English Pro Tips

How to Report and Compare Data

In this lesson, we focus on the best ways to report and compare data in our answers.

Four ways to report data

Let's look at different ways we can report this data:

1. Directly report the data:

In 2005, 11,000 Brazilian students studied abroad.

2. Statement + data in brackets:

The most significant growth was observed in Brazil (109%)

3. Statement + colon:
The most significant growth was observed in Brazil: in 2005, only 11,000 students studied
abroad, but by 2015, 23,000 students were studying overseas.

4. Directly report data + data in brackets:

Brazil experienced the most significant growth, at 109% (11,000 to 23,000 in 2005 and
2015, respectively).
Use the word
“respectively” to
Three ways to compare data include data from more
than one category
For a band 7+, it's not enough to simply report the
data; we need to make comparisons as well.

1. Comparatives and superlatives

Comparitives
In Brazil, more students went abroad in 2015 than 2005 (23,000 in 2015 compared to
11,000 in 2005).
There was a larger percentage change in Brazilian students going abroad than Chinese
students (109% and 98%, respectively).
In 2005, far more Chinese students studied abroad than Brazilian students (413,000
compared to 11,000).
Superlatives
The largest percentage change was seen in Brazil, at 109%.
The most significant growth was seen in Brazil, at 109%.
Of all of the countries, China had the most students studying abroad in 2015 (818,000).

2. Discourse markers (however, by contrast, while, etc)

In 2005, 37,000 Canadian students studied abroad. However, by 2015, this figure had
dropped to only 27,000.
In 2005, 413,000 Chinese students studied abroad. By contrast, only 11,000 Brazilian
students went abroad in the same year.
While most countries saw an increase in students going abroad, none experienced growth
to the extent of Brazil (109% between 2005 and 2015).

3. Other structures
As + adjective + as: The number of Chinese students studying abroad increased, but not
quite as much as in Brazil (98% and 109%, respectively).
Like + noun + clause: Like Brazil, China also saw an increase in the quantity of students
choosing to go abroad for further study.
The same + as: The number of students who went abroad to study from South Korea in
2015 was the same as in 2005 (107,000).
Different/ Similar to: South Korea was different to all of the other countries because the
number of students that went abroad in 2005 and 2015 stayed the same.

Inaccurate and irrelevant information

There is certain information that we should not include in our answers. In fact, including this
kind of information will lower your writing score.

Don't:
1. Speculate about the reasons for the data
“Many Brazilian students studied abroad because the economy improved and they could
afford to study overseas.”
2. Using subjective language
“Japan’s university education is the best!”
3. Report incorrect information
“All of the countries saw an increase in the number of students who went abroad between
2005 and 2015.”
Model Answer
Underline all the examples of reporting and comparing data that you can find in this answer.

The table presents differences in the number of students studying abroad from eight nations
between 2005 and 2015.

Overall, five countries experienced an increase in students studying overseas (Brazil, China,
Germany, India, US), one county did not register a change (South Korea), the remaining two
saw a decrease (Canada, Japan).

Five countries witnessed an increase: Brazil, China, Germany, India, US. The most significant
growth was observed in Brazil: in 2005, only 11,000 students studied abroad; however, by 2015
this figure had more than doubled to 23,000 (a 109% increase). A substantial increase (98%)
was also seen in China, where the number of students jumped from 413,000 to 818,000. This
made China the country with the most students studying abroad by far. A similar percentage
increase was noted in India (97% compared to China’s 98%), which represented growth from
130,000 to 256,000. The United States, which had the second-largest number of students going
abroad in 2005, grew by 49% (218,000 to 325,000 between 2005 and 2015, respectively).
Finally, Germany experienced the smallest increase between the two dates at 44% (77,000 to
111,000).

Only South Korea registered the same number of students studying abroad in 2005 as 2015
(107,000 students).

The final two countries, Canada and Japan, both saw fewer students studying abroad between
2005 and 2015. Canada’s figure decreased modestly from 29,000 to 27,00 (a 27% decrease).
However, the largest decrease was in Japan: in 2005, 84,000 Japanese students studied
abroad, by 2015 this figure had fallen by 13%.
Model Answer
The underlined parts show how we can use data in our answers.

The table presents differences in the number of students studying abroad from eight nations
between 2005 and 2015.

Overall, five countries experienced an increase in students studying overseas (Brazil, China,
Germany, India, US), one county did not register a change (South Korea), the remaining two
saw a decrease (Canada, Japan).

Five countries witnessed an increase: Brazil, China, Germany, India, US. The most significant
growth was observed in Brazil: in 2005, only 11,000 students studied abroad; however, by 2015
this figure had more than doubled to 23,000 (a 109% increase). A substantial increase (98%)
was also seen in China, where the number of students jumped from 413,000 to 818,000. This
made China the country with the most students studying abroad by far. A similar percentage
increase was noted in India (97% compared to China’s 98%), which represented growth from
130,000 to 256,000. The United States, which had the second-largest number of students going
abroad in 2005, grew by 49% (218,000 to 325,000 between 2005 and 2015, respectively).
Finally, Germany experienced the smallest increase between the two dates at 44% (77,000 to
111,000).

Only South Korea registered the same number of students studying abroad in 2005 as 2015
(107,000 students).

The final two countries, Canada and Japan, both saw fewer students studying abroad between
2005 and 2015. Canada’s figure decreased modestly from 29,000 to 27,00 (a 27% decrease).
However, the largest decrease was in Japan: in 2005, 84,000 Japanese students studied
abroad, by 2015 this figure had fallen by 13%.
English Pro Tips

Summary
1. Four useful ways to report data:
- directly reporting the data
- statement + data in brackets
- statement + colon
- directly reporting the data + data in brackets

2. Three useful ways to compare data:

- superlatives and comparatives
- discourse markers
- other structures

3. Use “respectively” to include data from more than one category

4. Don’t lose marks for irrelevant or inaccurate data

- speculating about the reasons for the data
- using subjective language
- misreporting the data

Write your own answer

to the graphic above
and see if you can
include lots of data.

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