4

5. Important notes:

- No contractions
- No “I” or “you”
- Always paraphrase where possible
- DON’T include any personal opinions
- DON’T try to include everything
- Writing an overview is a must
- Be careful of verb tenses
- Try to write 4 paragraphs

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Language of change:

To peak To plummet/plunge
To hit a peak To drop sharply
To reach a peak To fall rapidly
To decrease dramatically
To decline significantly

4 To drop gradually
To rocket/surge
To increase sharply To fall slightly
To rise rapidly To decline minimally
To climb dramatically

6
1 2 7 8

To remain the same

unchanged 5 To fluctuate
stable (wildly)

To stabilize
To level off
To remain constant
To gradually
increase slowly
rise minimally
To reach the lowest point
To hit the bottom

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The 3-paragraph structure can be applied to write a report in the first part of
the IELTS writing section.

•Paraphrase the rubric* (see how to paraphrase in page )

•Summarize the main trends or the most remarkable featres
Introduction

•Describe the main features

Detail
paragraph 1

•Describe the main features

Detail
paragraph 2

 It is important to keep in mind that writing an overview (the summary

of the main trends and the most remarkable features) is a must.
 What is “the rubric”?
Every chart, graph, table or diagram has a sentence that describes what the
info graphic is about. That sentence is called “the rubric”.
Example:
The line graph below shows the unemployment rate in Vietnam from 1990
to 2010.

18
I. Line graph

The graph below shows the consumption of fish and some different kinds of
meat in a European country between 1979 and 2004.

The line graph above illustrates the amount of fish and three other kinds of
meat namely lamb, beef and chicken that people of a European country
consumed during the period of 1979 and 2004. Overall, the consumption of
fish showed small degree of fluctuation; meanwhile, the figure for Lamb,
Beef and Chicken changed dramatically from the year of 1979 to 2004.

Starting with more than 50 grams for each individual per week in 1979, the
amount of Fish slightly declined for the next five years until 1984, followed
by fifteen years of stability. In 1999, this amount decreased a little and then
nearly remained unchanged until 2004.

20
However, Lamb and Beef consumption with very high starting points of 150
grams and more than 200 grams per person per week respectively
experienced many years of up and down and had the main tendency to
diminish up to the year of 2004. Unlike these two kinds of food, the
consumption of Chicken with a rather lower start than Lamb tended to soar
and reached its peak of more than 250 grams for each person a week in 2003
and stopped in 2004 with a small decline.

Analysis:

- The introduction

The line graph above illustrates the amount of fish and three other kinds of
meat namely lamb, beef and chicken that people of a European country
consumed during the period of 1979 and 2004. Overall, the consumption of
fish showed small degree of fluctuation; meanwhile, the figure for Lamb,
Beef and Chicken changed dramatically from the year of 1979 to 2004.

 Sentence 1: ‘The line graph above illustrates the amount of fish and
three other kinds of meat namely lamb, beef and chicken that people of a
European country consumed during the period of 1979 and 2004’ is the
paraphrase of the rubric: The graph below shows the consumption of fish
and some different kinds of meat in a European country between 1979 and
2004.

 Sentence 2: ‘Overall, the consumption of fish showed small degree of

fluctuation; meanwhile, the figure for Lamb, Beef and Chicken changed
dramatically from the year of 1979 to 2004’ is the summary of the main
trends of the four lines.

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22
- Detail paragraph 1

Starting with more than 50 grams for each individual per week in 1979, the
amount of Fish slightly declined for the next five years until 1984, followed
by fifteen years of stability. In 1999, this amount decreased a little and then
nearly remained unchanged until 2004.

 Describe how the consumption of Fish changed over the given period.
- Detail paragraph 2

However, Lamb and Beef consumption with very high starting points of 150
grams and more than 200 grams per person per week respectively
experienced many years of up and down and had the main tendency to
diminish up to the year of 2004. Unlike these two kinds of food, the
consumption of Chicken with a rather lower start than Lamb tended to soar
and reached its peak of more than 250 grams for each person a week in
2003 and stopped in 2004 with a small decline.

