Writing task - 1

Question is :
Summarize the info by selecting and reporting the main features
20 minutes

Types

1. Bar graph single, double, triple

2. Single Line & double line Graph
3. Table
4. Pie charts
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5. Process diagram
6. Object diagram
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7. Map
8. Floor plan
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9. Flow chart

Planni
ng 5 minutes

 Read instructions/questions carefully, & analyze

 1st understanding the info/data and task
Time periods?
Static and dynamic charts ?
Static charts: one year, month, or no time
You describe how things are similar or different
Bigger or smaller inside one time period
Must focus on highest or lowest or same
Dynamic chart 10 years, from 2000 to 2020
You describe how things go up and down
change or stay same over a different time period
Type of chart: Bar chart
 What it shows: Percentage of GDP
Sectors: IT and Service industries
Location: UK
Time period: 1992 to 2000
Which axis/columns/rows/process/buildings?
What groups?
What units of measurement?
 2 select and note down key info/findings
nd

Identify key/Main features---There should be about 10/

task
Group data together
You should group similar things together into paragraphs
To do this, you need to look for similarities and differences
when you first analyze data
and decide what can be logically put together or not.
Any comparisons
 Identify Main features (overall picture) - most important and
obvious points
 3rd Para plan (Organize info)
 Plan with structure

Structure of report

1. Introduction
2. Overview - two key points
3. Body paragraph - always look for data that can be grouped
logically into paras
4. Closing paragraph [Optional]

Aim for 150-180 words.

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Writing
10 minutes

[Link]
describe clearly what info is about in own words (paraphrase
question)
No data
Only time / Steps of process

 Your introduction should be 1-2 sentences long.

 Avoid details: Save detailed data descriptions for the body
paragraphs.
 Use varied vocabulary: Show your ability to use synonyms and
different grammatical structures.
 Be clear and direct: Make sure your paraphrase accurately
reflects the information in the prompt.

Things to focus :
 Topic of study/survey/research
 Time “
 Place “
 Participants “

Introducing Data

 The given chart illustrates that… + essential part of the

question
 The graph depicts… [“depicting” for future]
 The table shows...
 The diagram presents...
 The figure demonstrates…
 The map outlines…

Paraphrase vocab
Proportion: Percentage, share, contribution, part
GDP: Gross domestic product, economic output, national income
Industries: Sectors, fields, domains

Paraphrasing
Example: Paraphrasing is one of the most important skills to learn
before doing your IELTS test.

Paraphrased: Before taking the IELTS test, mastering paraphrasing

is one of the most crucial things to do.

(e.g., ‘important’ for ‘crucial’ and ‘’prior’’ to ‘before’ and changes

the grammar (e.g., Paraphrasing is one of the most important skills”
for “mastering paraphrasing”).

Method Number 1: Using Synonyms

‘humans’ is a synonym for ‘people’ and ‘attractive’ is a synonym for

‘beautiful’.

For example:

5. My car needs petrol.

6. My vehicle requires fuel.
1. Violent crime is on the rise among teenagers.
2. Violent offences are rising among young people.
3. Violent offences are rising among adolescents.

only use words you are 100% sure

1. Global warming is mostly caused by emissions from internal

combustion engines.
2. Climate change is mainly caused by the release of fumes from
motor vehicles.

Method Number 2: Change the Word Order

You can easily change the order of the clauses if the original
sentence has more than one clause.

Question: As languages such as Spanish, Chinese and English

become more widely used, there is a fear that many minority
languages may die out.

Paraphrased by changing word order: There is a fear that many

minority languages may die out, as languages such as Spanish,
Chinese and English become more widely used.

We could also add some synonyms to paraphrase it even more:

Paraphrased with changing word order AND synonyms: There

is dismay that many lesser-used languages may pass away as
languages such as Chinese, English and Spanish become more
broadly spoken.

You do this by simply changing the adjective into a relative

clause.

Question: Learning to manage money is one of the key aspects of

adult life.

Paraphrased: Learning to manage money is a key aspect of adult

life.

Method Number 3: Change the Form of the Word

Question: Longer life spans and improvements in the health of

older people suggest that people over the age of sixty-five can
continue to live full and active lives.

