Unit 1 – Starting somewhere Starting somewhere newnew

Writing task 1

COMPLETE IELTS (5-6.5)

Work in pairs. Look at the different ways of showing

information (A–E) and match them with their names (1–5).

1 pie chart B 2 diagram 3 bar chart

4 line graph 5 table

1

Line graph

Bar chart

diagram

table

1. The graph1. The graph

2. Shows the changes in the 2. Shows the changes in the number of people from abroad number of people from abroad who visited Townsville, who visited Townsville, QueenslandQueensland

3. Over a four-year period.3. Over a four-year period.

Introduction:

Title (paraphrased from the question) + Overall

Body:

Compare and contrast main factors

(The ideas are presented from general to specific details)

Conclusion: (optional)

The overall of the chart/graph

INTRODUCTION

Three steps to keep up

1. Identify the main idea behind the graph or table. This will be 

the focus of your first sentence. 

2. Consider  the  details  of  what  is  being  shown  -  the  units  of 

measurement, the time frame, and the location.

3. Consider the language to use - the introductory expressions, 

the tenses of the verbs, the correct expressions of time etc. 

The line graph illustrates the amount of fast food consumed by teenagers (1) in Australia between 1975 and 2000, a period of 25 years (2).

Example

The graph/table shows/indicates/illustrates/reveals/represents..

(that).

It is clear from the graph/table... ..(that).

It can be seen from the graph/table... ..(that).

As the graph/table shows,...(clause)

As can be seen from the graph/table,...(clause)

As is shown by the graph/table,.. (clause)

As is illustrated by the graph/table,...(clause)

From the graph/table it is clear.....(that).

Introductory Expression

WARNING !

3. Avoid using  the word presents.  It  requires a sophisticated summarising 

noun  to  follow.  (For example: The graph presents an overview of the

population growth of Canada between 1867 and 2007.)

1. Avoid  using  the  phrase: according to the graph.  This  is  because  the 

phrase according to generally  means  that  the  information  comes 

from another person or source, and not from our own knowledge. 

2. The  expressions as can be seen from the graph or as is

shown/illustrated by the table do NOT contain the dummy subject it. 

 The chart shows  the number of households  in Winchester, California, 

and the languages which people speak there.

 The chart shows the difficulties people have when they integrate into a 

new country and how the problems vary according to age.

The diagram shows a machine

for producing electricity from

waves.

The  table  shows  the  number  of  students  at 

Broadlands  Language  School  and  the 

average number of weeks the students spent 

there over a three-month period..

18-34: making friends (46%) higher than for the middle age group (36%) and the oldest age group (23%)

Learning the local language – 54% compared with 29%

for the youngest

The oldest age group has the least difficulty with finding

somewhere to live (22%), compared with 39% for the middle

age group and 40% for the youngest.

1. Question 1: paragraph 2

Question 2: paragraph 3

Question 3: paragraph 4

2. To give a general overview of all

the information.

Compare and Contrast

Comparative formsOne syllable: adj + -er + than cheap – cheaper

large - larger

Long adjectives: More/ less + adj + than

common - more common

profitable - more profitable More/ less/ fewer + N + than

more students

less people

Superlative forms

One syllable: adj + -est

cheap – the cheapest

large – the largest

high – the highest

Long adjectives: the most/least + adj

common - the most common

profitable – the most profitable Similarity: As + adj + as

(not) as many + …as

As popular as as many females as males

Note

Use adverbs to make your comparisons more exact

To emphasize a difference, you can use: many,

much, far, and significantly

Many more students sat examinations in science-

related subjects.

For small differences, you can use: slightly or

nearly as…as.

Nearly as many students sat Art and Design exam

as did the Chemistry exam.

move to

a new country

How the problems vary according to people’s ages.

percentageno

the

no

the

percent

the

percent