 Describe how the consumption of the other types of food over the
given period

 Note:
- Don’t give numbers in the summary sentence
- Try not to describe the lines separately. Try to make comparisons
where possible.
- Use past tenses for past years, and use future tenses for future
years.
- Don’t use the passive, continuous or perfect tenses.

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II. Pie chart

The charts below show the comparison of some kinds of energy production
of France in 2 years.

The pie charts compare 5 different types of energy sources, namely coal, gas,
petrol, nuclear and other, of France in 1995 and 2005. It is clear that gas and
coal made up the same and also the biggest proportion of energy production
in both examined years; and remarkably, the amount of energy produced
from petro decreased in 2005 in comparison with the increase in the use of
nuclear and other sources.

In 1995, both gas and coal occupied approximately 29% of the French total
energy production. After 10 years, there was a slight rise in those figures to
just under 31%.

26
Roughly 29% of the entire amount of energy in France came from petro in
1995. However, up to the year of 2005, that figure considerably declined be
about 10%. Meanwhile, the use of nuclear and other materials to generate
energy became more popular, from 6.4 % and nearly 5% in 1995 to around
10% and 9% in 2005 respectively.

Analysis

- The introduction

The pie charts compare 5 different types of energy sources, namely coal,
gas, petrol, nuclear and other, of France in 1995 and 2005. It is clear that
gas and coal made up the same and also the biggest proportion of energy
production in both examined years; and remarkably, the amount of energy
produced from petro decreased in 2005 in comparison with the increase in
the use of nuclear and other sources.

 Sentence 1: ‘The pie charts compare 5 different types of energy

sources, namely coal, gas, petrol, nuclear and other, of France in 1995 and
2005’ is the paraphrase of the rubric: The charts below show the comparison
of some kinds of energy production of France in 2 years.

 Sentence 2: ‘It is clear that gas and coal made up the same and also
the biggest proportion of energy production in both examined years; and
remarkably, the amount of energy produced from petro decreased in 2005
in comparison with the increase in the use of nuclear and other sources’ is
the summary of the most remarkable features.

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- Detail paragraph 1

In 1995, both gas and coal occupied approximately 29% of the French total
energy production. After 10 years, there was a slight rise in those figures to
just under 31%.

 Describe some main features of the pies

- Detail paragraph 2

Roughly 29% of the entire amount of energy in France came from petro in
1995. However, up to the year of 2005, that figure considerably declined be
about 10%. Meanwhile, the use of nuclear and other materials to generate
energy became more popular, from 6.4 % and nearly 5% in 1995 to around
10% and 9% in 2005 respectively.

 Describe some main features of the pies

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III. Bar chart

The chart below indicates the number of people who have heart attacks
every year in the US.

The chart gives data about the differences in the annual number of men and
women of three age groups who suffer from heart attacks in the USA. It is
clear that as people grow older, the risk for heart attack increases; and it can
also be seen from the chart that heart attacks often happen to men rather
than women.

At the age of 29 to 44, 123 thousand female patients have heart attacks,
while the figure for women is only 3 thousand. Remarkably, from 45 to 64
years old, there are 424 thousand men who undergo heart attacks and 136
thousand was the number of women suffering from the same medical
situation.

29
440 thousand men are recorded to have heart attacks when they reach their
65 or higher while the figure for women of the same age is only 374
thousand.

Analysis

- The introduction
The chart gives data about the differences in the annual number of men
and women of three age groups who suffer from heart attacks in the USA.
It is clear that as people grow older, the risk for heart attack increases; and
it can also be seen from the chart that heart attacks often happen to men
rather than women.
 Sentence 1: ‘The chart gives data about the differences in the annual
number of men and women of three age groups who suffer from heart
attacks in the USA’ is the paraphrase of the rubric: ‘The chart below
indicates the number of people who have heart attacks every year in the
US’

 Sentence 2: ‘It is clear that as people grow older, the risk for heart
attack increases; and it can also be seen from the chart that heart attacks
often happen to men rather than women’ is the summary of the most
remarkable features
- Detail paragraph 1
At the age of 29 to 44, 123 thousand female patients have heart attacks,
while the figure for women is only 3 thousand. Remarkably, from 45 to 64
years old, there are 424 thousand men who undergo heart attacks and 136
thousand was the number of women suffering from the same medical
situation.