Paraphrased by changing the word form: Longer life spans and

improvements in the health of older people are suggesting that
people over the age of sixty-five can continue living full and active
lives.

Method Number 4: Change from Active to Passive

Example active sentence: The property developers invested $20

million in the development of the shopping centre.

Example passive sentence: $20 million was invested in the

development of shopping centres.

Example active: People say that global warming is caused by the

burning of fossil fuels.

Example passive: Global warming is said to be caused by the

burning of fossil fuels.

Ex: "The bar chart illustrates the proportion of GDP contributed by

the IT and Service sectors in the UK between 1992 and 2000."
“The chart highlights changes in economic contributions over this
period, showing distinct growth patterns for each industry."

Time References

 During the period from 1992 to 2000,...

 Over the years/period, the trend...
 Throughout the decade, there was...
 At the beginning of the period,...
 By the end of the period,...
 From 1996 onwards,…
 In 2000
 From _____to ________
 Between_____and________

during the time frame

Throughout the years
Beginning: Start, onset, initial period, commencement
End: Conclusion, final period, latter years, end of the period

Example

The chart illustrates the percentage of GDP contributed by the

IT and Service sectors in the UK from 1992 to 2000.

Time Period is Only One Year

Example: "The pie chart illustrates the distribution of energy

consumption by various sectors in the UK in 2020."
No Time Period is Given

Example: "The bar chart illustrates the percentage of different

types of waste recycled in various countries."

Use a variety of verbs:

Synonyms for nouns: "proportion" and "percentage."
Instead of repeatedly using "increase" and "decrease," use
adjectives like "significant," "sharp," and "gradual."
Avoid overusing phrases: Instead of always saying "in 1992," try "at
the start of the period" or "during the initial year."
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2. Overview
2 or 4 most important key features without specific data
General trends
Obvious comparison
Length: 2-3 sentences
Summary of the main trends or key features without specific
details in general terms
Highlight the most significant data points or comparisons.

 To summarise, the most marked change is….

 Overall, it is clear….
 Overall, the majority/minority….
 In sum, the most noticeable trend is….

Example:
Overall, what stands out of graph is there was a gradual upward
trend in the number of visitors in National Gallery, which became
the most popular form being at the last place, while the Victoria and
Albert museum followed the opposite trend.
Example:
"Overall, both the IT and Service industries showed an increase in
their contributions to GDP over the period. The IT sector
experienced a more pronounced growth compared to the Service
sector, which displayed a steadier rise."

When the Time Period is Only One Year

Example: "Overall, the industrial sector accounted for the largest

share of energy consumption, while the residential sector was the
second largest. The transportation and commercial sectors had
relatively smaller shares."

When No Time Period is Given

Example: "Overall, Country A had the highest recycling rate across
all waste types, while Country C had the lowest. Plastic and paper
were the most recycled materials in all countries."

The key language when you write about graphs & charts is
proportions and percentages.
Common phrases to see are "the proportion of…" or "the
percentage of…". However, you can also use other words and
fractions.

 A large number of people

 over a quarter of people
 a small minority
 A significant number of people

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Body paragraph 1
Organize data to make it easier to understand by reader
Length: 3-4 sentences.
Describe the first set of data or trends detailed . Use data to support
your descriptions.
Include all relevant points in the body paras
Details - on the same points, describing general trends and specific
info and making comparisons where appropriate. Make additional
points about trends and info.
Describe the most significant data points in detail.
Use specific percentages or numbers to support your descriptions.
Link the main idea to the supporting details
Never miss important items or features
Comparisons if necessary
Simplification of the data (main points)

When the Time Period is Only One Year

Example: "In 2020, the industrial sector consumed 45% of the total
energy, making it the largest consumer. The residential sector
followed, using 30% of the total energy. These two sectors together
accounted for 75% of the energy consumption."

When No Time Period is Given

Example: "In the chart, Country A recycled 70% of its paper waste,
60% of its plastic waste, and 50% of its glass waste. This makes the
country “A” the leading nation in recycling efforts for these
materials."

