Topic: The graph below gives information about U.S.

government spending on research

between 1980 and 2008.

Steps to Approach Line Chart Task 1:

1. Understand the Chart:
Analyze the X-axis and Y-axis: Identify the time frame (years, months, etc.) on the X-axis and the
variables (percentage, number, etc.) on the Y-axis.
Identify Key Trends: Look for patterns, such as increasing or decreasing trends, fluctuations, or
plateaus.
Compare Data: Pay attention to significant changes, peaks, and valleys for each category represented
in the line chart.
Highlight Differences and Similarities: Observe which lines behave similarly or differently over
time.
2. Plan Your Writing:
Introduction: Paraphrase the information provided in the task statement.
Overview: Provide a general summary of the main trends or features. Do not mention specific data
points here.
Body Paragraph 1: Focus on the first set of significant trends (e.g., lines that show increases).
Body Paragraph 2: Describe another set of trends (e.g., lines that show decreases or fluctuations).
3. Writing the Response:
Introduction:
Simply restate the information in the question in your own words.
Use synonyms and change the sentence structure.
Overview:
Provide a broad description of the trends without getting into details.
Focus on the overall movement of the data (increases, decreases, stable points, etc.).
Body Paragraphs:
Mention specific data points, but avoid listing every figure.
Compare categories over time, grouping data logically (e.g., similarities in trends).
Use a variety of structures for comparing and contrasting.
Lexical Resource for Line Chart Task 1:
Useful Verbs for Describing Trends:
Increase: rise, grow, go up, climb, surge, escalate
Decrease: fall, drop, decline, go down, decrease, plunge, dip
Fluctuation: fluctuate, vary, zigzag
Stability: remain stable, remain constant, plateau, level off, stagnate
Adverbs and Adjectives for Describing Trends:
Rapid Change: sharply, significantly, dramatically, substantially, steeply
Slow Change: gradually, steadily, slightly, marginally, minimally
High/Low Points: peak, reach a high/low, bottom out, hit a low, top out
Comparative and Contrasting Structures:
“In contrast to…”
“Whereas the figure for…”
“While the number of X increased, Y remained constant.”
“Both X and Y followed a similar trend.”
“X showed a much sharper increase compared to Y.”
Sample Line Chart Description:
Task Statement:
The line chart below shows the percentage of tourists visiting four different attractions in a city from
2000 to 2020.
Sample Response:
Introduction: The line chart illustrates the proportion of tourists who visited four distinct
tourist attractions in a city between the years 2000 and 2020.
Overview: Overall, the percentage of tourists visiting the zoo and museum experienced a
significant increase over the period, while visits to the beach fluctuated. Conversely, the
proportion of visitors to the park steadily declined.
Body Paragraph 1: In 2000, the zoo attracted the least number of tourists, with just 15%.
However, this figure rose consistently throughout the years, reaching a peak of 60% in 2020. A
similar upward trend can be observed in museum visits, which started at 25% and gradually
increased to 50% by the end of the period.
Body Paragraph 2: On the other hand, the park saw a steady decrease in its visitor numbers.
Beginning at 45% in 2000, it dropped sharply to just 10% in 2020. Tourist visits to the beach,
however, fluctuated over the 20 years. Starting at 40%, it dipped to 25% in 2005 before rising
again and stabilizing around 35% towards 2020.
Opening Sentences Examples:
"The line chart provides information about the changes in the percentage of tourists who visited four
popular attractions in a city over a 20-year period."
"The graph illustrates the information in the proportion ____________________________
Overview Sentences Examples:
"Overall, while the zoo and museum experienced a steady rise in tourist visits, the park saw a
gradual decline, and the beach showed fluctuating figures."
"In general, the majority of tourists increasingly visited the zoo and museum, whereas the park's
popularity steadily waned, with the beach showing no clear pattern."
Paraphrase the question:
"The line graph illustrates/shows/compares..."
"The graph gives information about..."
"The chart depicts the changes in..."
Overview (General trend):
Summarize the main trends:
"Overall, it can be seen that..."
"It is noticeable that..."
"In general, the most significant feature is..."
Body paragraphs (Details):
Describing trends (upward):
"The number/amount of... increased/rose/climbed/grew steadily/sharply/gradually..."
"There was a significant/steady/gradual increase in..."
"The figure went up from X to Y between (year/time period)..."
Describing trends (downward):
"The number/amount of... fell/dropped/declined/decreased..."
"There was a slight/sharp decline in..."
"It experienced a fall/decrease from X to Y over the period..."
Describing fluctuations:
"The number/amount of... fluctuated/went up and down between..."
"There were wild/constant fluctuations in..."
"The figure saw an erratic pattern of change..."
Describing stability:
"The number/amount of... remained stable/constant throughout the period."
"There was no significant change in the number/amount ofs..."
"It stayed unchanged/steady at X..."
Describing highest/lowest points:
"The number/amount of... peaked/reached a peak at X in (year)..."
"It hit a low of X in (year)..."
"The highest/lowest point was recorded in..."
Comparing data:
"Compared to... the number/amount of... was higher/lower..."
"In contrast to... the figures for... were..."
Time phrases:
"During the period from (year) to (year)..."
"Over the period of... years..."
"Between (year) and (year)..."
How to Describe Bar Charts in IELTS Writing Task 1:
Column charts (also called bar charts) typically show comparisons between different categories or
groups over time. The goal is to describe trends, compare data, and highlight any significant
changes.

