Line graph practice task - Advanced (if you write the essay) Intermediate (if you fill in the words)

The graph below shows the amount of money spent on books in Germany, France, Italy and Austria between 1995 and 2005.

Write a report for a university lecturer describing the information below.
Write at least 150 words.

(a) Read the following sample answer. Complete the answer by filling the gaps with the words in the box.
biggest                           sharp                        least                      dramatically
much                             less                            more                      three times

The line graph compares the amount of money spent on buying books in Germany, France, Italy and Austria over a period of ten years between 1995 and 2005.
In 1995 Austria spent the ........... amount of money on books, while Italy and France spent about as ........... as each other. However, by 2001, the gap in spending between these two countries had widened and considerably ........... money was spent in France than In Italy.

As can be seen from the graph, the amount of money spent increased in all four countries but rose the most ........... in Austria. The period between 2000 and 2005 saw a ........... growth and in 2005 the Austrians spent ........... as much money as they did in 1995.

However, during this ten-year period, Germany remained the ........... spenders on book, with all three other countries spending much ........... on them.

ANSWER
The line graph compares the amount of money spent on buying books in Germany, France, Italy and Austria over a period of ten years between 1995 and 2005.
In 1995 Austria spent the least amount of money on books, while Italy and France spent about as much as each other. However, by 2001, the gap in spending between these two countries had widened and considerably more money was spent in France than In Italy.
As can be seen from the graph, the amount of money spent increased in all four countries but rose the most dramatically in Austria. The period between 2000 and 2005 saw a sharp growth and in 2005 the Austrians spent three times as much money as they did in 1995.
However, during this ten-year period, Germany remained the biggest spenders on book, with all three other countries spending much less on them.

Line Graphs - Introduction

A line graph generally plots the changes in data over time.

 

When looking at a line graph, you should ask yourself:

• What is the highest level / point?
• What is the lowest level / point?
• Is there a point where the trend is increasing or decreasing?
• When does that trend change?

 

 

A trend can be anything where you notice a pattern. Where something predictably follows another.

Let's try that now with the following graph...

We have spent quite some time developing your answering skills by looking at bar graphs. You will apply these same skills to the following line graph tasks. Remember to use the vocabulary you have learnt, and be sure to use transition words to link your ideas.
For those who are not yet confident enough, you may complete task (a) only. In this task, you need to complete the model answer by filling in the missing phrases. The guiding words in brackets will help you to write the correct answer. For those who are confident, you should complete task (b), namely the essay writing component.
Before moving on to the writing of Task 1 for line graphs, let us take a look at one more graph, and answer some of the preliminary type questions that should be asked before writing the essay.
This is the question:
Your Economics teacher has asked you to investigate and present a speech to the class on Kazakhstan’s economic performance since 1990 as compared to other former Soviet countries.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

GDP = Gross Domestic Product – this is what is used to show the economic health of a country. In other words, it shows the size of a country’s economy. Per capita means per person. So, GDP per capita is the GDP divided by the number of people in the country. That gives you an amount that reflects the average income of a person in that country.

1. Which 5 countries are represented, and why have they been selected?

2. Rank the countries from most improved to least improved economies. For this you will need to estimate and provide a reason for your answer.

3. Which economy has consistently been the strongest of the 5 countries?

4. How does Kazakhstan compare to this economy?

5. Which economy has shown the least growth?

6. How does Kazakhstan compare to this economy?

7. Compare Latvia and Kazakhstan’s economy. Look at the early years, but focus on when their relative strengths changed.
Check your answers against these:


1. Russia, Latvia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Ukraine. They represent the 5 economically strongest former Soviet countries.

2.
Russia 24-19 = 5000 - 4
Latvia 22.5-13.5 = 9000 - 2
KZ 24-13.5 = 11500 - 1
Belarus 17.5-8 = 9000 - 2
Ukraine 8-11 = -3000 - 5

3. Russia. It has always been stronger than other economies.

4. KZ has been traditionally quite a bit economically weaker than Rus, however its economy has shown remarkable growth in comparison to Rus over the past few years.

