IELTS ACADEMIC TASK 1: How to describe a line graph

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 90

5

10

15

20

25

Sainsbury's

Tesco

Asda

Morrisons

Co-op

FOR IELTS

HOW TO DESCRIBE A

LINE GRAPH© All text and images. Material cannot be reproduced without permission. Ben Worthington, IELTSPodcast.com Ltd

5 ACTIONS TO INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF PASSING THE IELTS EXAM

1. Sign up for free weekly tutorials and awesome practical guides.

© All text and images. Material cannot be reproduced without permission. Ben Worthington, IELTSPodcast.com Ltd

http://www.ieltspodcast.com/




2. FILL Your phone up with FREE IELTS MP3s.


http://www.ieltspodcast.com/podcasts/

http://www.ieltspodcast.com/podcasts



3. Subscribe to the Youtube Channel.


https://www.youtube.com/user/IELTSPodcastBW


4. Subscribe to IELTS Podcast on Itunes.

5. Ask for help if you have a problem: ieltspodcast-at-gmail.com


https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/ielts-podcast/id524002915

● How to write a description of a line graph on exam day.

● Group the information, choose the content. ● Introduction ● Summary ● 5 Tips

PART 1: HOW TO DESCRIBEA LINE GRAPH


PART 2: WHAT YOU NEED TO DESCRIBE A LINE GRAPH

● Active – Passive

● Adverbs

● Verbs

● Nouns

● Phrases for the introduction.

● Phrases for summaries.

● Phrases for change.


1. GROUP THE INFORMATION ● Decide what will be in each paragraph

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 90

5

10

15

20

25

Sainsbury's

Tesco

Asda

Morrisons

Co-op


UK Supermarket Sales between 2001-09 in £ Million

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 90

5

10

15

20

25

Sainsbury's

Tesco

Asda

Morrisons

Co-op

1. GROUP THE INFORMATION

● Main body paragraph 1: Sainsbury's and Tesco broadly similar, Tesco outperformed Sainsbury's, large spike in in 2002.

● Main body paragraph 2: Asda and Morrison's grew, but not as much, levelled off around 2004, then grew steadily again. Co-op unique; climbed, stabilised, then sank.

● Decide what will be in each paragraph


1. PLAN THE REPORTMy rough report plan:

● Main body paragraph 1: Sainsbury's and Tesco broadly similar, Tesco outperformed Sainsbury's, large spike in 2002.

● Main body paragraph 2: Asda and Morrison's grew, but not as much, levelled off around 2004, then grew steadily again. Co-op unique; climbed, stabilised, then sank.


1. INTRODUCTIONS● Use a sentence which describes the graph and the

general idea. ● From the line graph it is clear that the majority of

the UK supermarkets saw sales grow over the ten year period.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 90

5

10

15

20

25

Sainsbury's

Tesco

Asda

Morrisons

Co-op


1. SUMMARY

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 90

5

10

15

20

25

Sainsbury's

Tesco

Asda

Morrisons

Co-op

● Explain the general idea of the graph (again!) but with a little more detail.

● Overall it is clear that Tesco and Sainsbury's increased sales the most, followed by Asda and Morrision's, the Co-op undoubtedly performed the worst.


1. PROCESS● Step 1: Identify the information, group it, build your

body paragraph 1 and 2, write a rough plan.● Step 2: Write introduction (describe briefly what is

the graph and the general idea).● Step 3: Write body paragraphs (FOLLOW the plan

written before). ● Step 4: Write summary, include the maximum and

the minimums, and the exceptions.


5 TIPS


● Your opinion is not necessary● Make sure the subject and verb agree● Avoid basic words like BIG, SMALL, GOOD,● A topic sentence is not necessary in the

introduction,● In the final paragraph use 'Overall...' -don't use 'To

conclude...'.

PART 2: WHAT YOU NEED TO DESCRIBE A LINE GRAPH


ACTIVE TO PASSIVESales crashed to new levels

The sales rose quickly

Employment fell drastically


ACTIVE TO PASSIVESales crashed to new levels

There was a crash to new levels in sales

The sales rose quickly

There was a quick rise in the sales

Employment fell drastically

There was a drastic fall in employment


PASSIVE TO ACTIVEThere was an incredible decrease in output

In 2010 there was a plunge in turnover

After the crisis there was a crash in profit

Last year there were two rises in annual income


PASSIVE TO ACTIVEThere was an incredible decrease in outputOutput decreased incredibly

In 2010 there was a plunge in turnoverTurnover plunged in 2010

After the crisis there was a crash in profitProfit crashed after the crisis

Last year there were two rises in annual incomeAnnual income rose twice last year © All text and images. Material cannot be reproduced without permission. Ben Worthington, IELTSPodcast.com Ltd

ADVERBSIt is clear the trend is downward...

It is evident that sales dropped in the first quarter...

It is surprising that sales rose after a steady decline...


ADVERBSIt is clear the trend is downward...

Clearly the trend is downward...

It is evident that sales dropped in the first quarter...

Evidently sales in the first quarter dropped ..

It is surprising that sales rose after a steady decline...

*Surprisingly sales rose after a steady decline...

*USE WITH CAUTION (Don't place your opinion.)

TIME EXPESSIONSOver the period _________ to ________

Over a five year period...

Throughout the 1980s...

The period from 1944 to 1999 witnessed...

...after that...

USEFUL VERBSplunge stabilize rocket

crash remain stable soar

tumble remain constant surge

sink level off leap

fall

drop fluctuate

decline

PHRASES TO USE FOR THE INTRODUCTION


● From the graph it is clear...

● As can be seen from the line graph...

● As is shown by the table...

● As is illustrated by the pie chart...

EXERCISE


MATCH THE DESCRIPTIONS TO THE DRAWINGS

1. The investment levels rose suddenly.

2. The sales of our products fell slightly in the final quarter.

3. The Research and Development budget has stabilized over the past few years.

4. At the end of the first year, sales stood at 50 per cent of the present level.

5. The price reached a peak before falling a little and then maintaining the same level.

6. There has been a steady increase in costs over several years.

7. The sudden collapse in share prices came shortly after June.

8. The value of the shares has shown a steady decline.

EXERCISE



1. Sign up HERE for free weekly tutorials and awesome practical guides.

2. FILL Your phone up with FREE IELTS MP3s.

3. Subscribe to the Youtube Channel.

4. Subscribe to the Itunes podcast

5. Ask for help if you have a problem: ieltspodcast-at-gmail.com








GO TO IELTSPODCAST.COMAND SIGN UP TO RECIEVE WEEKLY TIPS AND HELP



Education

IELTS ACADEMIC TASK 1: How to describe a line graph