Example:
"In 1992, the IT industry accounted for approximately 6% of GDP,
surpassing the Service industry’s contribution of 4%. Over the next
four years, both sectors experienced steady growth, with the IT
sector increasing to around 8% and the Service sector reaching
about 6% by 1996. However, the IT sector saw a slight decline in
1996, dropping to just under 8%."

There are two main grammatical structures we can use to describe

trends.

1. There + be + adj. + noun + in + noun phrase

Possible adjectives Possible nouns:

gradual variation
moderate decline
modest decrease
sharp dip
dramatic drop
slight fall
steep peak
steady fluctuation
significant growth
considerable increase
Rapid rise
Slump

Example:
 There was a gradual rise in the price of oil.
 There has been a sharp drop in the price of oil.

2. Noun phrase + verb + adverb

Possible verbs: Possible adverbs:

rise gradually
jump moderately
grow modestly
climb sharply
increase dramatically
rocket slightly
fall steeply
drop steadily
decline significantly
decrease considerably
go down rapidly
plummet Slowly
plunge

Example:
 The price of oil rose gradually.
 The price of oil has risen dramatically.

Describing Trends

 There was a significant increase in...

 The data reveals a steady rise in...
 There was a sharp decline in...
 The figures indicate a gradual growth in...
 The statistics show a marked decrease in...
 The percentage remained stable …

Trends and Changes

 Increase: Rise, grow, escalate, climb, surge, go up, shot up
 Decrease: Fall, drop, decline, diminish, reduce, go down
 Stable: Steady, consistent, unchanging, constant, flat
 Fluctuate: Vary, oscillate, change, waver, be volatile
 Sharp: Significant, considerable, dramatic, noticeable, steep
 Gradual: Steady, slow, progressive, moderate

Describing Increases and Decreases

There are three main ways you can describe increases and
decreases.

Noun phrase + verb + adverb

Example:
 The price of property fell sharply
 The percentage of homes dropped dramatically.

There + be + noun + in + noun phrase

Example:
 There was a fall in literacy levels.
 There has been an increase in the cost of coffee.

Using fractions
Example:
 The price of oil has halved in less than a year.
 The price of oil has halved since July.
 By July, the price of oil had halved.

Adjectives to add more depth and meaning

simple moderate dramatic
Slowly Moderately Dramatic
Slightly Gradually Sharp
Marginally Steadily Rapidly
A little Progressively Suddenly
Drastically
Significantly

Making Comparisons
IELTS writing task 1 will often require comparing data sources,
groups and times. Here are five grammatical structures you can use
to make comparisons.

More/few/less + noun + than

Example:

Overall, more people preferred public transport to taxis.

of one syllable -er + than

Example:

A higher number of people preferred public transport to taxis.

More/less + adj. of more than one syllable + than

Example:

Taxis were more popular than public transport.

of one syllable -est.

Example:

The highest % of commuters preferred taxis.

The most/least + adj. of more than one syllable.

Example:

The least popular mode of transport was buses.

Comparing Data

 Compared to the previous year,...

 In comparison with the Service industry,...
 While the IT sector grew rapidly, the Service sector...
 Similarly, both industries...
 In contrast, the IT sector...
 Unlike the Service sector, the IT sector…

Comparisons and Contrasts

 Higher: Greater, larger, more substantial, bigger
 Lower: Smaller, less, fewer, diminished
 Similar: Comparable, alike, nearly the same, closely related
 Different: Dissimilar, varied, distinct, divergent

Highlighting Specific Points

 Notably, the IT sector...

 Interestingly, the Service industry...
 It is worth mentioning that...
 A key point to note is...
 An important observation is...
 As illustrated by the data,...

Quantifying Changes

 There was a twofold increase in… [doubled]

 The percentage doubled...
 The figure rose by 10%...
 The proportion declined by half...
 The share dropped to...
 The contribution peaked at...