5. Ukraine. It has consistently been the weakest performer, and has registered negative growth.

6. While Ukraine failed to recover in the dip that all the economies suffered between 1990 and 1996, KZ bounced back significantly, particularly in the last 5 years.

7. KZ and Latvia suffered a significant drop in GDP between 1990 and 1995, registering a similar $7000 GDP in 1995. Despite this, they rebounded and both demonstrated positive growth over the ensuing years, with Latvia being the stronger economy, reaching its strongest point in 2007. In 2008/2009, however, the Latvian economy suffered a setback and dropped significantly, while the KZ economy continued to make steady progress. From 2009 until 2014, the KZ has had a marginally stronger economy.

Bar graph practice - Intermediate

The bar chart below shows shares of expenditures for five major categories in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Japan in the year 2009.

Write a report for a university lecturer describing the information below.

Write at least 150 words.

 

 

Read the following sample answer. Complete the answer by filling the gaps with the words below.
by contrast                      indicates                            lowest                           compares
overall                              whereas                             except                           higher
highest                             however                             largest                          among

 

 
The bar chart ........... how consumers in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Japan allocated different shares of total spending to categories such as food, housing, and transportation in 2009.

We can see that the United States had the ........... housing expenditure share, 26% of total expenditures in 2009. The United Kingdom and Japan followed, with 24% and 22%, respectively. Canada had the ........... housing share at 21%. Housing was the ........... expenditure component in all countries ........... Japan.

..........., Canada had the largest transportation share of all four countries at 20%. The United States and the United Kingdom had the next-highest transportation shares, 17% and 15%, respectively. Japan had the lowest, at 10%.

..........., in Japan, consumers spent 23% of their total expenditures on food in 2009. The United Kingdom had the second-highest share at 20%. Canada, with 15%, and the United States, with 14% had the lowest food expenditure shares among the countries studied.

..........., the data ........... that housing and health care shares of total expenditures were ........... in the United States than in Canada, the United Kingdom, and Japan in 2009, ........... Americans had the lowest clothing share. Canada had the highest clothing and transportation shares, and Japan had the highest food share, ........... the countries compared.

 ANSWER

 The bar chart compares how consumers in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Japan allocated different shares of total spending to categories such as food, housing, and transportation in 2009.

We can see that the United States had the highest housing expenditure share, 26% of total expenditures in 2009. The United Kingdom and Japan followed, with 24% and 22%, respectively. Canada had the lowest housing share at 21%. Housing was the largest expenditure component in all countries except Japan.

By contrast, Canada had the largest transportation share of all four countries at 20%. The United States and the United Kingdom had the next-highest transportation shares, 17% and 15%, respectively. Japan had the lowest, at 10%.

However, in Japan, consumers spent 23% of their total expenditures on food in 2009. The United Kingdom had the second-highest share at 20%. Canada, with 15%, and the United States, with 14% had the lowest food expenditure shares among the countries studied.

Overall, the data indicates that housing and health care shares of total expenditures were higher in the United States than in Canada, the United Kingdom, and Japan in 2009, whereas Americans had the lowest clothing share. Canada had the highest clothing and transportation shares, and Japan had the highest food share, among the countries compared.

Source: www.ielts-exam.net

 

 

 

 

Bar graph practice task

The bar chart below shows shares of expenditures for five major categories in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Japan in the year 2009.
Write a report for a university lecturer describing the information below.
Write at least 150 words.

