Lesson Introduction
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Video Lesson
- IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 Lesson 3 - How to write about changes in data
章节 1
Hello! Welcome to Lesson 3 of our IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 series. In this lesson, we will focus on different ways of describing changes in data . This skill is essential for writing reports on line graphs, as the lines in these graphs constantly change to reflect different values.
However, line graphs are not the only type of graph that involve changes in data. Multiple pie charts, like those used in Lesson 2, as well as bar graphs, also require describing changes in data. In this lesson, we will review various ways to describe changes in data using a line graph as an example.
At the end of the lesson, there are two exercises for you to practice what you’ve learned. Let's get started!
An increase in value can be represented as an upward movement of the line. Some useful words include: increase, rise, grow, surge, soar, rocket, leap, and peak/reach a peak.
Now let's look at how to use them.
Japan's working-age population increased by 5% between 1960 and 1990.
As you can see, the starting point is 65% and the endpoint is 70%, so use the prepositions 'from ... to' . However, if you want to report the amount of change between the two points, use the preposition 'by'.
Now instead of using the verb “increase,” we can use the noun “an increase,” as shown below:
Japan's working-age population saw a 5% increase between 1960 and 1990.
There was a 5% increase in Japan's working-age population between 1960 and 1990.
A key point to remember is when to use the prepositions “of” and “in.” Use “of” when it is followed by a number or percentage, and “in” when referring to what is increasing.
Also, avoid repeating the same word too often. Try to expand your vocabulary. In our examples, we have repeatedly used “increase,” but other common words to describe upward trends are “rise” and “grow.” The following examples demonstrate variety.
Japan's working-age population rose by 5% between 1960 and 1990.
Japan's working-age population saw/showed/experienced a rise of 5% between 1960 and 1990.
Japan's working-age population saw/showed/experienced a 5% rise between 1960 and 1990.
There was a 5% rise in Japan's working-age population between 1960 and 1990.
Japan's working-age population grew by 5% between 1960 and 1990.
Japan's working-age population saw/showed/experienced a growth of 5% between 1960 and 1990.
Japan's working-age population saw/showed/experienced a 5% growth between 1960 and 1990.
There was a 5% growth in Japan's working-age population between 1960 and 1990.
There are other advanced words you can use, such as “surge,” “soar,” “skyrocket,” “leap,” and “peak.” “Soar” and “skyrocket” both describe a very large rise, though “skyrocket” suggests a more sudden change. These verbs generally do not require adverbs to emphasize intensity.
“Leap” indicates a large and sudden rise. Again, it typically does not need to be qualified with an adverb.
Let's look at how to use them.
Try describing the line graph below in your head using a few words. When you are done, check our sample description provided below the image.
After May, the figure for the 11 p.m. news skyrocketed, peaking at / leapt, reaching a peak of / soared, reaching its highest point at 4.1 million in August. From August onwards, the trend reversed.
章节 2
A decrease in value can be represented as a downward movement of a line. Here are some common words used to describe a downward movement: decrease, decline, fall, drop, reduce, dip, plunge, plummet
Let's see how to use them in sentences:
CO2 emissions per person in Norway decreased/fell/dropped/declined/were reduced/dipped by 3 tonnes between 1985 and 1995.
There was a decrease/decline/drop/fall/reduction/dip in CO2 emissions per person in Norway from just over 10 tonnes to around 7 tonnes between 1985 and 1995.
To describe future changes, we can use the phrases “be projected to” or “be forecast to.” For example:
Finally, let's look at how to use the words “plummet” and “plunge.”
