A.

Introduction: (2 sentences) describe the purpose of the report and say what overall trends you see

Sentences 1: Use one of the following four prompts to help you write the first sentence

Form of the graphic Verb + NP

information
The line/bar graph shows/ illustrates/ describes information what, who, when,
The pie chart gives/ provides/ reveals/ presents about, data about, where
The table compares/ summarizes differences
between,
similarities,
trends in, results
of, numbers,
percentages of,
figures ...

Replace words in the general statement with synonyms or paraphrases where you can: e.g. sales/ purchases of
different cars, sales/ purchases of private vehicles, the number of various types of cars sold/purchased, the
number of various types of cars sold/purchased, car sales/purchases

e.g. The graph illustrates the trends in purchases of private vehicles

Sentences 2: Describe the general trends: Generally/ Overall/ It is clear that/ From the graph it is
clearly seen that/ As can be shown by the graph …. is/was upwards/downwards/flat or (sales)
rose/fell/remained flat/fluctuated…
Or describe the relationship between the two graphs or introduce the number of information groups
 Use the appropriate verb tense:
- simple present for the introduction
- simple past for data in the past
- simple future for data in the future or: It is predicted that/ it is estimated that/ it is projected that/ it is
anticipated that … will
numbers are forecast/ estimated / projected/ anticipated/ predicted/ expected to + infinitive

e.g. The bar chart below shows the results of a survey conducted by a personnel department at a major company. The
survey was carried out on two groups of workers: those aged from 18-30 and those aged 45-60, and shows factors
affecting their work performance.

1
The bar chart indicates a survey on two different age groups on the factors contributing to make their environment
pleasant for working. These factors are divided into external and internal factors. The internal factors are team spirit,
competent boss, respect from colleagues and job satisfaction. The external factors are chance for personal development,
job security, promotional prospects and money.

e.g. The line graph below shows the number of annual visits to Australia by overseas residents

The given line graph illustrates information on the number of overseas visitors traveling to Australia in millions of
people. Overall, one notable trend seems to be that Australia has steadily become more popular as a destination
spot.

B. Body: describe the most important trends, while all information is summarized to avoid unnecessary
details
1. Divide the information into broad/general groups/ categories or trends (topic sentence): notice how
many distinctive features diagram has and divide information into paragraphs, one paragraph for one
feature= one group.
namely, in terms of, as regards/with regard to/regarding/ in the case of/ as for/ turning to.
Where …. is concerned, it …
When it comes to …, it …

2. Describe the main or most striking/significant/noticeable/outstanding/remarkable feature/

characteristics/ differences/trends/changes.
You need to write about all the periods of time and all the subjects of graph (years: 1992, 1994…, men and
women). The secret here is to select what is important, organize it, compare and contrast.
3. It is important to always back up key information with supporting evidence in the form of data/statistics/
examples.

Between 1990 and 2000, there was a significant increase in the number of internet users in Australia, from 2 to
3 million – a rise of 50%.
Supporting evidence
statement significant increase in the number of internet users
supporting data between 1990 and 2000; from 2 to 3 million
understanding a rise of 50%.

Describing trends: use a variety of structures, vocabulary, and participle clauses (… fell… before rising, …
fell… after rising…, … followed by…)

Subject Adjective Noun Period of time

There was a slight increase in the number of car thefts
slow rise from 2002 till 2007
steady climb between 2002 and 2007
gradual decrease from 1920 onwards
2
 significant decline since 2004
considerable fall in 2006
dramatic drop over the month/ week /decade/year
sharp growth
noticeable
marked
doubling
tripling + in + NP
leveling off

Subject Verb Adverb Period of time

The figure increased (by/ to) slightly from 2002 till 2007
The number of … rose slowly between 2002 and 2007
Car thefts climbed steadily since 2004
decreased gradually in 2006
declined significantly over the
fell considerably month/week/decade/year
dropped dramatically
improved sharply
recovered noticeably
went down
went up twofold
grew threefold
plummeted fourfold
= plunged= fall quickly
fluctuated (wildly)= to be erratic=
experience fluctuations
doubled
trebled
levelled of
remained the same at= remained constant at= stay at= remained stable at= hover around
reached a peak/plateau at= peaked at= hit a peak= come top= maintain its lead
reached a bottom