Read the following sample answer. Complete the answer by filling the gaps with the words below:
by contrast                     indicates                     lowest                compares
overall                           whereas                       except                higher
highest                           however                      largest                among

 
The bar chart ........... how consumers in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Japan allocated different shares of total spending to categories such as food, housing, and transportation in 2009.
We can see that the United States had the ........... housing expenditure share, 26% of total expenditures in 2009. The United Kingdom and Japan followed, with 24% and 22%, respectively. Canada had the ........... housing share at 21%. Housing was the ........... expenditure component in all countries ........... Japan.
..........., Canada had the largest transportation share of all four countries at 20%. The United States and the United Kingdom had the next-highest transportation shares, 17% and 15%, respectively. Japan had the lowest, at 10%.
..........., in Japan, consumers spent 23% of their total expenditures on food in 2009. The United Kingdom had the second-highest share at 20%. Canada, with 15%, and the United States, with 14% had the lowest food expenditure shares among the countries studied.
..........., the data ........... that housing and health care shares of total expenditures were ........... in the United States than in Canada, the United Kingdom, and Japan in 2009, ........... Americans had the lowest clothing share. Canada had the highest clothing and transportation shares, and Japan had the highest food share, ........... the countries compared.


ONLY CHECK THE ANSWERS WHEN YOU HAVE COMPLETED

The bar chart compares how consumers in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Japan allocated different shares of total spending to categories such as food, housing, and transportation in 2009.
We can see that the United States had the highest housing expenditure share, 26% of total expenditures in 2009. The United Kingdom and Japan followed, with 24% and 22%, respectively. Canada had the lowest housing share at 21%. Housing was the largest expenditure component in all countries except Japan.
By contrast, Canada had the largest transportation share of all four countries at 20%. The United States and the United Kingdom had the next-highest transportation shares, 17% and 15%, respectively. Japan had the lowest, at 10%.
However, in Japan, consumers spent 23% of their total expenditures on food in 2009. The United Kingdom had the second-highest share at 20%. Canada, with 15%, and the United States, with 14% had the lowest food expenditure shares among the countries studied.
Overall, the data indicates that housing and health care shares of total expenditures were higher in the United States than in Canada, the United Kingdom, and Japan in 2009, whereas Americans had the lowest clothing share. Canada had the highest clothing and transportation shares, and Japan had the highest food share, among the countries compared.

Source: www.ietls-exam.net

Words to use when describing a chart, graph or diagram

Practice exercise - writing about a graph - Intermediate

The bar charts give information regarding average precipitation for two cities in Kazakhstan, namely Astana and Kazalinsk. Compare the two cities, paying attention to both similarities and differences.

We will go step by step through this again. With each example that is done, you should be growing more confident. Even though possible answers have been provided, try not to look at these until you have completed the questions to each step.

STEP 1 – Read the question carefully and identify the key words so that you know exactly what is expected of you.
Do this by underlining the key features of this question.

You should have identified: 'compare' 'similarities' and 'differences'

STEP 2 - Study the chart carefully and then ask some preliminary questions.
Do this by writing down these questions. There is no real correct or incorrect question, but there are relevant and irrelevant questions. Relevant questions will help you to complete the task.

You might ask questions like:
What does the x axis represent?
What does the y axis represent?
What are the highest and lowest bars in each graph? What are the values (or amounts) for each one?
What similarities exist within each graph and between the two graphs?
What differences exist within each graph and between the two graphs?


STEP 3 – Once you have asked the broad questions, start looking for and selecting the information you will use in your answer.
Do this by writing brief answers to the questions you wrote.


STEP 4 – Briefly plan what you are going to say and the order in which you will say it.
Do this by drawing a mind map or a bullet point list in which you show the sequence in which you will present your information, as well as headings/highlights of what this information will be.

STEP 5 – Write your essay, paying attention to grammar and spelling. Be aware of the linking words or transitional words that you use, as they are key to ensuring that your ideas flow in a logical manner.

For now, we will not write the full essay, but instead identify the key vocabulary that you would use in this essay, and then use each of these words in writing sentences that could be used in your Task 1 essay. The table below will help you with identifying key vocabulary, but you may use other words if you wish.

Writing about a Graph/Chart - Intermediate

As the name suggests, a bar chart is recognized by the rectangular bars that are either horizontal or vertical. A bar chart has an x axis and a series of labeled horizontal or vertical bars. The length of each bar shows the value that it represents. When the bars are placed next to each other, you begin to see why they are so useful for comparing data.


