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Writing a Graph Description

The document provides a structured approach to writing a graph description, including how to introduce the graph, give an overview of trends, and present detailed information. It emphasizes the importance of using appropriate tenses based on the data's timeframe and offers examples for clarity. The content is aimed at helping individuals effectively communicate the information presented in various types of graphs.

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delyana eb
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6 views

Writing a Graph Description

The document provides a structured approach to writing a graph description, including how to introduce the graph, give an overview of trends, and present detailed information. It emphasizes the importance of using appropriate tenses based on the data's timeframe and offers examples for clarity. The content is aimed at helping individuals effectively communicate the information presented in various types of graphs.

Uploaded by

delyana eb
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 15

UNIT 4

WRITING A
GRAPH
DESCRIPTION
How to describe a graph:
Introduce the graph 1
Give an overview 2
Give the details 3

https://www.ieltsbuddy.com/ielts-academic-writing-
task-1.html
3
3
1 Introduce the graph
You need to begin with one or two sentences that
state what the task shows. To do this, paraphrase
the title of the graph, making sure you put in a
time frame if there is one.

Example: The line graph compares the


fast food consumption of teenagers in
Australia between 1975 and 2000, a
period of 25 years.
3
1 Introduce the graph
The graph/table/pie chart/bar chart/diagram
...
 gives information about/on ...
 provides information about/on ...
 shows ...
 illustrates ... The expression that
 compares ... you can use
 explains why ...
 describes ...
 draws the conclusion of (a survey) ...
2 Give an overview

You also need to state what the main trend or


trends in the graph are. Don’t give detail such
as data here – you are just looking for
something that describes what is happening
overall.

You may sometimes see this overview as


a conclusion.
2 Give an overview

EXAMPLE: Overall, the consumption of


fish and chips declined over the period,
whereas the amount of pizza and
hamburgers that were eaten increased.

Overall/in general, there is an upward trend in...


The major trend in this graph is …
There are two major trends.
Give the details
give more specific detail in the body
paragraphs.

Use vocabulary from your GAC 008


Student’s Manual. Page 115-116
EXAMPLE FOR THE FIRST BODY
PARAGRAPH

In 1975, the most popular fast food with Australian


teenagers was fish and chips, being eaten 100 times a
year. This was far higher than Pizza and hamburgers,
which were consumed approximately 5 times a year.
However, apart from a brief rise again from 1980 to
1985, the consumption of fish and chips gradually
declined over the 25 year timescale to finish at just
under 40.
EXAMPLE FOR THE SECOND BODY
PARAGRAPH

In sharp contrast to this, teenagers ate the other two


fast foods at much higher levels. Pizza consumption
increased gradually until it overtook the consumption
of fish and chips in 1990. It then levelled off from 1995
to 2000. The biggest rise was seen in hamburgers as
the occasions they were eaten increased sharply
throughout the 1970’s and 1980’s, exceeding that of
fish and chips in 1985. It finished at the same level
that fish and chips began, with consumption at 100
times a year.
TENSE

https://preply.com/en/blog/how-to-describe-graphs-in-
english/
When you look at the graph, ask yourself these
questions:

 Is this data from the past, present,


or future?
 Does this graph represent the same
point in time?
 Is this graph predicting the future?
Let’s take a look at these bar
13
charts:
Bar chart 1 shows data from the past, so we would use the
English past simple. For example, “Sales of SUVs increased
between 2005 and 2015, then dropped by 2020.”

Bar chart 2 shows data from the past and present, so we


would use the English present perfect. For example, “Sales of
trucks have slowly risen since 2020.”

Bar chart 3 shows data predictions for the future, so we would


use the English future simple. For example, “We expect sales of
vans will decrease starting in 2025.”
15

THANK
YOU

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