Writing: Charts and Graphs
What will you see in an IELTS Writing Task
1 bar diagram?
• A bar chart uses either
horizontal or vertical bars to
show comparisons among
two or more categories. The
bar chart has two main
features: an X-axis and a Y-
axis. One axis of the chart
shows the specific
categories being compared,
and the other axis of the
graph shows a given value
(usually a percentage or a
dollar amount).
1. Start With Introduction Phrases
Often ESL students start their essay with ‘The graph shows…’. While this
is fine, the verb ‘shows’ could be replaced by a more exciting and high-
level vocabulary word. Here are four different prompts to start your
essay:
• The graph illustrates the trends in…
• The graph reveals information about the changes in…
• The graph provides the differences between…
• The graph presents how X has changed over a period of…
DO NOT write the word below or above in your introduction. i.e. The
graph above/below shows…
2. Add Suitable Adverbs
Adverb Meaning
Approximately Almost, but not completely exact;
roughly
Dramatically By a quick and large amount
Erratically In a way that is uneven or irregular
Gradually By slow degrees
Markedly Noticeably, significantly
Significantly In a way that is worthy of attention;
importantly
Slightly To a small degree
Slowly At a slow speed, not quickly
Steadily In a regular or even way
3. Use Appropriate Synonyms
Rise (Noun) Rise (Verb) Fall (Verb) Fall (Noun) Fluctuate (Verb)
Climb Increase Collapse Decline Be erratic
Increase Climb Decline Decrease Be fitful
Improve Leap Decrease Deterioration Vary
Jump Pick up Deteriorate Dip Rise and fall
Leap Surge Dip Drop
Move upward Growth Drive Plunge
Rocket Drop Freefall
Skyrocket Go down Slide
Soar Plummet Slip
Shoot up Plunge Dive
Pick up Slide Reduction
Surge Slip (back) Slump
Recover Slump
Take a nosedive
4. Add Time Phrases
Time Phrase Example Sentence
Between…and Between 1982 and 1992 there was a steady
drop.
From…to From 1992 to 1996 there was a dramatic
increase.
In the year… In the year 2020, unemployment spiked.
During/over the period During the 1980s, trends stayed consistent.
over the latter half of the Over the latter half of the century, more
year/century/decade/period women entered the workforce.
over the next/past/previous… Over the previous year, work-from-home rates
sharply increased.
days/weeks/months/years/decades For several weeks, stock prices have remained
stable.
by… By 1997, market growth had stabilized.
For Comparison
more + noun + than: More males than females read newspaper.
adjective+ -er+ than: The price of a car was lower in 1989 than 2001.
fewer +noun + than: Fewer females than males watch Tv.
more/less + adjectives+ than: Instagram was more popular among males than females.
the most/least + adjective: The most popular form of communication was the Internet.
the+ adjective+ -est: The fastest means of transportation is flying.
Source: Ramedani, A. (2012). «IELTS Writing Compact»
Analyzing the bar graph.
Source: Ramedani, A. (2012). «IELTS Writing Compact»
For Expressing Approximation
X is just under ....
X is just over ....
X is approximately
X is about ....
Expressions of Time
From January to July
In 1987
In the winter months
In the first quarter of the year
In the first/second half of the year
In the future
Numbers and Statistics
Year 2005 2010
Value 1200 $ 1800 $
The price of X went up by 600, from $1200 to $1800. (numbers)
The price of X went up 50%, from $1200 to $1800. (percentages)
Some Prefabricated Forms
It is evident that ..
It is noticeable that ...
We can see from the data that ...
From the pie chart it can be seen that ...
on a weekly/monthly/... basis
During the same period, ...
Writing Analysis of Graphs
- Introduction:
What is the graph showing ?
- Short body paragraph:
The most important points about the graph.
- Main body paragraphs:
Some details and comparisons
- Conclusion
Introduction
The bar graph/pie chart/ line graph/table provides information about ...
«The pie charts show the amount of water used for domestic purposes.»
«The table shows different devices which were used to access the Internet
by university students in a dormitory over the last year.»
Source: Ramedani, A. (2012). «IELTS Writing Compact»
A glance at four indicators of economic and social conditions in four countries,
Canada, Japan, Peru and Zaire (where), in 1994 (when) reflects the great
differences that exist between wealthier and poorer nations (what).
Source: Ramedani, A. (2012). «IELTS Writing Compact»
The double bar chart provides information about how many unpaid work hours
(what) men and women in different categories (where) spend in a week (when).
These categories are based on how many children they have.
Source: Ramedani, A. (2012). «IELTS Writing Compact»
Some synonyms
shows = illustrates
proportion = percentage
information = data
the proportion of = the figure for
people in the USA = Americans
from 1999 to 2009 = between 1999 and 2009
from 1999 to 2009 = over a period of 10 years
in three countries = in the UK, France and Spain
Source: Ramedani, A. (2012). «IELTS Writing Compact»
The graph compares the rate of smoking in men and women in Someland between the
years 1960 and 2000. It can be clearly seen that the rate of smoking for both men and
women was declining for the last 20 years and that fewer women had smoked
throughout the period.
In 1960, 600 men in every 1,000 was smoking. This number decreased gradually to 500
by 1974 and continued to decrease but more steeply to 250 in 2000. In contrast, the
rate of smoking in women in 1960 was very low at only 80 in every 1,000. By 1968 this
increased to 170, and increased again but more steeply to 320 in 1977. The rate of
female smokers then remained stable at 320 until 1984 at which point the figures began
to decline and had dropped to 200 by 2000.
In conclusion we can see that the rate of smoking in men dropped throughout the
whole period but was always at a higher level than the female figures. The rate of
smoking in women increased until 1977 but then decreased for the rest of the period.
Source: Ramedani, A. (2012). «IELTS Writing Compact»
