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Academic IELTS Task 1 – Useful Vocabulary for Graphs and Diagrams

» Use correct synonyms in your writing.

» Use a range of vocabulary.
» Do not repeat words and phrases from the exam question unless
there is no alternative.
» Use less common vocabulary.
» Do not use the same word more than once/twice.
» Use precise and accurate words in a sentence.

To get a high score in Task 1 writing of the academic IELTS you need
to give accurate and strong description and analyses for the provided
graph(s) or diagram. In this minimum 150 word essay it is easy to keep
repeating words and numbers.

Up Verbs

Verbs Example
soar the use of water soared in March
Leap the prices leapt to 90% in one year
Climb populations climbed to over one million by 1980
Rocket use of cars rocketed in the first decade
Surge a surge of migration is seen in November

Notes:

 “Soar “and “rocket” are both very strong words that describe large
rises. “Rocket” is more sudden. You probably do not need to qualify
these verbs with adverbs.
 “Leap” shows a large and sudden rise. Again, you probably do not
need to qualify it with an adverb.
 “Climb” is a relatively neutral verb that can be used with the adverbs
below.
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Down verbs

Verbs Example
Sink The cost of housing sunk after 2008
Slip back Use of electricity slipped back to 50 in May
Dip Divorce rate dipped in the 60s
Drop A drop in crime can be seen last year
Plummet Tourists to the city plummets after September

Notes:

 “Plummet” is the strongest word here. It means to fall very quickly and
a long way.
 “Drop” and “drop” are normally used for fairly small decreases
 “Slip back” is used for falls that come after rises
 “Drop” and “Dip” are also frequently used as nouns: “a slight dip” “a
sudden drop”

Adjectives and adverbs

This is a selection of some of the most common adjectives and

adverbs used for trend language. Please be careful. This is an area
where it is possible to make low-level mistakes. Make sure that you
use adjectives with nouns and adverbs with verbs:

 a significant rise – correct (adjective/noun)

 rose significantly – correct (adverb/verb)
 a significantly rise – wrong

Please also note the spelling of the adverbs. There is a particular

problem with the word “dramatically:

 dramatically – correct
 dramaticly – wrong
 dramaticaly – wrong
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Adjectives of Degree

Adjective Example Adverb Example

Significant A significant Significantly Changed
change significantly
Dramatic A dramatic Dramatically Sifts
shift dramatically
Sudden A sudden rise Suddenly Has risen
suddenly
Substantial A substantial Substantially Gained
gain substantially
Sharp A sharp Sharply Had
decrease decreased
sharply
Notes:

 “sudden” and “sharp” can be used for relatively minor changes that
happen quickly
 “spectacular” and “dramatic” are very strong words only used for big
changes

Steady Adjectives

Adjective Example Adverb Example

Consistent A consistent Consistently Flowed
flow consistently
Steady A steady Steadily Moved
movement steadily
Constant Constant shift Constantly Sifted
constantly
Small adjectives

Adjective Example Adverb Example

Slight A slight rise Slightly Rose slightly
Gradual A gradual fall Gradually Has fallen
gradually
Marginal A marginal Marginally Had changed
change marginally
Modest A modest Modestly Increases
increase modestly
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Notes:

 “marginal” is a particularly useful word for describing very small

changes

Other useful adjectives

These adjectives can be used to describes more general trends

Adjective Example
Upward By looking at the five data points, there appears to
be a clear upward pattern in prices
Downward Over the past quarter century there is a downward
trend in use of pesticides
Overall The overall shift in the market seems to favour the
use of nuclear power

Notes:

 “overall” can be used to describe changes in trend over the whole

period: very useful in introductions and conclusions
 “upward” and “downward” are adjectives: the adverbs are “upwards”
and “downwards”
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You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

The line graph shows thefts per thousand vehicles in four countries
between 1990 and 1999.
Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main
features and make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.

Line Graph Examples - Comparisons of Car Theft

IELTS Line Graph Examples - Model Answer

The line graph compares the number of cars stolen for every 1000
vehicles in four countries from 1990 to 1999. Overall, it can be seen that
car thefts were far higher in Great Britain than in the other three counties
throughout the whole time frame.
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To begin, car thefts in Sweden, France and Canada followed a fairly

similar pattern over the first five years, all remaining at between 5 and 10
per thousand. The general trend though for France and Canada was a
decline in the number of vehicles stolen over the period, with both at
around 6 in 1999. In contrast, Sweden experienced an upward trend,
starting the period at approximately 8, and finishing at just under 15.
Interestingly, car thefts in Great Britain started at 18 per thousand, which
far exceeded that of the other countries. It then fluctuated over the next
nine years, reaching a peak of 20 thefts per 1000 in 1996, and ending
the period slightly lower than where it began, at approximately 17 per
thousand.
(Words 174)

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

The graph below gives information about changes in the birth and
death rates in New Zealand between 1901 and 2101.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main

features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Write at least 150 words.

