Writing task 1
How to Clearly Describe Data from Graphs
and Charts
Introduction: Turning Visuals into Words
Welcome! Have you ever looked at a graph or chart and struggled to explain what
it means in a clear, confident way? You're not alone. This guide will teach you a
simple, repeatable three-step process for describing data from line graphs, bar
charts, and pie charts.
Mastering this skill is crucial for clear communication. Whether you're writing a
report, giving a presentation, or completing an academic task, the ability to
translate visual data into insightful words will make your work stand out. Let's get
started.
The Core Three-Step Structure for Data Description
The foundation of a great data description is a logical three-paragraph structure.
Following this framework ensures your explanation is easy for your audience to
follow, moving from the big picture to the specific details. This structure is
effective because it first orients the reader (Introduction), then delivers the main
conclusion upfront (Overall), and finally provides the evidence (Details), which
respects the reader's time and attention.
1. The Introduction: Start by paraphrasing the chart's title and axes. In one
sentence, tell the reader exactly what the data shows, including the metric
being measured, the location, and the time period.
2. The 'Overall' Summary: Next, describe the main trend, the highest point, or
the most significant feature you see. This is the "big picture" takeaway. You
should do this without using any specific numbers or data points just yet.
3. The Detailed Body: Finally, provide specific details, data points, and
comparisons from the chart. This paragraph uses concrete numbers to
support the 'Overall' summary you just gave.
Writing task 1 1
Step 1: Crafting a Perfect Introduction
The introduction's primary job is to orient your reader. It must clearly state what
the chart is about. You can use simple, reliable templates to build this sentence
perfectly every time. The key is to choose the right template based on whether
your data is about people or things.
Example Sentence
Template Type When to Use
Structure
The [graph/chart] illustrates the
For data related to people (e.g., tourists, number of [people] who [verb +
Using 'who'
students, visitors). object] in [place] over a [time
period].
The [graph/chart] illustrates the
For data related to things or inanimate
amount/number of [thing] which
Using 'which' subjects (e.g., electricity, products,
was/were [verb] in [place] over a
money). [time period].
For providing a specific definition or
classification of the data. Use 'that' when The [graph/chart] shows the
you need to be more specific about the proportion/number of [noun] that
Using 'that'
group, like describing 'the proportion of [verb + details] in [place] during
people that used the Internet to access [time period].
news'.
Here is a complete example showing the 'which' template in action:
"The line chart illustrates the amount of electricity which was produced in France
from four sources, namely Thermal, Nuclear, Hydroelectric, and Renewables, over
a 32-year period from 1980 to 2012."
Once you've clearly stated what the chart shows, you're ready to summarize its
main points.
Step 2: Writing the 'Overall' Summary – The Big Picture
The 'Overall' paragraph is the most important part of your description. It highlights
the most significant trend or feature immediately, giving your reader the main
takeaway before they get into the details. Look for the highest and lowest points,
the most dramatic changes, or the biggest share.
Here are some sentence templates to help you state the main point clearly:
Writing task 1 2
For Line Graphs: Overall, according to the line graph it is evident that [Category A] accounted for the
**largest proportion** of [Metric], whereas [Category B] recorded the **lowest figure**.
For Bar Graphs: Overall, according to the bar graph, it is evident that [Category A] experienced the
**highest percentages** in comparison with [Category B] and [Category C].
For Tables: Overall, according to the table it is evident that [Category A] recorded the **highest
percentage** in [Metric]; [Category B], on the other hand, experienced the **lowest rate** in [Metric].
After stating the main point, the next logical step is to provide the specific data
that proves your summary is correct.
Step 3: Describing the Details – The Body Paragraphs
The body paragraphs are where you bring your 'Overall' summary to life with
specific data points. This is where you use numbers and units from the chart to
provide evidence for your main observation.
You can begin your detailed description with this universal sentence structure:
Looking at [Topic] in detail, at the beginning of the period in [Year], [Thing] stood at approximately [Number] [Units].
This template can be easily adapted for different chart types:
Line graph: "Looking at electricity production in detail, at the beginning of the
period in 1980, nuclear energy stood at approximately 100 terawatt-hours."
Bar chart: "Looking at population distribution in detail, at the beginning of the
period in 2000, the urban population stood at approximately 45%."
Pie chart: "Looking at household expenditure in detail, at the beginning of the
period in 1990, spending on food stood at approximately 30%."
Table: "Looking at employment figures in detail, at the beginning of the period
in 2010, the number of workers in agriculture stood at approximately 15
million.”
After establishing the starting point with a sentence like, 'at the beginning of the
period in 1980, nuclear energy stood at approximately 100 terawatt-hours,' you
must then describe the subsequent movement. Use a follow-up sentence like one
of these to show the trend:
This figure then experienced a **steady increase** over the following decade, reaching 250 terawatt-hours by
1990.
This figure then experienced a **sharp rise** over the following ten years, reaching 60% by 2010.
Writing task 1 3
This figure then experienced a **gradual decline** over the following decade, reaching 10 million by 2020.
Alternatively, if you want to make a direct observation about the largest or most
noticeable category, you can use this structure:
Looking at the data for total spending in detail, it is immediately noticeable that the USA accounted for the largest
proportion, at a massive 40% of its GDP.
A final piece of advice: don't try to describe every single point on the chart. Select
the 2-3 most important data points—like the start, the end, and any significant
peaks or troughs—to include in your body paragraphs. This is crucial because
describing every point will overwhelm your reader and obscure the main message.
Your goal is to guide their focus, not to provide a raw transcript of the data.
Writing task 1 4