USEFUL VOCABULARY IN DESCRIBING A GRAPH (IELTS)

USEFUL VOCABULARY IN DESCRIBING A GRAPH (IELTS WRITING TASK 1)

(Note:  The candidate should use at least 150 words in describing the graph.)

1.      INTRODUCTION (FIRST PARAGRAPH) (ONE SENTENCE)

Introduction

This graph shows ...

The diagram outlines ...

This table lists ...

This pie chart represents

This line chart depicts ...

This chart breaks down ...

(Note: In the OVERVIEW and the BODY, describe the TRENDS in the paragraph)

The four basic TRENDS are :

 

•  upward movement 
•  downward movement 
•   no movement 
•  change in direction

2. OVERVIEW (SECOND PARAGRAPH)  - ONE GENERAL TREND IN THE GRAPH (ONE SENTENCE)

3. BODY (MAIN PARAGRAPH) (GRAPH INTERPRETATION) (DESCRIBE IMPORTANT TRENDS)

• Indicating upward movement

Verbs		Nouns
Transitive	Intransitive
(to) increase	(to) increase	(an) increase
(to) raise	(to) rise (rose, risen)	(a) raise (US), a rise (UK)
(to) push/put/step up	(to) go/be up	(an) upswing
	(to) grow	(a) growth
(to) extend, (to) expand	(to) extend, (to) expand	(an) extension, expansion
	(to) progress	(a) progression
	(to) boom/soar/climb	(a) boom
	(to) jump, (to) skyrocket	(a) jump
	(to) reach a peak, (to) peak	(a) peak
	(to) reach an all-time high

• Indicating downward movement

Verbs		Nouns
Transitive	Intransitive
(to) decrease	(to) decrease	(a) decrease
(to) cut, (to) reduce		(a) cut, (a) reduction
	(to) fall (off)    (fall, fell, fallen)	(a) fall
	(to) plunge, to plummet	(a) plunge
	(to) drop (off)	(a) drop
	(to) go down	(a) downswing
	(to) decline	(a) decline
	(to) collapse	(a) collapse (dramatic fall)
	(to) slump, (to) go bust	(a) slump
	(to) bottom out

• Indicating no movement

Verbs		Nouns
Transitive	Intransitive
(to) keep ... stable	(to) remain stable
(to) hold ... constant	(to) stay constant
(to) stabilize	(to) stabilize	stability

• Indicating a change of direction

Verbs		Nouns
Transitive	Intransitive
(to) level off	(to) level off/out, to flatten out	(a) levelling-off
	(to) stop falling/rising	(a) change
(to) stand at	(to) remain steady
	(to) stop falling and start rising
	(to) stop rising and start falling

 

• Indicating the DEGREE or the SPEED of change

 

SAMPLE SENTENCES

1. INTRODUCTION

            The graph shows that….

2. OVERVIEW AND BODY – TRENDS - (DESCRIBE THE GRAPH)

• Indicating upward movement

       There is a dramatic increase in ….OR

      The _____ increased dramatically from ___ to ___. 

• Indicating downward movement

     There is a quick decline in…   OR

     The _____ sharply declined from ___ to ___.

• Indicating no movement

    The ____ remained stable.

    There is stability in ____.

• Indicating a change of direction

    The ___   stopped falling in _____ but started rising on _____ .