Signpost Words

The art of signposting is using key words and

phrases to enable the reader or the listener to
navigate their way through your argument. Here
are some signposting words which will prove
invaluable in that process. You may have your
own favorites.

Highlighting or emphasizing a point

Importantly,
Indeed,
In fact,
More importantly,
Furthermore,
It is also important to highlight

Changing direction or creating a

comparison
However,
Rather,
In contrast,
Conversely,
On one hand,
On the other hand,
In comparison,
Compared to
Another point to consider is

Adding a similar point

Similarly,
Likewise,
Again,
Also,

Summarising
Finally,
Lastly,
In conclusion,
To summarise,
In summary,
Overall,
The three main points are

ACADEMIC WRITING
Being more specific
In particular,
In relation to
More specifically,
With respect to
In terms of
Giving an example
For instance,
For example,
this can be illustrated by
, namely,
, such as

Acknowledging something and

moving to a different point
Although
Even though
Despite
Notwithstanding
Following a line of reasoning
Therefore,
Subsequently,
Hence
Consequently,
Accordingly,
As a result,
As a consequence,
To this end,

ACADEMIC WRITING
Building on the last section
having established that
if so
in order to
in that/this case
in this connection
moreover
so
that/which implies
then

Examples
as an illustration
exemplifying this
for example
for instance
Reformulating an idea
again
alternatively/an alternative is
in other words
on the other hand
or
rather
that is

Adding
also, and, as well (as)
besides
furthermore
in addition
similarly

Result
accordingly
as a result
consequently
for this reason
hence
so
then
therefore

Describing Table
By Muhammad Fuad

The Difference between Bar and Table

The Difference between Bar and Table

Country

Bangladesh
Bolivia
Egypt
Indonesia
USA

GNP per head

(1982: US
dollars)
140
570
690
580
13160

Daily calorie Life expectancy

supply per head at birth (years)
1877
2086
2950
2296
3653

40
50
56
49
74

Infant
mortality (per
1000 live births
132
124
97
87
12

Analysing IELTS Table

Do not describe all the data presented - present
the main points of each feature (you should make
sure you mention each feature though).
Look for significant data; e.g. the highest, the
lowest etc.
Try and group the data. This may require you to
use some general knowledge about the world,
such as recognising developed and developing
countries.

Example
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
The following table gives statistics showing the aspects of quality of life in five
countries.
Write a report for a university lecturer describing the information in the table below.
You should write at least 150 words.
Country

Bangladesh
Bolivia
Egypt
Indonesia
USA

GNP per head

(1982: US
dollars)
140
570
690
580
13160

Daily calorie Life expectancy

supply per head at birth (years)
1877
2086
2950
2296
3653

40
50
56
49
74

Infant
mortality (per
1000 live births
132
124
97
87
12

Writing Plan
What is the table measuring?
What type of language do you need to use
(Change? Comparing and contrasting?)
What tense would you use? Which country has
the best quality of life and which has the worst?
What information could you use for an overview /
conclusion?
How could you group the information?
How many paragraphs would you have and what
you would write about in each one?

Writing Plan

Topic standard of living, 5 countries

Language comparison
Time / tense 1982 = past
Overview USA far higher
Groups :
1. USA = highest
2. Egypt, Indo, Bol = similar
3. Bangladesh = very low

Result
The table uses four economic indicators to show the standard of living in five
selected countries in 1982. Overall, it can be seen that the quality of life in the USA
was far higher than the other four countries.
To begin, the USA, which is a developed country, had the highest Gross national
product (GNP) at 13,160 dollars per head. It also had a much higher daily calorie
intake and life expectancy, and the lowest rate of infant mortality.
The other developing countries had quality of life ratings that were significantly
lower. The range of indicators for Egypt, Indonesia and Bolivia were similar, with
Egypt having the highest quality of life amongst the three. However, the infant
mortality rate in Egypts was slightly higher than Indonesias at 97 deaths per 1000
compared to 78 in Indonesia.
Bangladesh had by far the lowest quality of life in all the indicators. Its GNP was
one hundred times smaller than the USAs. Its calorie intake and life expectancy
were about half those of the USA, and its infant mortality rate was 10 times
greater.

Example 2
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
The table shows the Proportions of Pupils Attending Four Secondary School
Types Between 2000 and 2009 Summarize the information by selecting and
reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.
SECONDARY SCHOOL ATTENDANCE
2000

2005

2009

Specialist Schools

12%

11%

10%

Grammar Schools

24%

19%

12%

Voluntarycontrolled Schools

52%

38%

20%

Community
Schools

12%

32%

58%

Writing Plan
Topic School Attendance, four different types of
secondary school
Language Comparisons
Time past (2000-2009)
Overview
1. Grammar and Voluntary-controlled school : decline
2. Community school : the most important
Groups
1. Declining
2. Increasing

Result
The table illustrates the percentage of school children attending four different
types of secondary school from 2000 to 2009.
Overall, it is evident that the specialist, grammar and voluntary-controlled schools
experienced declines in numbers of pupils, whereas the community schools
became the most important providers of secondary school education during the
same period.
To begin, the proportion in voluntary-controlled schools fell from just over half to
only 20% or one fifth from 2000 to 2009. Similarly, the relative number of children
in grammar schools -- just under one quarter -- dropped by half in the same
period. As for the specialist schools, the relatively small percentage of pupils
attending this type of school (12%) also fell, although not significantly.
However, while the other three types of school declined in importance, the
opposite was true in the case of community schools. In fact, while only a small
minority of 12% were educated in these schools in 2000, this figure increased to
over half of all pupils during the following nine years.

Example 3
The table illustrates the proportion of monthly household income five European
countries spend on food and drink, housing, clothing and entertainment.
Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make
comparisons where relevant.
Proportion of household income five European countries spend on food and drink,
housing, clothing and entertainment.
Food and drink Housing

Clothing

Entertainment

France

25%

31%

7%

13%

Germany

22%

33%

15%

19%

27%

37%

11%

11%

Turkey

36%

20%

12%

10%

Spain

31%

18%

8%

15%

UK

Writing Plan
Topic proportion of household income spends
on 4 items in 5 different european countries
Language Comparisons
Time present
Overview
1. The majority : Food, Drink and Housing
2. The minority : Clothing and Entertainment
Groups
1. The Gaps between Housing and food and drink
2. Two least expense

Result
The table shows the amount of household income that five countries in Europe spend per
month on four items.
Overall, it is evident that all five countries spend the majority of their income on food and
drink and housing, but much less on clothing and entertainment.
Housing is the largest expenditure item for France, Germany and the UK, with all of them
spending around one third of their income on this, at 30%, 33% and 37%, respectively. In
contrast, they spend around a quarter on food and drink. However, this pattern is reversed
for Turkey and Spain, who spend around a fifth of their income on housing, but
approximately one third on food and drink.
All five countries spend much less on the remaining two items. France and Spain spend the
least, at less than 10%, while the other three countries spend around the same amount,
ranging between 13% and 15%. At 19%, Germany spends the most on entertainment,
whereas UK and Turkey spend approximately half this amount, with France and Spain
between the two.