Line & Bar
Graph
I E LT S W R I T I N G TA S K 1
Bar Graph
Question:
The chart shows components of GDP in the UK
from 1992 to 2000.
Summarize the information by selecting
and reporting the main features, and make
comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words
Line Graph
Basic Structure
The line graph illustrates the number of cars stolen for every
Introduction 1000 vehicles in four countries from 1990 to 1999.
Overall, it can be seen that car thefts were far higher in Great
Overview Britain than in the other three counties throughout the whole
time frame.
To begin, car thefts in Sweden, France and Canada followed a
fairly similar pattern over the first five years, all remaining at
between 5 and 10 per thousand. The general trend though
for France and Canada was a decline in the number of
Body Paragraph 1 vehicles stolen over the period, with both at around 6 in
1999. In contrast, Sweden experienced an upward trend,
starting the period at approximately 8, and finishing at just
under 15.
On the other hand, car thefts in Great Britain started at 18
per thousand, which far exceeded that of the other countries.
Body Paragraph 2 It then fluctuated over the next nine years, reaching a peak of
20 thefts per 1000 in 1996, and ending the period slightly
lower than where it began, at approximately 17 per thousand.
3 steps in writing
Plan Write Review
2 minutes 15 minutes 3 minutes
Paragraph 1 : Introduction
Paraphrase the question (+unit)
Question:
The chart below shows how many students of a
school in the UK chose to take part in four
different sports between 2001 and 2011.
Question:
The chart below shows how many students of a school in the UK chose to take part in four different
sports between 2001 and 2011.
The chart below = the given chart / line graph
show = illustrate
how many students = the number of students
a school in the UK = a particular UK school
chose to take part in = participated in
four different sports = running, basketball,
swimming and football
between 2001 and 2011 = from 2001 to 2011;
over a ten-year period
Introduction:
The line graph illustrates the number of students of a particular UK school who participated in
running, basketball, swimming and football over a ten-year period.
Paraphrase the question:
Question:
The line graph below shows the amount of
food consumed in China from 1985 to 2010
Summarize the information by selecting
and reporting the main features, and make
comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words
Paraphrase the question:
Question:
The chart shows components of GDP in the UK
from 1992 to 2000.
Summarize the information by selecting
and reporting the main features, and make
comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words
Paraphrase the question:
Question:
The line graph below shows changes in the
amount and type of fast food consumed by
Australian teenagers from 1975 to 2000.
Summarize the information by selecting
and reporting the main features, and make
comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words
Paragraph 2 : overview
= main trends or differences
the highest/lowest number or data with the most noticeable changes
= no data/numbers included
Overview:
Overall, it can be seen that car thefts were far higher
in Great Britain than in the other three counties
throughout the whole time frame. Moreover, this trend
noticeably increased in Sweden.
Question:
The chart below shows how many students of a school in the UK chose to take part in four
different sports between 2001 and 2011.
Overview :
Overall, it can be seen that while football remained
popular throughout the period, basketball witnessed a
dramatic decline in popularity. Furthermore, despite
the number of runners and swimmers growing in
similar proportion, the latter then slumped as the
former continued to rise.
Overview
• Overall, it can clearly be seen that……………
• Vocabulary for time period
= throughout the period
= throughout the given period
= throughout the whole time frame
= over the given period
= over the years
Task 1: Write the overview:
Question:
The line graph below shows the amount of
food consumed in China from 1985 to 2010
Sample Answer
Overall, it can be seen that all foods
consumption rose throughout the time
frame, except for salt. Moreover, fish
continued to be the most consumed food
over the years.
Write the overview:
Question:
The line graph below shows changes in the
amount and type of fast food consumed by
Australian teenagers from 1975 to 2000.
Sample Answer
Overall, it can be seen that while the most
consumed fast food at the start experienced
a significant decline, the other two types of
fast food followed a positive trend, both
exceeding fish and chip’s figure at the end
of the period.
Write the overview:
Question:
The chart shows components of GDP in the UK
from 1992 to 2000.
Sample Answer
Overall, it can be seen that the GDP value
from both service and IT industry followed
upward trends. Moreover, the latter
continued to be the highest GDP contributor
throughout the given period.
Paragraph 3 & 4 : Body Paragraph
Writing some details about general information written in the overview
Guidance on how to approach detail paragraph:
1. Grouping idea
look at similar pattern
• By category
look at similar themes
• By year
2. Language used: Language of change and comparison
Grouping
Grouping : by year
Body paragraph 1 : 2001 - 2006
Body paragraph 2 : 2007 - 2011
Body paragraph 1
In terms of the first half of the decade, swimming
and running witnessed a near identical increase in
popularity, both climbing steadily from around 20
students in 2001 to 50 students in 2006. The ball
sports were more popular during this period, with the
number of basketball participants rising from 55 to
61, and the number of students interested in football
fluctuating between 60 to 71.
Grouping
Grouping : theme
Body paragraph 1 : ball sports
Body paragraph 2 : body sports
Body Paragraph 1
In terms of the ball sports, although the number of
football students fluctuated during the first half of the
decade between 60 (opening figure) and 71 (a peak),
this settled in the second half, ending at 68 students.
Despite basketball’s popularity experiencing similarly
high levels in the first five years, creeping from 55
students to 61, this number plummeted thereafter,
hitting 21 in 2008 and finishing there.