Fractions
73%- nearly three quarters

51%- just over a half

49%- just under a half

32%- nearly a third

3%- a tiny fraction

50%- exactly a half

26%- roughly one quarter

49%- around a half

24%- almost a quarter

77%- approximately three quarters

Proportions
70%- a large proportion

71%- a significant majority

15% a small minority

3%- an insignificant minority

Percentages - fraction
80% - four-fifths
75% - three-fourth ; three-quarters
70% seven-tenths ; seven in ten
66% two-thirds
65%- little below two-thirds
60- three-fifths
55- little above half
50- Half
45- More than two fifths
40- Two-fifths
35- little more than third
30- Less than a third
25- a quarter
20- a fifth
15- less than fifth
10- one tenth ; one in ten
5- one in twenty

Percentage - Qualifier
77% just over three quarters
77% approximately three quarters
49% just under a half
49% nearly half
32% almost a third

Percentages to other phrases:

Percentage - proportion / number / amount / majority / minority
75%-85% a very large majority
65%-75% a significant proportion
10%-15% a minority
5% a very small number/proportion

Often, data is not exact

use phrases that show you are approximating
32% almost/nearly a third
68% around two thirds
18% just under/nearly a fifth
97% almost all
58% approximately 60%
77% just over three quarters
27% just over a quarter
5% a very small number
85% a very large majority
49% just under/nearly a half
17% less than a fifth
Example Sentences with Phrases

1. Time References: During the period from 1992 to 2000,

both sectors experienced growth.
2. Describing Trends: There was a significant increase in the
IT sector's contribution, especially after 1996.
3. Comparing Data: In comparison with the Service industry,
the IT sector showed more pronounced fluctuations.
4. Highlighting Specific Points: Notably, the IT industry saw
a sharp rise in 1998.
5. Quantifying Changes: The IT sector's contribution doubled,
peaking at nearly 15% by 2000.

Use synonyms and alternative phrases you can use to avoid

repetition

Example
 Fluctuate: The GDP contribution of the IT sector varied over the
years, with a slight drop in 1996.

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Body Paragraph 2

Describe the second set of data or trends. Continue to use data to

support your descriptions.
Length: 3-4 sentences.
Describe the remaining data points.
Provide specific details and make comparisons if relevant.

Example:
"From 1996 onwards, the growth trajectories of the two sectors
diverged significantly. The IT industry surged to 12% in 1998 and
nearly 15% by 2000, marking a sharp upward trend. In contrast, the
Service industry’s growth was more stable, increasing gradually to
about 8% by the end of the period. By 2000, the IT sector's GDP
contribution was almost double that of the Service sector."

When the Time Period is Only One Year

Example: "The transportation sector accounted for 15% of the

energy consumption, while the commercial sector used the least, at
10%. The transportation and commercial sectors combined made up
only 25% of the total energy consumption."

When No Time Period is Given

Example: "Country B recycles 50% of its paper waste, 45% of its
plastic waste, and 30% of its glass waste. In contrast, Country C had
significantly lower recycling rates, with 20% for paper, 15% for
plastic, and 10% for glass."

Additional Tips

 Use Comparisons: Even without a time period, you can

compare different categories or items.
 Focus on Proportions and Rankings: Highlight which
categories are larger or smaller relative to each other.
 Be Clear and Concise: As always, clarity and conciseness
are key in Task 1 writing.

Additional Tips
 Be concise: Each paragraph should be clear and to the
point.
 Use data effectively: Always support your descriptions with
specific data from the graph/chart.
 Vary your language: Use synonyms and different
grammatical structures to avoid repetition.

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Conclusion [optional]

Short Summary - repeat info in overview in different words

Summarize the key points. briefly restate the main trends if you
have enough words left.
Length: 1-2 sentences.
Write similarities
Write differences
Summarize similarities / differences/ both

Example:
"In summary, while both industries contributed to the UK's GDP
growth from 1992 to 2000, the IT sector experienced more dynamic
changes compared to the steady increase of the Service sector."

Summarizing

 Overall, it can be seen that...

 In summary, the data indicates...
 To sum up, both industries...
 In conclusion, the trends...
 On the whole, the chart…

Example Sentences with Phrases

 Summarizing: Overall, it can be seen that the IT sector had a
more dynamic impact on the UK's GDP compared to the Service
sector.