Describing the Speed of a Change

Adjectives Adverbs

Rapid rapidly
Quick quickly
Swift swiftly
Sudden suddenly
Steady steadily
Gradual gradually
Slow slowly

Pie charts: account for, represent, make up

3
  Comparing data: it is essential to compare and contrast data in the graph by using some of the
following:
- Equality/comparative/superlative: (not/twice) as…as, (slightly/significantly)more/less … than, the (most)
- Rather than
- As against/as opposed to/ compared with/ in comparison with
- In (sharp) contrast to/ Increased by 155, to 155, fourfold
To quote from the results of the survey, you can use:

- … percent quoted/cited/mentioned/considered … as important …

- was quoted/cited/mentioned/considered as the most/least important factor by …
- came top/bottom/second/next, followed closely by … at and …, respectively.

 Contrasting data:
While The number of European migrants tripled, while that of people from Asian
countries remained steady
Whereas During the next decade, immigration from Europe rose rapidly from
20000 to 50000, whereas the number of Asian migrants did not change
Although Although the percentage of unemployed males is not that high, the female
rate is well over 15%
However, on the other hand The percentage of unemployed males is not that high. However, the
female rate is well over 15%
In contrast/ conversely/despite Immigration from Asian countries rose steadily from approximately 5000
this to 50000. In contrast, there was only a slight increase in European
migration. Despite this, the number of Europeans was greater than that of
migrants from Asian countries.

c.Conclusion: sum up the global trends shown on the figure (no personal appearance)

 Connecting sentences:
A. for movements in the same direction, use ‘then’ , ‘and’, ‘then continued its upward/downward trend
more…’
Disconnected sentences:
After that it rose gradually to 5000 by 1952. And then it went up to 15000 by 1954.
Connected sentences:
After that it rose gradually to 5000 by 1952, then more steeply to 15000 by 1954.
After that it rose gradually to 5000 by 1952 then continued its upward trend more steeply to 15000 by 1954.

B. for contrasting movements, use ‘but’

Disconnected sentences:
It rose to 35000 by 1960. after that it fell to 12000 by 1962.
Connected sentences:
It rose to 35000 by 1960 but later fell to 12000 by 1962.

C. use connectives with NP: which was followed by, which led to, which preceded
Disconnected sentences:
There was a fall to 60000 by 1968. then an increase to 80000 by 1980.
Connected sentences:
There was a fall to 60000 by 1968 which was followed by an increase to 80000 by 1980.
which led to an increase to 80000 by 1980.
which preceded an increase to 80000 by 1980
4
 PROCESS
HOW TO START:
The diagram/picture/chart shows/illustrate/describe/depicts the process of/ how, procedure of…

HOW TO DESCRIBE A PROCESS:

Describe every stage of the process one by one, connect the stages by using linking words.

VOCABULARY:
 Useful connecting words you can use are:
- Adverbs: first/firstly/first of all/ to begin with, secondly, thirdly, then, next, after that, following that,
following on from this, subsequently, subsequent to that, at the same time, finally.
- Prepositions: at the beginning of …, at the end of …
- Conjunctions to make complex sentences:
When/once/as soon as/ immediately
Before/ after + clause/gerund
Where/ from where/ after which
The first/next/final step/phase/ stage is/ involves …
After this step…
Once this step is completed…
Following this, …
TENSE AND VOICE:
- use the present simple to describe the processes
- use the passive voice if the process is describing something being made, e.g. the book is printed and
then collated, after which it is bound.
- Use the active voice when you describe something which is happening (natural process), e.g. the
moisture evaporates and condenses on the…
CONCLUSION: the cycle then repeats itself/ is then repeated.

MAP
VOCABULARY:

In the centre of/ next to/ adjacent to

Built/erected/replaced/constructed
Situated/located
Changed into/added/gave way to/ became/ made way for/ converted
Saw/ witnessed considerable changes/developments

5
6
7
8
9
Graph52:

51:

50:

43:

10
  Useful
expressions of time:
(in) the period from – to/ (in) the period between and/ in the first/last three months of the year/ over the period
– to/ over the next years/ decades/ quarter of a century etc./ over a ten year period/ throughout the 19th century/
from that time on/ after that/ in the 1980s

11