Let’s go step by step through the process of writing an essay from the information provided in the chart. Remember, you would follow a similar approach with a table, line graph and pie chart.


STEP 1 – Read the question carefully and identify the key words so that you know exactly what is expected of you.


The bar chart gives information about the top ten most popular languages in the world, and the number of people that speak this language, as well as the countries from which they are primarily found.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

STEP 2 - Study the chart carefully and then ask some preliminary questions.


This is your first attempt, so some questions have been provided to help you identify the basic facts. In later tasks, these questions will not be provided, as you are expected to ask them yourself when studying the chart for the first time.

·         What is this subject of this chart?

·         Are the bars running vertically or horizontally?

·         What is represented by the y axis?

·         What is represented by the x axis?

·         How many bars are there?

·         What/who does the longest bar represent?

·         What/who does the shortest bar represent?



STEP 3 – Once you have asked the broad questions, start looking for and selecting the information you will use in your answer.


These are also preliminary questions, but now you are gathering information to use in your essay.


You may want to ask questions such as these:

·         What kind of relationship can be seen? Are there similarities? Differences? Is there a cause and effect relationship?

·         Which information should I provide because it is important, and which information is irrelevant and unnecessary?

·         Should I describe the figures in separate paragraphs, or should I compare different aspects of these figures within a number of paragraphs?


For the chart that has been given to you, perhaps these questions will help to identify the key information. You may need to research the flags if you are not familiar with them all.

·         Which language has the most speakers in the world?

·         How many people speak it?

·         Which countries have this language as their official language or one of their official languages?

·         Out of the top 10 most popular languages in the world, which language comes in at number 10?

·         How many people speak this language?

·         Which countries speak English as one of their official langauges?

·         What are the two main languages in Brazil?

·         What are 4 of the most spoken languages in the U.S.A.?

·         One language is the official language in more countries than any other, which language is it?

·         Which language is the official language for only one country?

·         How many people speak this language?


 STEP 4 – Briefly plan what you are going to say and the order in which you will say it.

This is a step that is very often forgotten, but it is so important to have a plan so that you know how you are going to order the information that you provide so that your writing is logical and coherent.

It is up to you how exactly you plan your writing – you may use a mind map, or write a numbered list of the various bits of information you will provide.


STEP 5 – Write your essay, paying attention to grammar and spelling. Be aware of the linking words or transitional words that you use, as they are key to ensuring that your ideas flow in a logical manner.

You only have 20 minutes and 150 words, so make sure that what you say is:


Accurate – it must be based on the chart and not your opinion.

Relevant – it answers the most important aspects of the question or task.

Significant – only the key aspects or facts are used in answering the question.

Clear – you have provided the right amount of information to explain – not too much, not too little.

Precise – it is exact and specific and provides only the most important information.

Logical – the essay makes sense as a whole, from the first paragraph to the last paragraph. Everything that is said follows from the information provided in the chart.


To do this, write your answer according to the following plan:

1.      Write one sentence to introduce the subject and graphic.

2.      Write one or two sentences to show the relationship between the data or to comment on the main trend.

3.      Write an in-depth description of the information given. Include details from the most important to the least important, depending on time.

4.      Write one sentence to conclude your answer.

 

LET’S PRACTICE #1

We are not going to jump into the deep end, but will go step by step in preparing you for the full essay. We will start by looking at some of key vocabulary that should be used in Task 1 by reading the following paragraph and filling in the missing words by using the list that is provided below. Some of the words are specific to this particular bar graph, while others are important transitional words and vocabulary that you will find helpful in using with other graphs and charts.


On the other hand                Mandarin               Though              English                  nearest

English               exceeding                   Mandarin                 In contrast               double


The bar chart compares the number of speakers in the ten most popular languages in the world, as well as the countries in which they are found.