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Describe
Summarize
Key features
Comparisons
Relevant and significant info
Large/key differences & similarities
Connect ideas together well
Only present facts given in question
Writing in full sentences
Connect ideas to each other
Writing should flow logically

Use : correctly and appropriately

referencing words
Linking words
Other Connective devices

Present: correctly and appropriately

Divide writing (Ideas) into paras
Organise ideas coherently
Use cohesive devices
Connectors
Wide variety of appropriate words/vocabulary and phrases
Wide range of different grammatical structures and punctuation

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Checking &
Correction
5 minutes
 >150 words
 Mistakes:
 Spelling
 Grammar
 Punctuation
 Is info factually accurate
 Is writing formal academic English
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Small changes are less relevant
No spelling mistakes
No grammar mistakes
No vocabulary mistakes
No punctuation mistakes
No irrelevant info
No speculating for possible reasons (might or possible reason)
No opinions / feelings (positive or surprising)
No predictions
No contractions (ex: don’t)
No exclamations !!

Adverbs
Substantially
Considerably
A lot
Far
Much
Some what
Significantly
Slightly
Fractionally

Adjective clauses/phrases
Which is
Which constitutes
Which accounts for
Which makes up
Which presents for

Chronology of writing
Highest -> sector to sector -> lowest

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Remaining checking & correcting

Text
Grammar
Spelling
Punctuation
Organised ideas
Check no repetition of words
Range of vocab
Grammar mistakes
150 words

Vocab
Enhance

varied

sophisticated

approach

slightly

handling

scenarios

learn

Collocations

Sentence format

Subject verb format

Time subject verb adverb

Time period of Topic of the Movement or Nature of the
the targeted graph measurement movement
point of the graph
Ex: From Sales of the Increased Drastically
January to Computers
February

verbs
Increase Rise
Grow
Shot up

Decrease Decline
Fall
Drop

adverbs
simple moderate dramatic
Slowly Moderately Dramatic
Slightly Gradually Sharp
Marginally Steadily Rapidly
A little Progressively Suddenly
Drastically
Significantly
There format
Time There Be Noun phrase in Actual
period article + subject
adj+ noun
Is/was Determinatio in topic
n of
measuremen
t
Ex:b/w There was a dramatic In Sales of
January rise computer
and s
February

Sentence pattern
Subject verb/there format + which + special trend
Ex: In 2010 there was a moderate decrease in money to charity
which reached at 32% from 42%.

Comparison with total showing any relationship between them

1. The most popular/common/preferred
2. The second “
3. Percentage
4. The smallest/lowest proportion
Sector to sector comparisons

Equal comparisons
White is nearly twice as common/ preferred/ popular as red.
Noun+be+adverb+measurement+as+comparison+as+noun

Unequal comparisons
White is substantially more common than red
Noun + be+ adverb+comparative+comparison+than+noun

Comparisons sample
It can clearly be seen that ActiveX was the most popular computer
package to download, whilst Net was the least popular of the three
Downloads of ActiveX and Java showed similar patterns,
with both gradually increasing from week 1 to week 5
However, the purchases of Active X remained significantly higher
than that of the other product over this time frame
In week 1, purchases of ActiveX stood at around
75,000, while those of Java were about 30,000 lower
Java downloads also increased at a steady rate, finishing the period
at 80,000
The product that was downloaded the least was Net. This began at
slightly under 40,000, and, in contrast to the other two products,
fell over the next two weeks
It then increased sharply over the following two weeks to finish at
about 50,000, which was well below that of ActiveX

Sample
The diagram shows the levels of charitable donations of people
living in Britain, separated by age between 1990 and 2010.

Overall, there was a general decrease in the percentage of people

who donated money to charity over the two time period. However,
the pattern differs between the three age groups before 50 and the
two age groups after the age of 50.

The highest decrease is in the 18-25 category, which saw a

decrease of 10%, from 17% in 1990 to 7% in 2010. 42% of people in
36-50 age group gave to charity in 1990, the highest on the chart,
and this fell to 35% in 2010. There was also a significant decline in
donations among 26-35 years old, from 31% to 24%.

The exception to this general trend downwards was among the 51-
65s. In 2010, the age of 51-65 years old gave the highest
percentage, with nearly 40 percent and this rose from 35% in 1990.
Finally, those over displayed a slight percentage increase of 3
percent.