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How to describe a bar chart AND a pie chart

Writer's picture: Ruth at English Test HelpRuth at English Test Help


You must know how to

  • compare and contrast

  • describe changes or trends

  • explain proportions

  • structure your writing


IELTS Masterclass p.66
(2011) IELTS Masterclass: Student's Book with Online Skills Practice Pack: Preparation for students who require IELTS for academic purposes by May Haines

Features of this model you must learn and use


1. comparing and contrasting

a. the greatest amount of money

b. closely followed by

c. The smallest amount

d. larger/smaller than (not in this particular text but very likely to be used)

e. the least

f. well over double

2. describing trends

a. the expected growth in expenditure by 2006

b. this category was expected to achieve the greatest growth

c. the estimated increase in internet advertising

d. were estimated to only have increases in the region of 5 to 10%

e. advertising by direct mail was only predicted to rise by just over 10%.

3. describing proportions (bar charts and pie charts and possibly tables)

a. account for slightly over three quarters of the total

b. make up the other categories

c. the greatest/smallest amount

d. 10 % / 10 percent / one tenth – vary between percentages and proportions

- remember NUMBER + percent e.g. slightly over 10 percent NOT percentage

4. structure

a. clear paragraphs

paragraph 1 – overview – tell the reader WHO/WHAT/WHERE/WHEN/WHY/HOW MUCH/MANY – not all of these – only the ones that the graph reports

paragraph 2 – often the most obvious or significant features

paragraph 3 – more detail


So, you need to copy high level models and keep going - do NOT give up!

Here is the link to the free ebook if you haven't got it yet or you want to share it with a friend.

I'm here to help

Ruth


And here is the document with the text from today's free lesson



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