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Birth and death rates in New Zealand

Source:
http://archive.stats.govt.nz/browse_for_stats/population/estimates_and_
projections/changing-face-of-nzs-population.aspx

Model answer
The graph shows changes in the birth and death rates in New Zealand
since 1901, and forecasts trends tip until 2101.
Between 1901 and the present day, the birth rate has been consistently
higher than the death rate. It stood at 20,000 at the start of this period
and increased to a peak of 66,000 in 1961. Since then the rate has
fluctuated between 65 and 50 thousand and it is expected to decline
slowly to around 45,000 births by the end of the century.

In contrast, the death rate started below 10,000 and has increased
steadily until the present time. This increase is expected to be more
rapid between 2021 and 2051 when the rate will probably level off at
around 60,000, before dropping slightly in 2101.
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Overall, these opposing trends mean that the death rate will probably
overtake the birth rate in around 2041 and the large gap between the
two levels will be reversed in the later part of this century.

(164 words)

EXAMINER’S EXPLANATION
This is a strong answer which would score a high IELTS band.
Good points:
 fulfils criteria for length
 introduction is paraphrased
 main sets of data are compared and contrasted
 clear focus on the different trends
 important features of the graph, (e.g. cross-over point) included
 information summarised in conclusion
 well organised information
 range of linkers and referencing expressions
 good range of vocabulary and structures, used accurately

Strategies for IELTS Writing Task 1

 Rather than trying to give reasons for the elements shown in the
diagram or describing every detail, concentrate only on significant
features.
 Your description should start with a brief overview of the object(s)
and its purpose.
 Then focus on how the object works or significant similarities and
differences between the objects.
 Vary your language where possible, and use a range of vocabulary
and structures.
 Your description should end with a summarising statement.

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

The graph below shows how elderly people in the United States
spent their free time between 1980 and 2010.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main

features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.
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Model answer
This graph shows the kinds of activities done by old people in their spare
time, covering a period from the 1980s to now in the United States. We
can see that generally the activities listed have been increasing in
popularity amongst the elderly, with hiking increasing steadily throughout
the years, and watching TV being the most popular overall.

In the 1980s, nearly all activities were growing in popularity. The only
activity which was becoming less popular over these years was going to
the theatre. Going to the theatre declined steeply from 50% to 30%.
This changed in the 1990s, and going to the theatre became more
popular, whereas reading saw a dramatic drop in popularity. The number
of people doing all other activities increased.

This century, hiking, reading, going to the theatre and surfing the
Internet have all been increasing in popularity. However, watching TV
has been decreasing in popularity. Despite this, watching TV is still the
second most popular activity nowadays amongst this group. Most elderly
people are hiking nowadays in their spare time.
(174 words)
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IELTS Tip

In written reports we don't normally describe statistics using exact

numbers as this can be very boring and distracting for the reader.
Instead we use approximation to round numbers up or down.

Elicit different ways of describing the following numbers:

134,575: just over 135,000, approximately/roughly/around/about

135,000;
134,575 compared to 396,530: over triple, around 200% more, about
three times as many, roughly 260,000 more, about a third as many,
approximately one in three, far more, for less
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

The graph below shows population figures for India and China
since the year 2000 and predicted population growth up until 2050.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main

features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Write at least 150 words.

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Model answer

The graph shows how the populations of India and China have changed
since 2000 and how they will change in the future.
In 2000, there were more people living in China than in India. The
number of Chinese was 1.25 billion, while India's population was about 1
billion. Between 2000 and 2010, there has been a 0.2 billion rise in the
number of Indian citizens. Over the same period, China's population has
increased by 0.1 billion to reach over 1.35 billion.

According to the graph, the population in India will increase more quickly
than in China, and experts say that by 2030, both countries will have the
same population of 1.45 billion. After this, China's population is likely to
fall slightly to 1.4 billion in 2050, while India's population will probably
increase and reach 1.6 billion.

Thus, over the 50-year period, India is going to experience steady

growth in its population and it will overtake China. On the other hand,
China's population will peak in 2030 and then begin to fall.
(173 words)
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Test Tip
When you are describing a chart or graph, you are actually describing
the patterns he the data. Before you begin to write, spend one or two
minutes noticing the different features of the visual information.