Step-by-Step Guide:
1. Introduction:
 Paraphrase the information provided in the question.
 Mention what the column chart represents (e.g., categories, data over time).
2. Overview:
 Summarize the key features of the chart.
 Focus on general trends, the largest/smallest values, or any patterns in the data.
3. Body Paragraphs:
 Divide the chart description logically into two paragraphs, either by grouping similar
categories or describing each set of data.
 Highlight increases, decreases, or fluctuations in the data.
 Mention specific figures or percentages when comparing categories or time periods.
 Use comparative language to describe differences between the categories.
4. Conclusion (Optional):
 Summarize the main findings, though this is optional in Task 1.
 The bar chart illustrates the contribution of three sectors—agriculture, industry, and services—to
India's gross domestic product (GDP) over a 40-year period from 1960 to 2000.

Overview:
Overall, there was a clear shift in India's economic structure during this time. While agriculture was
the dominant sector in 1960, its contribution decreased significantly by 2000. In contrast, the
services sector experienced a sharp rise, becoming the largest contributor to GDP by the end of the
period. The industry sector showed a more moderate and stable growth.
Body Paragraph 1 (Agriculture):
In 1960, agriculture was the most significant sector, contributing around 60% to India's GDP.
However, its contribution steadily declined over the years, dropping to just over 40% in 1970, and
continuing this downward trend. By 2000, agriculture accounted for less than 20% of GDP, showing
a drastic reduction.
Body Paragraph 2 (Industry and Services):
The industry sector contributed around 20% to GDP in 1960, and this figure remained relatively
stable until 1980. From 1980 onward, the industry’s contribution saw a slight increase, reaching just
under 30% by 2000.
Meanwhile, the services sector grew considerably over time. It accounted for just under 20% of
GDP in 1960, but this percentage climbed consistently. By 2000, the services sector had surpassed
both agriculture and industry, contributing around 60% to India's GDP, making it the largest
economic sector.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, the chart highlights a significant shift in India's economy from agriculture to services
over the 40-year period, with industry also gaining a slightly larger share.

The bar chart illustrates the factors influencing work performance for two age groups, those aged
18-30 and those aged 45-60, across 10 different categories.
Overview:
Overall, the factors influencing work performance differ between the two age groups. Younger
employees (18-30) place greater importance on personal development and promotion prospects,
while older employees (45-60) are more concerned with a relaxed working environment and job
security.
Body Paragraph 1 (18-30 Age Group):
For the 18-30 age group, the chance for personal development is the most important factor, with
nearly 90 respondents rating it highly. Promotion prospects are the second most significant factor,
with around 80 respondents, followed by job satisfaction and money, which are both valued by
approximately 70 individuals. Other factors such as team spirit, respect from colleagues, and job
security are considered slightly less important, with ratings between 40 and 60.
Body Paragraph 2 (45-60 Age Group):
In contrast, employees aged 45-60 prioritize a relaxed working environment, with about 80
respondents rating it as the top factor. Job security is also critical for this group, with around 70
respondents considering it important. Additionally, respect from colleagues and competent bosses
are valued by 60 to 70 respondents in this age group. Money and promotion prospects are seen as
less significant, with ratings of around 40 for promotion prospects.