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 Describe some main features
- Detail paragraph 2
440 thousand men are recorded to have heart attacks when they reach
their 65 or higher while the figure for women of the same age is only 374
thousand.
 Describe some main features

31
IV. Table

The table below shows the sales at a small restaurant in a downtown

business district in 2010.

The table gives data about the profit that a restaurant in a business area
made from 2 main meals during the second week of October in the year of
2010. It can be seen that the sales from dinner were much higher than those
from lunch during the examined period.

From Monday to Friday, the profit was the lowest on Thursday, at only 2375$
in comparison with the highest figure on Wednesday, at nearly 2600$.
Meanwhile, customers spent the least amount of 3623 $ on dinner on
Monday compared to the other days of the week and 4350$ on Friday, which
was the highest number in the category.

At the weekend, the difference in the sales between lunch and dinner was
almost 1000 $. While the money gained from lunch on Saturday was only
1950 $, the figure for dinner was 2900$. Diners coming to the restaurant on
Sunday spent 1550 $ and 2450 $ for lunch and dinner respectively.

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Analysis

- The introduction

The table gives data about the profit that a restaurant in a business area
made from 2 main meals during the second week of October in the year of
2010. It can be seen that the sales from dinner were much higher than
those from lunch during the examined period.

 Sentence 1: ‘The table gives data about the profit that a restaurant
in a business area made from 2 main meals during the second week of
October in the year of 2010’ is the paraphrase of the rubric: ‘The table below
shows the sales at a small restaurant in a downtown business district in
2010’

 Sentence 2: ‘It can be seen that the sales from dinner were much
higher than those from lunch during the examined period’ is the summary
of the most remarkable feature.

- Detail paragraph 1

From Monday to Friday, the profit was the lowest on Thursday, at only
2375$ in comparison with the highest figure on Wednesday, at nearly
2600$. Meanwhile, customers spent the least amount of 3623 $ on dinner
on Monday compared to the other days of the week and 4350$ on Friday,
which was the highest number in the category.

- Detail paragraph 2

At the weekend, the difference in the sales between lunch and dinner was
almost 1000 $. While the money gained from lunch on Saturday was only
1950 $, the figure for dinner was 2900$. Diners coming to the restaurant on
Sunday spent 1550 $ and 2450 $ for lunch and dinner respectively.

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V. Mixed

Some students find this mixed type (usually 2 different graphs or charts)
difficult to describe. However, this particular type of info graphic is quite
easy. The structure of the report would be as follows:

• Paraphrase the rubric

The
introduction

• Sentence 1: The most remarkable feature of the first graph/chart

• Sentence 2: The most remarkable feature of the second
The
summary graph/chart

• Describe the main features of the first graph/chart

Detail
paragraph 1

• Describe the main features of the second graph/chart

Detail
paragraph 2

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VI. Maps

A map usually show changes of some given place in 2 different periods of

time (a village, a city, a building …)

• Paraphrase the rubric

The
introduction
• Indicate the biggest change

• Describe the main differences in 2

Detail
paragraph 1
given periods of times

• Describe the main differences in 2

Detail
paragraph 2
given periods of times

35
VII. Process

There are 2 common types of processes: How something is made and life
cycle. Both of these types can be written in the following structure:

• Paraphrase the rubric

• The first step/stage-> through how many steps/stages ->
The
introduction the final step/stage

• Describe in detail the steps in the diagram

Detail
paragraph 1

• Describe in detail the steps in the diagram

Detail
paragraph 2

 Note:
- In paragraphs 2 and 3, describe the process step by step, including
the first and final step/stage mentioned in the summary sentence but in
more detail.
- Describe all the steps/stages illustrated in the diagram
- Use language of sequence to describe steps/stages: First/Second,
The first step/stage is…, next, then, after that etc.
- Use the present simple tense.
- When describing how something is made, use the passive voice.

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