Lesson Introduction
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Video Lesson
- IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 Lesson 9 - Bar charts Part 2
章节 1
Hello! Welcome to lesson 9 in our IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 lesson series. In this lesson, we are going to look at how to analyze and write about bar charts that function as line graphs.
A bar chart with dates or years on the x-axis can be visualized as a line graph. Since it is essentially a line graph, the essay structure will follow the same structure as a line graph essay.
- Introduction: Paraphrase the question
- Overview: Describe the overall trend or write a general overview of the main groupings
- Body paragraph 1: Describe the first grouping of lines having similar trends or values.
- Body paragraph 2: Describe the second grouping of lines having similar trends or values.
Let’s look at our first example so you can understand what I mean.
The bar chart below shows the estimated sales of jeans for two companies next year in Turkey. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.
Step 1: Analyse the chart and plan how to group the information
As mentioned, you can visualize a bar graph with dates on the x-axis as a line graph like the picture below.
Since there are only two lines, the grouping becomes easy. The first body paragraph will discuss the orange line (Mango Co.’s sales). The second body paragraph will discuss
the blue line (Jack & Jones Co.’s sales). In the overview paragraph, you will write about the general trend of these two lines.
Step 2: Write an essay using the recommended essay structure
Take a look at our model essay below.
Model Essay
The bar chart below shows the estimated sales of jeans for two companies next year in Turkey. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.
Important functional words are highlighted in red
Useful vocabulary and phrases are highlighted in green
Synonyms and topic vocabulary are highlighted in blue
Introduction
The bar chart illustrates the predicted sales in Turkey of denim jeans for Mango and Jack & Jones companies. Transactions are measured in thousands of pairs.
Overview
Overall, the chart predicts an upward trend in sales of jeans. Furthermore, Turkish customers are predicted to purchase more jeans from Jack & Jones Co.
Body paragraph 1
Regarding Mango, between January and August Mango’s sales will increase by 350 000 pairs. Following this, they will plateau until November and will finally show a positive rise in December, to end the year at approximately 600,000 pairs.
Body paragraph 2
In terms of Jack & Jones, they will begin and end the year, outselling Mango by 300 000 pairs. However, sales will dip in February to about 250,000, before increasing to around 400,000 in June. Then, sales are expected to stagnate until August. Jack & Jones Co.’s sales will more than recover in September and October, selling 600 000 pairs of jeans in both months. In the subsequent months, a steady rise is predicted, and sales will hit a peak of approximately 900,000 by the close of the year.
章节 2
The chart below shows the total number of minutes (in billions) of telephone calls in the UK, divided into three categories, from 1995 to 2002. Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.
Step 1: Analyze the chart and plan how to group the information
Looking at the chart, you can see there are two different trends. National, international, and mobile calls all increased, while fixed line calls rose and then declined.
Therefore, in body paragraph 1, you can write about national, international, and mobile calls. In body paragraph 2, you can describe fixed line calls.
Step 2: Write an essay using the recommended essay structure
Take a look at our model essay below.
Model Essay
The chart below shows the total number of minutes (in billions) of telephone calls in the UK, divided into three categories, from 1995 to 2002. Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.
Important functional words are highlighted in red
Useful vocabulary and phrases are highlighted in green
Introduction
The bar chart illustrates the total number of calls made in the UK, measured in billions of minutes, across three call types over an eight-year period from 1995 to 2002.
Overview
On the whole, local fixed line calls reached a peak by the middle of the period and then gradually declined. National and international calls showed a gradual rise throughout the period, while mobile calls increased significantly toward the end.
Body paragraph 1
With regard to national, international, and mobile calls, mobile calls in 1995 stood at around 2 billion minutes. Over the next four years, they increased gradually, followed by a sharp rise in call volume from 2000 to 2002. International fixed calls followed a similar pattern, starting at just under 40 billion minutes in 1995 and rising steadily to about 60 billion minutes by 2002.
Body paragraph 2
Turning to local fixed line calls, they began in 1995 at slightly over 70 billion minutes and rose steadily to a peak of 90 billion minutes by 1999. However, from 2000 onward, the trend gradually declined, ending in 2002 at roughly the same level as at the beginning of the period.
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