IELTS Academic measures the English language proficiency needed for an academic learning environment. To do so, Writing Task 1 presents candidates with a graph, table, chart or diagram. Candidates are asked to describe, summarize or explain the information using their own words, which not only requires a good understanding of different types of visual data, but also the ability to describe the information accurately, using a range of vocabulary. To help you achieve these goals, today’s post will look at a variety of phrases and collocations that you can use on your IELTS to describe tables, graphs and charts.
To begin with, let’s take a quick look at the main differences and similarities among tables, graphs and charts. While tables present information about different categories mainly in columns and rows, bar charts present the information in two axes: the values are given along one axis and each bar represents what is being measured along the other axis. It is often possible to turn tables into charts, but sometimes the categories are too different to do this. A pie chart is another way of presenting information, but here each segment is a percentage of a whole. Together they represent 100%. Last but not least, line graphs show how data change over time.
When approaching the Academic version of Writing Task 1, it’s important that you introduce the visual data by using one of the following phrases or collocations:
According to the table/ graph/chart…
The table/graph/chart shows…
The table/graph/chart illustrates…
Looking at the table/chart/graph, it can be seen that…
The table/graph/chart provides information about…
After introducing the visual data, you will be expected to describe the main trends presented in the table, graph and/or chart. Below are different phrases and collocations that you can use to describe a variety of trends:
↑ | ↓ | ↝ |
|---|---|---|
a significant increase
| a sharp fall
| a considerable variation
|
→ | ⤻ |
|---|---|
a period of stability
| to reach a plateau
|
Now, let’s take a look at some collocations and phrases used more specifically to talk about percentages and values being compared with each other, both of which are common features of tables and charts:
Percentages | Comparisons |
|---|---|
a large/small percentage
| there are considerable differences
|
Other than tables, graphs and charts, in the Academic version of Writing Task 1 you may also be presented with a diagram or a map. Stay tuned for our next post on phrases and collocations for describing diagrams and maps!
(*collocation - a group of words that often go together or that are likely to occur together)