It shows that the language spoken by the most people in the world is, _____________________with one billion speakers, and is spoken primarily in China, Taiwan and Singapore. ____________________, French, at tenth, is spoken by only 129 million people. ____________________Hindustani is the third most popular language in the world, behind ____________________ and ____________________, it is represented as an official language in only one country, namely India. ____________________, Arabic is officially spoken in the most number of countries – ten. The ____________________ other language is English, with eight countries speaking it as an official language.

Mandarin remains the most significantly popular language, ____________________ its nearest rival, ____________________, by almost ____________________, and representing more than one third of the world’s total population.

Writing about a Graph/Chart - Beginner/Intermediate

The bar chart gives information about the top ten most popular languages in the world, and the number of people that speak this language, as well as the countries from which they are primarily found.

Look carefully at the graph, noticing key features and important information, then answer the questions that follow.

1.      What is this subject of this chart?

2.      Are the bars running vertically or horizontally?

3.      What is represented by the y axis?

4.      What is represented by the x axis?

5.      How many bars are there?

6.      What/who does the longest bar represent?

7.      What/who does the shortest bar represent?

Now it’s time to try some challenging questions. You may need to research the flags if you are not familiar with them all.

1.      Which language has the most speakers in the world?

2.      How many people speak it?

3.      Which countries have this language as their official language or one of their official languages?

4.      Out of the top 10 most popular languages in the world, which language comes in at number 10?

5.      How many people speak this language?

6.      Which countries speak English as one of their official languages?

7.      What are the two main languages in Brazil?

8.      What are 4 of the most spoken languages in the U.S.A.?

9.      One language is the official language in more countries than any other, which language is it?

10.  Which language is the official language for only one country?

11.  How many people speak this language?

Now that you have gathered all this information, you would normally go on to plan and write your essay. For now though, we will take  look at a model answer, but you should fill in the missing words while you do it.

On the other hand                       Mandarin                           Though                           English

nearest                            English                          exceeding                       Mandarin

In contrast                    double


The bar chart compares the number of speakers in the ten most popular languages in the world, as well as the countries in which they are found.

It shows that the language spoken by the most people in the world is, _____________________with one billion speakers, and is spoken primarily in China, Taiwan and Singapore. ____________________, French, at tenth, is spoken by only 129 million people. ____________________Hindustani is the third most popular language in the world, behind ____________________ and ____________________, it is represented as an official language in only one country, namely India. ____________________, Arabic is officially spoken in the most number of countries – ten. The ____________________ other language is English, with eight countries speaking it as an official language.

Mandarin remains the most significantly popular language, ____________________ its nearest rival, ____________________, by almost ____________________, and representing more than one third of the world’s total population. (150 words)

Writing about a Graph/Chart - Beginner

As the name suggests, a bar chart is recognized by the rectangular bars that are either horizontal or vertical. A bar chart has an x axis and a series of labeled horizontal or vertical bars. The length of each bar shows the value that it represents. When the bars are placed next to each other, you begin to see why they are so useful for comparing data.

 

 

Look at the bar chart below, and see whether you can answer these questions:

·         What is the topic or subject matter of this bar chart?

·         How many countries are represented?

·         What does the y axis represent?

·         Which bar is the longest? Which country does it represent?

·         According to this chart, which 3 countries produce the least uranium?

 

 

 

Here is a very unusual type of bar graph! Study it, and then consider the following questions:

·         Which is the tallest building in this chart?

·         Which building is exactly twice the height of the Baiterek Tower?

·         Which is the second highest building?

·         Which is the third highest?

 

 

Writing about visual data - Beginner

Remember that these tasks are used to determine your competence in using English and NOT your knowledge of the English language.

 

It is important to note that you should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

We are now going to look at the different types of graphic forms that you may encounter in you IELTS Writing Test, and how to tackle each one.

 

For now, it is important that you are able to identify the different types of graphic data that you may encounter.

 

1. Bar Chart / Graph

2. Pie Chart / Graph

3. Line Chart / Graph

4. Flow Diagram

5. Table

6. Map