To help identify the patterns, you need to look for the

• peaks (high points) and troughs (low points)
• periods when the figures remain steady (show little or no change)
• periods when the figures fluctuate (show a lot of changes)

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

The graph below shows the pollution levels in London between

1600 and 2000.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main

features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Write at least 150 words.

Model answer
(1st paragraph introduces the topic of the graph, explains what the graph
shows and outlines overall trends or patterns.)
The graph shows pollution levels in London between 1600 and 2000. It
measures smoke and sulphur dioxide in micrograms per cubic metre.
According to the information, the levels of both pollutants formed a
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similar pattern during this period, but there were always higher levels of
sulphur dioxide than smoke in the atmosphere.
(2nd paragraph describes the trends in more detail and illustrates these
using data from the graph.)
In 1600, pollution levels were low, but over the next hundred years, the
levels of sulphur dioxide rose to 700 micrograms per cubic metre, while
the levels of smoke rose gradually to about 200 micrograms per cubic
metre. Over the next two hundred years the levels of sulphur dioxide
continued to increase, although there was some fluctuation in this trend.
They reached a peak in 1850. Smoke levels increased a little more
sharply during this time and peaked in 1900 at about 500 micrograms.
During the 20th century, the levels of both pollutants fell dramatically,
though there was a great deal of fluctuation within this fall.
(Final paragraph draws a simple conclusion from the data.)
Clearly air pollution was a bigger problem in London in the early 20th
century than it is now.

(176 words)

IELTS Tip: Useful language for describing trends

- to experience a(n) [increase/decrease/rise/fall/drop in/of]

- to [increase/decrease/rise/fall/drop by/from … to]
- to fluctuate / undergo a change / remain [stable/steady] / stagnate /
dip - / peak / increase [twofold/threefold] / surge
- a [less/more] marked [increase/decrease], etc. (occurred / took place)
- [less/more] significant / steady / especially strong growth
- a parallel [rise/fall]
- to expect / predict / forecast

Related Topic: IELTS Writing Task 1: describing a line graph

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

The line graph below shows the percentage of tourists to England

who visited four different attractions in Brighton.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main

features, and make comparisons where relevant.
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Write at least 150 words.

Model answer
The line graph shows the percentage of tourists to England who visited
certain Brighton attractions between 1980 and 2010. We can see that in
1980 and in 2010 the favourite attractions were the pavilion and the
festival. In 1980 the least popular attraction was the pier but in 2010 this
changed and the art gallery was the least popular.
During the 1980s and 1990s there was a sharp increase in visitors to the
pavilion from 28% to 48% and then the percentage gradually went down
to 31% in 2010. The trend for the art gallery was similar to the pavilion.
Visitors increased rapidly from 22% to 37% from 1980 to 1985 then
gradually decreased to less than 10% over the next twenty-five years.
The number of tourists who visited the Brighton Festival fluctuated
slightly but in general remained steady at about 25%. Visitors to the pier
also fluctuated from 1980 to 2000 then rose significantly from 12% to
22% between 2000 and 2010.

(163 words)
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Test Tip
If there is more than one diagram, study any heading, key or source for
each. Decide what the vertical and horizontal axes measure, and what
the bars show. Look for similarities, differences, changes and trends.

Sometimes in the exam you can be asked to write about a graph with
future trend. You should write your answer in the same way as before,
but instead of using the past simple, change the grammar and use future
tenses.

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

The graphs below provide information on global population figures

and figures for urban populations in different world regions.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main

features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.
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Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_population

Model answer

The first graph shows the trend in world population growth between
1800 and 2100, while the second graph gives predicted urban
population figures for the next 25 years.

The world population has experienced continuous growth since 1800.

Between 1800 and 1950, the population grew slowly from just under 1
billion to 2.5 billion people. After that, the growth rate increased and
currently the figure is around 6.5 billion. Projections show a continued
increase in population in the near future, but a steady decline in the
population growth rate. The global population is expected to peak at 8.2
billion by 2050, and then decline to around 6.2 billion by 2100.
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The predictions also show that almost all urban population growth in the
next 25 years will occur in cities of developing countries. In developed
regions, on the other hand, the urban population is expected to remain
unchanged at about 1.3 billion people over the next two decades.
The graphs show that the global population increase will not occur
evenly throughout the world, but will be greater in some areas than
others.

(180 words)

Improve your English writing skills

Use the present perfect tense when describing a trend that began in the
past and is still continuing. Sentences like this may include since. For
example:

The global population has grown from 1 billion in 1800 to 7 billion in

2012.

Remember how to form the present perfect:

SUBJECT + has/have + PAST PARTICIPLE