IELTS 應考指南 Writing Task 1

LINE GRAPHS
1) Interpreting the data
Pattern for referring to the subject:
The + measurable quantity (y-axis) + of +
subj
The + subj + measurable quantity

Future tense:

“…will be…”
“…is projected/ forecast/ predicted/ expected to…”

Time frame:

“From…to…”
“In…”
“For…”
“Over…”
“Between…and…”

Synonyms:

Increase- rise, grow, climb, leap, rocket, shoot

Decrease- fall, decline, drop, slump, plummet
Flat- remain constant, stabilize, level off/ out

(Underlined words can’t be used with standard adverbs)

Sentence pattern:
Time frame + subj + v + adv
Time frame + there + be + adj + n + in the + measurable quantity +
of + subj

(vnadvadj)
“From 1970 to 1995 the number of people playing squash steadily declined.”
“From 1970 to 1995 there was a steady decline in the number of people playing squash.”

To incorporate data:
 “from…to…”
“…at…”
“…by/ of…”

”from 100 to 80 between the years 1988 and 1990”

“peaking at 90 thousand hectares”
“falling by 20 thousand hectares to finish at 65 thousand hectares”

Express approximation:

“…just over/ under… a little more/ less than…”

“…well over/ under…”
“…roughly/ nearly/ approximately/ around/ about…”

2) Writing the report

Paragraph 1
Opening sentences:
The table provides the data on…
chart presents number of…
graph illustrates proportion of…
diagram shows ratio of…
depicts effect of…
information on…

Paragraph 2
Introduce general trends and patterns:

The general trend/ pattern is/ was for…

Generally, (the graph shows that)…
In general, (the graph shows that)…
Basically, (the graph shows that)…

(express similarity and contrast)

Paragraphs 3+
Describe data in detail to verify the description made in paragraph 2.

The conclusion
 “To sum up…”
“In summary…”
“In conclusion…”
“To conclude…”
“It can be concluded that…”

(summarise the most significant points and mention any obvious implications)

PIE CHARTS
1) Interpreting the data
Verbs:

“…accounts for…”
“…comprises…”
“…constitutes…”
“…makes up…”
“…represents…”

“Lamb, which accounts for 10% of total sales, is 30% less popular than chicken, which
accounts for 40%.”
“Fish, at 8%, contributes just under half as much as pork, at 20%, towards total sales.”

2) Writing the report

Paragraph 1
Opening sentences:
The chart shows the proportion of…
the percentage of…
the distribution of…
the ratio of…

Paragraph 2
Make some general comparisons

Paragraph 3
Describe the chart in detail

The conclusion
The format is basically the same in all Task 1 reports.
COLUMN CHARTS AND TABLES
1) Interpreting the data
Look for the significant data and describe it in relation to its context
Make sentences about the columns individually or make sentences that compare the
different columns

2) Writing the report

Paragraph 1
Opening sentence:

The graph shows/ displays the (measure of subject) (column or table

variables) (time frame).

“The column graph displays spectator numbers in the city of Plonkers for three different
types of football- Aerial Ping Pong, Rugby and Soccer- for the years 1986, 1990 and
1994.”

Paragraph 2+
Mention the significant data
When there is a time variable note the significant changes, sometimes trends and
patterns
Good idea to mention any exceptions

The conclusion
As usual

PROCESS DIAGRAMS
1) Interpreting the data
Process descriptions- simple present passive:

Obj + is/ are + past participle + agent (not always required)

“The personal details form is filled by the candidate.”

2) Writing the report

Paragraph 1
Basically just a sentence describing the process as a whole

Paragraph 2+
Merely describe the process
The conclusion
Usually the description of the end of the process is the conclusion