1. Graphs & Tables

2. Writing task 1: Describing facts & figures
Test ability to interpret & present inf.
Present inf. In your own words
Don’t give opinion, make assumptions or draw conclusions

3. Inf. In task 1 is presented:
A line graph
A bar or pie chart
A table of information
A diagram of stages of a process or procedure
A sequence of events
A picture of an object showing how it works

4. How to write Think first Ask questions Purposes?
Changes have occurred over time?
Significant trends?
Most interesting feature?
Image Source: Line Graph Sales

5. Introduction Description Conclusion 2. Then write How to write
Image Source: Line Graph Sales

6. Paraphrase the description in 1 or 2 sent.
How to write
2. Then write
Introduction
Paraphrase the description in 1 or 2 sent.
Don’t copy it.
Image Source: Line Graph Sales

7. Focus on trends & interesting points
Description
Focus on trends & interesting points
Describe the most significant data first
2. Then write
How to write
Image Source: Line Graph Sales

8. Give example to support trends
Description
Give example to support trends
Use statistics accurately
Image Source: Line Graph Sales

9. Do not have to be a separate paragraph
Conclusion
Do not have to be a separate paragraph
A single sentence can be round off your report.
Include comment/opinion/interesting observation
Image Source: Line Graph Sales

10. Writing the introductory sentence: use your own words
Type of chart
Appropriate verb
Description
The
illustration
graph
pie chart
bar chart
table
shows
illustrates
presents
reveals
describes
gives
the number of ….
the proportion…
information on …
data on …
the percentage of …
the rate of …
Writing the introductory sentence: use your own words

11. HOW TO START For single bar graph
Given is a figure concerning (what, who, when, where). As is illustrated by the graph… (describe main trends here).
For multiple bar graphs
A glance at the two figures provided reveals (what, who, when, where). As is shown by the graph … (describe main trends here).

12. To avoid plagiarism, change the words
Example: The two pie charts show the proportion of males and females in employment in six categories. The two pie charts give the proportion of men and women employed in six areas.

13. To avoid plagiarism, change the structure
Example: The two pie charts show the proportion of males and females in employment in six categories. The two pie charts give, in six broad areas, the proportion of men and women employed.

14. Writing the body: start your descriptions with:
It is clear from the graph/ table that
It can be seen from the graph/ table
As the graph/ table shows,
As can be seen from the graph/ table,
As is shown by the graph/ table,
As is illustrated by the graph/table,
From the graph/ table it is clear …

15. Warnings:
1. Avoid using the phrase: According to the graph, …. 2. Expressions do not contain the dummy subject “It” As can be seen from the graph/ table, As is shown by the graph/ table, As is illustrated by the graph/table, 3. The word “present” requires a summarizing noun to follow. The graph presents an overview of the population growth of Asia in the last 20 years.

16. Language use
1. Describing trends: Numeric items: population, production volumes, unemployment
Image Source: Business Graph
Image Source: qpeak
Image Source: Rise and Fall Graph

17. Language use
2. Expressing movement: Nouns There was a fall in unemployment levels Verbs Unemployment levels fell
Image Source: Rise and Fall Graph

18. Language use
2. Expressing movement:
Verbs Rose (to) Increased (to) Went up (to) Climbed (to) Boomed
Nouns A rise An increase Growth An upward trend A boom (a dramatic rise)
Image Source: Business Graph

19. Language use
2. Expressing movement:
Verbs Develop Double Gain Jump Escalate Accelerate
Nouns A development A double A gain A jump
Image Source: Business Graph

20. Language use
2. Expressing movement:
Verbs Fell (to) Declined (to) Decreased (to) Dipped (to) Dropped (to) Went down (to) Slumped (to) Reduced (to)
Nouns A fall A decline A decrease A drop A slump (a dramatic fall) A reduction
Image Source: Rise and Fall Graph

21. 2. Expressing movement: Nouns
Language use
2. Expressing movement:
Nouns
Verbs Lower (to) Diminish (to) Shrink (to) Slow down (to) Lessen (to)
Image Source: Rise and Fall Graph

22. 2. Expressing movement: Nouns A leveling out No change
Language use
2. Expressing movement:
Nouns A leveling out No change
Verbs Leveled out (at) Did not change Remained stable (at) Remained steady (at) Stayed constant (at) Maintained the same level
Image Source: qpeak

23. Language use
2. Expressing movement:
Nouns A fluctuation Reached a peak (of) Reached at plateau (at)
Verbs Fluctuated (around) Varied Peaked (at) Plateaued (at) Stood at (focus on a particular point, before mentioning the movement)
Image Source: up and down linegraph

