Unit 2: Exercise 1

Look at the pie charts. Then complete the missing information in the pie charts
and the key. Use the numbers in the box.

2,131 26 5,268 6.5

A 6.5
B 26
C 5,268
D 2,131

Unit 2: Exercise 2
When comparing two charts, you need to carefully choose the most important
information.

 Look for high numbers, low numbers and equal numbers.

 Remember to look for trends and patterns.
 Look for noticeable differences.

Look at the sentences and decide what type of information they give.

This is a key pattern as other numbers changed. This is a key trend. This is a large
increase. This is not a key piece of information – small changes are not significant.
This is not true – the percentage change was 7.2%. This is not true – women in full-time
employment was the greatest percentage change. This is the highest number of
employees in all the groups represented. This is the most significant change.
This represents a key point – smallest and largest numbers are important.
1. All the numbers increased.

__ This is a key trend

2. Women in full-time employment rose by 3,214,000.

This is a large increase

3. Women working full-time increased by over 8%.

This is not true – the percentage change was 7.2%

4. The number of men in full-time employment was greatest in both years.

This is the highest number of employees in all the groups represented.

5. The number of women in part-time employment rose very slightly.

This is not a key piece of information – small changes are not significant.

6. The greatest percentage change was in men working full-time.

This is not true – women in full-time employment was the greatest percentage change.

7. 26% of workers in 2012 were women in full-time employment.

This is a key pattern as other numbers changed.

8. Men working part-time was the smallest percentage in each year.

This represents a key point – smallest and largest numbers are important.

9. 13,794,000 men were working full-time in 2012.

This represents a key point – smallest and largest numbers are important.

Unit 2: Exercise 3
Look at the charts. Then put the sentences in the correct order to complete the
paragraph.
 The pie charts show the numbers and percentages of men and women in both full-time and
part-time employment in the UK in 1988 and 2012.
Overall, we can see that all numbers increased but there were significant differences in the
proportions for each year.
These changes can be seen in the percentages of the total workforce; in 1988, women in full-
time employment made up only 18.8% of working people, but this increased to 26% in 2012.
As well as the number of people working full-time, the number of people working part-time
also increased, with women being the largest number in both years: 5,268,000 and 5,979,000,
compared with 1,550,000 and 2,131,000 for men.
Firstly, although the number of men in full-time employment was largest in both years, the
greatest change was in the number of women working full-time. This increased from
4,482,000 in 1988 to 7,696,000 in 2012.
In conclusion, apart from female full-time employment and male part-time employment,
percentage figures decreased between the two years. Most significantly, men working full-
time dropped below 50% to 46.6% in 2012.

The pie charts show the numbers and percentages of men and women in both full-time
1.
and part-time employment in the UK in 1988 and 2012
 Overall, we can see that all numbers increased but there were significant differences in
2. the proportions for each year.

Firstly, although the number of men in full-time employment was largest in both years,
the greatest change was in the number of women working full-time. This increased from
3.
4,482,000 in 1988 to 7,696,000 in 2012.

These changes can be seen in the percentages of the total workforce; in 1988, women in
full-time employment made up only 18.8% of working people, but this increased to
4.
26% in 2012.

As well as the number of people working full-time, the number of people working part-
5. time also increased, with women being the largest number in both years: 5,268,000 and
5,979,000, compared with 1,550,000 and 2,131,000 for men.
In conclusion, apart from female full-time employment and male part-time employment,
6. percentage figures decreased between the two years. Most significantly, men working
full-time dropped below 50% to 46.6% in 2012.

Unit 2: Exercise 4
It’s important to understand the information given and present the facts in a
clear way.

Each sentence from the report covers one topic. Match the topics with the
sentences.
 Details of full-time employment figures. Details of part-time employment figures.
Details of the percentage of women working full-time. General description of the charts.
General information about the overall trends. Overview of the information in the charts.

1. ___ General description of the charts.

The pie charts show the numbers and percentages of men and women in both full-time and
part-time employment in the UK in 1988 and 2012.

2. Overview of the information in the charts.

Overall, we can see that all numbers increased but there were significant differences in the
proportions for each year.

3. Details of full-time employment figures.

Firstly, although the number of men in full-time employment was largest in both years, the
greatest change was in the number of women working full-time. This increased from
4,482,000 in 1988 to 7,696,000 in 2012.

4. Details of part-time employment figures.

As well as the number of people working full-time, the number of people working part-time
also increased, with women being the largest number in both years: 5,268,000 and 5,979,000,
compared with 1,550,000 and 2,131,000 for men.

5. Details of the percentage of women working full-time.

These changes can be seen in the percentages of the total workforce; in 1988, women in full-
time employment made up only 18.8% of working people, but this increased to 26% in 2012.

6. General information about the overall trends.

In conclusion, apart from female full-time employment and male part-time employment, all
the other percentage figures decreased between the two years. Most significantly, men
working full-time dropped below 50% to 46.6% in 2012.

Unit 2: Exercise 5
Match the words with the definitions.