The line graph below shows the demand for electricity in England during typical days in winter and summer. See the example sentences below:
章节 3
Below are the adjectives and adverbs that can be used to describe upward and downward movements. Look at the following table and example sentences:
| Big changes | Small changes | ||
| adjective | adverb | adjective | adverb |
| sharp | sharply | steady | steadily |
| dramatic | dramatically | slight | slightly |
| rapid | rapidly | gradual | gradually |
| abrupt | abruptly | marginal | marginally |
| significant | significantly | gentle | gently |
| precipitous | precipitously | ||
2. The number of tourists visiting New York fell sharply in October.
3. The number of students studying Economics rose gradually from 2001 to 2010.
4. There was a sharp increase in employee turnover after the strike.
5. Interest in environmental issues has risen steadily over the last 10 years.
6. The proportion of biofuels used in Germany in 2009 rose marginally from 30% to 32%.
7. There has been a precipitous drop in home sales recently.
8. Home sales are declining precipitously.
Okay! We’ve been discussing how to describe increases and decreases in data, but there are other types of changes to look out for. For example:
| Situation | Other verbs |
| Value remains stable/the same | Hover |
| Value changes frequently | Fluctuate / Oscillate / Vary / Swing |
| Value stops rising and remains the same | Plateau / Level off / Flatten out |
| Value reaches its highest point | Peak |
Let’s look at how to use them:
Example 1:
The line graph below shows the average daily viewing figures for Channel One News over a 12-month period.
The figure for the 6pm News fluctuated widely throughout the year, but the general trend was downward, ending the year at around 3.4 million.
Example 2:
The line graph below gives information about the number of visitors to three London museums between June and September 2013.
Example 3:
The line graph shows a rise in homeless people across England from 2010 to 2016.
This was followed by a marginal increase from 500 to 1,000 before 2015. From 2015 onward, the figure for the homeless population in London plateaued / leveled off / flattened out.
章节 4
Finally, at the end of this lesson, let's look at some useful phrases for describing overall trends. Use the following expressions to describe general trends in data.
- show a downward trend
- show an upward trend
- show an upward trajectory
- show a downward trajectory
Example sentences:
With regard to hamburgers, consumption has shown a steady upward trajectory, rising from 10 times per year to over 70 times.
The number of cars sold has shown a rapid downward trend since 2009.
Social activities such as watching TV and spending time with family have shown an upward trend in recent years.
| Situation | Verbs |
| Value increases |
|
| Value decreases |
|
| Value remains stable / the same |
|
| Value changes frequently |
|
| Value stops rising and remains the same |
|
Review Exercise (1/2)
Model Essay:
The bar chart illustrates the total number of calls in the UK in billions of minutes, with three call types over an eight year period from 1995 to 2002.
Overall, local fixed line calls (1) by the middle of the period, then gradually declined. National and international calls showed a (2) rise over the whole period with mobile calls rising considerably toward the end of the period.
Regarding local fixed line calls, in 1995 they began at slightly over 70 billion minutes and rose (3) to a peak of 90 billion minutes in 1999. However, from 2000, the trend (4) in numbers of calls, ending in 2002 at the same amount as the start of the period.
Turning to national, international fixed calls and mobile calls, mobile calls in 1995 (5) around 2 billion minutes. Over the next 4 years they showed a gradual rise, with (6) call numbers from 2000 to 2002. International fixed calls (7), starting at just under 40 billion minutes of calls in 1995, then grew steadily (8) around 60 billion minutes of calls in 2002.
Options
stood on
precipitously
a considerable increase in
showed a similar pattern
to
reached a peak
gradual
sharp
showed a gradual decline
steadily
at
a marginal rise in
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Model Essay:
The pie charts compare the amount of electricity created from five different sources of fuel in France in 1990 and 2010. These were oil, coal, natural gas, hydropower and nuclear power.
Overall, the use of nuclear power for generating electricity in France (1), however, the use of natural gas (2) over the two decades. In addition, oil and coal saw declines and hydropower showed a slight decrease (3) consumption.
In 1990, Nuclear power as a source of energy stood at 17% of electricity production in France. Natural gas and coal both (4)28%. Oil was not far behind, standing at just over (5) energy production. However, hydropower indicated a small proportion of energy use in 1990.
In contrast, oil and coal saw declines by 2010. They both followed the same pattern and dropped to (6) as a source of fuel for electricity. Most strikingly, nuclear power became the most relied on form of energy, comprising (7) of electricity production, a jump of (8) in two decades.
Options
at
accounted for
a fifth of
increased considerably
declined sharply
13%
67%
two quarters
of
a third of
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