24. Language use
2. Describing the movement: Adjectives & Adverbs There has been a slight increase in the value of the dollar. -> the degree of change Unemployment fell rapidly last year. -> the speed of change

25. 2. Describing degree of change of the movement:
Language use
2. Describing degree of change of the movement:
Adjectives
Adverbs
Dramatic Sharp Huge Enormous Steep Substantial
Dramatically Sharply Enormously Steeply Substantially
Image Source: Rise and Fall Graph

26. 2. Describing degree of change of the movement:
Language use
2. Describing degree of change of the movement:
Adjectives
Adverbs
Considerable Significant Marked
Considerably Significantly Markedly
Image Source: Rise and Fall Graph

27. 2. Describing degree of change of the movement:
Language use
2. Describing degree of change of the movement:
Adjectives
Adverbs
Moderate
Moderately
Image Source: Business Graph

28. 2. Describing degree of change of the movement:
Language use
2. Describing degree of change of the movement:
Adjectives
Adverbs
Slight Small Minimal
Slightly Minimally
Image Source: qpeak

29. 2. Describing the speed of change of the movement:
Language use
2. Describing the speed of change of the movement:
Adjectives
Adverbs
Rapid Quick Swift Sudden
Rapidly Quickly Swiftly Suddenly
Image Source: Rise and Fall Graph

30. 2. Describing the speed of change of the movement:
Language use
2. Describing the speed of change of the movement:
Adjectives
Adverbs
Steady Gradual
Steadily Gradually
Image Source: Business Graph

31. Other Verbs
experience
make up
consist of
constitute
comprise
amount to
equal
account for
represent
include
record
become
stand at

32. Other Verbs The number of unemployed was 10% of the population.
The percentage of women in the workforce was higher than in the previous year.
Women made up/ constituted a significant percentage of the workforce.
Food and garden materials comprise nearly half of all household waste.

33. Verbs
Paper and cardboard amounted to 2l% of the total household waste.
The population of Asia stood at 21 million at the turn of the century.
Fossil fuel emissions account for the majority of greenhouse gases.
The consumption of fossil fuels reached the highest levels in recent years.

34. Mathematical Expressions
half n.
halve vb.
double n. / vb.
triple adj.
treble vb.
/ˈtrebl/
threefold adj./ adv.
quarter n. / vb
multiply vb.
divide vb.
average adj. I vb I n.
total adj. / vb.
partial adj.
equal adj. / n.
fraction n.
quadruple v.

35. Fill in the phrases
production rose at a rate ……… 20% per year / per annum / p.a.
consumption stood ……… the same level in the following decade
the annual increase was ………. / ………………. the range of 10% and 20%
production increased / decreased …… 20% of at in
within by

36. Fill in the phrases The increase was very significant, ………. 50% at
X was the largest producer, …………….. 45% of the total production
The number remained steady ……………… for the next year
Exports doubled, to ……………… 80% of imports in 1990
There were three times as …………. users as in the previous year
The number of users increased …………fivefold at
with at
reach
many

37. 3. Expressing approximation:
Language use
3. Expressing approximation:
Just under
Well under
Roughly
Approximately
About
Just over
Well over
Nearly
Around

38. From Jan. to Feb., During (in) the period from … to/ between…and
Language use
4. Time period
From Jan. to Feb.,
During (in) the period
from … to/ between…and
In the first/ last three months of the year
Over the period from … to
Over the next years/ decades

39. Examples: Time period there+… adj. n. in ”what” From Jan. to Feb.,
During (in) the period
from … to/ between…and
In the first/ last three months of the year
Over the period from … to
Over the next years/ decades
there is
was a
has been
will be
slight
slow
gradual
dramatic
increase
rise
growth
fall
drop
decline
in the number of cars sold

40. Examples: Time period Subject Verb Adv. From Jan. to Feb.,
During (in) the period
from … to/ between…and
In the first/ last three months of the year
Over the period from … to
Over the next years/ decades
the number of cars sold
increased
rose
fell
dropped
declined
slightly
dramatically
moderately

41. Little or no change: Time period Subject Verb From Jan. to Feb.,
During (in) the period
from … to/ between…and
In the first/ last three months of the year
Over the period from … to
Over the next years/ decades
the number of cars sold
stayed/ remained the same
stayed/ remained unchanged/ stable/ constant
reached the plateau
stood at
leveled off

42. The highest and the lowest points
Time period
Subject
Verb
From Jan. to Feb.,
During (in) the period
from … to/ between…and
In the first/ last three months of the year
Over the period from … to
Over the next years/ decades
the number of cars sold
the monthly profit
the figures
the situation
reached a peak
hit a peak
hit the highest point
hit a trough
bottomed out
reached the bottom
fell/ reached to the lowest point