A chart a figure a percentage a trend an owerview details

1. an amount expressed in numbers: A figure

2. a short description which provides general information about An overview
something:
3. a general development or change in a situation: A trend
4. an amount of something, expressed as a number out of 100: A percentage
5. a drawing that shows information in a simple way, often using A chart
lines and curves to show amounts:
6. pieces of information about something: details

Unit 2: Exercise 6
Complete the introduction. Use the words in the box. You won’t need to use all
the words.
 Firstly Overall decreased details figures increased largest
number pie charts proportion significantly

The ______________ show employment _____________for both men and women in the
UK for the years 1988 and 2012. _____________ , the number of people in work
_____________ in that period, but the _____________of working women rose most
_____________ .

The pie charts show employment figures for both men and
women in the UK for the years 1988 and 2012. Overall, the
number of people in work increased in that period, but the
proportion of working women rose most significantly.
Unit 2: Exercise 7
Read the information. Then look at the sentences. Select the word in each
sentence that matches the definition.

When comparing two charts, we need to find which numbers you can compare because they
are similar and which numbers you can contrast because they are different. Examples of this
are high and low numbers, and numbers which show little or no change.

1. looking or being almost, but not exactly, the same (adjective): similar
The percentages of women working part-time are similar.

2. (referring to) two people or things together (quantifier): both

The numbers for both men and women in employment increased.

3. describing everything together (quantifier): all

All numbers rose between 1988 and 2012.

4. an obvious difference between two or more things (noun): contrast

In 1988, there were 12,539,000 men working full time, in contrast only 1,550,000 were part-
time.

5. important or noticeable (adjective): significant

There was a significant increase in women working full-time.

6. small in amount or degree (adjective): slight

We can see a slight increase in men working part-time.

7. exactly the same, or very similar (adjective): identical

The pie charts show identical information for 1988 and 2012.

8. compared with the fact that; but (conjunction): whereas

The percentage of women working full-time increased, whereas for men it decreased.

Unit 2: Exercise 8
When you describe the information in two charts, you need to look for figures
and facts that are the same or different.

Look at the sentences and put them into the correct columns.

All numbers rose between 1988 and 2012.

The percentage of women working full-time increased, whereas for men it decreased.

The numbers for both men and women in employment increased.

 The percentages of women working part-time are similar.

There was a significant increase in women working full-time.

In 1988, there were 12,539,000 men working full-time, in contrast only 1,550,000 were part-
time.

We can see a slight increase in men working part-time.

The pie charts show identical information for 1988 and 2012.
Figures/facts that are the same (or Figures/facts that are different
nearly the same)
All numbers rose between 1988 and The percentage of women working full-time
2012. increased, whereas for men it decreased.
The numbers for both men and In 1988, there were 12,539,000 men working full-
women in employment increased. time, in contrast only 1,550,000 were part-time.
The percentages of women working There was a significant increase in women working
part-time are similar. full-time.
The pie charts show identical We can see a slight increase in men working part-
information for 1988 and 2012. time.

Unit 2: Exercise 9
Look at the bar charts. Then choose the best words for the gaps.
 All Both contrast identical significant similar slight whereas

1. The percentage of men in employment was __similar__________ in both years.

2. _____All__________ the percentages rose between the two years.

3. Women in _contrast______________ to men showed much lower employment rates in

all countries.

4. The employment rate for Japanese men showed a __slight____________ increase.

5. The pattern was ______identical________ for all countries – an increase in percentages.

6. ________both______ men and women were working more in 2015.

7. Numbers of Japanese and Australian working women increased greatly, whereas

______________ in Ireland the change was smaller.

8. There was a ______significant________ gap between men and women in Japan in both
years.

Unit 2: Exercise 10
WRITING TASK 1
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

The bar charts below show the percentages of men and women in employment in three
countries in 2005 and 2015.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make
comparisons where relevant.

Write at least 150 words.

Please add text into the Student post.

Student post:
The given bar graphs compare the employment rates of men and wonmen in
Australia, Japan and Ireland in 2005 and 2015.

Overall, it is clear that the proportion of men in the workforce was higher than
woman in all three countries. In parallel, a upward trend was seen on both two
genders from 2005 to 2015, with Australia showing the most significant
progress in closing the gender gap.
Looking at the graphs closely, one can see that Australia experienced a notable
increase in its workforce. In 2005, male employment stood at approximately
62%, rising to 70% by 2015. Similarly, female employment in Australia grew
significantly from roughly 38% to 55%, marking the highest female
participation rate among the three nations by the end of the period. Ireland
followed a similar trajectory. While male employment rose slightly from around
68% to 70%, the percentage of working women saw a steady climb from 45%
in 2005 to 50% in 2015.

In contrast, Japan maintained the highest level of male employment in both

years, peaking at nearly 80% in 2015. However, it also consistently had the
lowest female employment rates. Although there was a marginal improvement
from 30% to 35%, the disparity between genders in Japan remained the most
pronounced, with men outworking women by a margin of over 40% in both
years.