IELTS ACADEMIC WRITING TASK 1
- TREND LANGUAGE -
When a graph or chart appears in IELTS Writing Task 1, it will either compare data at the same point in
time or show trends over a period of time. A trend is a general development or a change in a situation.
Look at the graphs and charts. Then choose the correct descriptions.
1.
o This chart compares the number of
visitors to five different holiday
destinations in Mexico at the same
point in time.
o This chart shows the number of
visitors to five different holiday
destinations in Mexico over a period
of time.
2.
o This graph compares the populations
of five different cities in the world at
the same time.
o This graph compares the populations
of five different cities in the world
over a period of time.
3.
o This chart shows the numbers of
different types of animal in the
Maasai Mara National Reserve in
Kenya at the same point in time.
o This chart shows the numbers of
different types of animal in the
Maasai Mara National Reserve in
Kenya over a period of time.
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4.
o This chart compares the ages of the
population of Ireland at the same
point in time.
o This chart compares the ages of the
population of Ireland over a period
of time.
I. TREND LANGUAGE
v TABLE 1: Verbs and nouns for describing trends and changes
TRENDS VERBS NOUNS
↗ ● increase ● an increase
an upward trend ● rise ● a rise
● grow ● a growth
↘ ● decrease ● a decrease
a downward trend ● decline ● a decline
● fall ● a fall
→ ● level off ● no change
● remain stable
• peak at X • reach a peak of X
• bottom out at X • hit a low of X
• fluctuate • fluctuations
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v TABLE 2: Adjectives and adverbs for the degrees/ speeds of change
DEGREE Adjectives Adverbs
Big change ● dramatic ● dramatically
● significant ● significantly
● considerable ● considerably
Small change ● slight ● slightly
SPEED Adjectives Adverbs
Quick change ● rapid ● rapidly
● quick ● quickly
Slow change ● steady ● steadily
● gradual ● gradually
v Sentence structures for describing trends
● Structure 1:
Subject Verb Adverb (degree) Time period
(TABLE 1) (TABLE 2)
The consumption of pizza increased dramatically between 1975 and 2000.
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= The amount of pizza consumed rose significantly
grew considerably
● Structure 2:
There to a/ Adjective Noun in + Subject Time period
be an
There was a dramatic increase in the from 1975 to
significant rise consumption of 2000
growth pizza
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Exercise 2 – Rewrite sentences into a different structure.
a. The development of new products fell gradually.
There was ____________________________________________________________________.
b. There has been a considerable increase in research investment.
Research investment ____________________________________________________________.
c. The purchases of tickets dropped significantly last month.
There was ____________________________________________________________________.
d. On the Internet, the number of sites rose dramatically.
There was ____________________________________________________________________.
e. There was a slight decrease in the sale of mangos.
The sale ______________________________________________________________________.
f. There was a rapid decline in sugar imports.
Sugar imports _________________________________________________________________.
g. The quality of food in supermarkets has increased slowly.
There was ________________________________________________________________.
h. The number of air travellers has risen significantly.
There was ________________________________________________________________.
II. USING PREPOSITIONS TO ADD NUMERICAL DATA
When describing an increase or a decrease or a particular point, we can specify the change by adding
numerical data form the graph.
We use “from ..... to......” to describe the starting and ending point of an increase or decrease. v
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Example:
- The unemployment rate increased from 7% to 10% last year. (7% - starting point, 10% - end point)
- There was an increase in the unemployment rate from 7% to 10%.
We use “by” and “of” to describe the difference between two levels. We use “by” with verbs (e.g.
“increase by”) and use of with nouns (e.g “an increase of”)
Example:
- Unemployment increased by 3% last year.
- There was an increase of 3% in the unemployment rate.
ØExercise - Complete sentences 1-5 about global warming with prepositions in the box
