WRITING FOR IELTS 1 Teacher of IELTS: La Đăng Quang©2020
1. line graph
Let’s look at this graph and see what words we need to describe it. Put simply we need language that
describes
up (2009 to 2010),
down (2008 to 2009),
up and down (between 2006 and 2009)
no change (2006 and 2007)
the top (2010)
Up variations
Down variations
Up and down
No change
Top
Preposition problem 1 – by and to
The rate of unemployment rose to 12% in 2010.
The rate of unemployment rose by 5% in 2010.
Preposition problem 2 – in and of
There was a rise in the rate of unemployment
There was a rise of 5% in the rate of unemployment.
2. bar chart
3. pie chart(s)
Some language variations on percentage
Another possible problem is that you find yourself repeating the word “percentage”. Here are some
helpful variations for you. There are variations possible in almost every case: using a fraction or a
synonym such as proportion.
4.Table(s)
The table below shows the in which sector of the economy different age groups were employed.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, making comparisons where
relevant.
Typically, the main features are
1. high numbers
2. low numbers
3. the biggest contrasts
4. the closest similarities
5. diagram
The introduction and conclusion
This is a key part of your description. What you need to do here is to give the examiner an overall view
of the process. Again, you want to ask yourself questions, such as:
what happens as a result of this process?
is there any change involved?
how many stages are there in this process?
is there one simple process or are there variations within the process?
Typically, you will either write a longer introduction or add a conclusion. You will not normally need
both an extended introduction and conclusion.
The language of the description
Topic language
The process will normally be an everyday event that everyone is familiar with, you should not need any
specialised language. Sometimes, as in this example, you will be given some topic vocabulary. If you are,
be careful of two points:
1. try to vary the language if you can, but don’t worry too much if you can’t. It may be that the language you
are given is the correct topic language and there are no, or few, variations
2. don’t copy language incorrectly. If you are given a verb, you may need to change it into a noun
Sequencing language
Some of the most important language you need is vocabulary to say in what order things happen. It is
important to have some variation here. Some very basic options are:
next
then
after
before
once
Passives
A key grammatical area is very often the passive. We use this when it is not important who “does” the
action. So, if you have a process diagram showing the making of wine, you may choose to write:
the grapes are crushed and their stems are removed
1. A useful sentence for reporting an increase or decrease in a number (in the past)
The number of _____ increased/decreased from _____ in ____ to _____ in ____ (e.g. The
number of men taking full-time courses increased from just under 100 000 in 1970/71 to around
200 000 in 1990/91)
2. A useful sentence for reporting the highest or lowest percentage (in the past)
The percentage of _____ was at its highest/lowest in ____ with __ (e.g. The percentage of
commuters who travelled by bus was at its highest in 1980 with over 25%)
3. A useful sentence for reporting increases or decreases in two percentages (in the past)
From ____ to ____, the percentage of _____ and _____ increased/decreased from __ to __ and __
to __ respectively (e.g. From 1960 to 2000, the percentage of commuters who cycled and walked
to/from work decreased from around 27% to 7% and 35% to 10% respectively)
4. A useful sentence for comparing information (in the past or present)
There are/were _____ more _____ than _____ (e.g. There are nearly 245,000 more women aged
65 and over in the country than men)
5. A useful sentence for reported a percentage in relation to the total (in the past, present or future)
_____ accounted for / accounts for / will account for __ of _____ (e.g. People aged 60 and over
will account for over 43 percent of Japan’s population by 2040)
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
The table below shows the consumer durables (telephone, refrigerator, etc.) owned in
Britain from 1972 to 1983.
Write a report for a university lecturer describing the information shown below.
You should write at least 150 words.
Consumer
1972 1974 1976 1978 1979 1981 1982 1983
durables
Percentage
of
households
with:
central
39 43 48 52 55 59 60 64
heating
television 93 95 96 96 97 97 97 98
video 18
vacuum
87 89 92 92 93 94 95
cleaner
refrigerator 73 81 88 91 92 93 93 94
washing
66 68 71 75 74 78 79 80
machine
dishwasher 3 3 4 4 5
telephone 42 50 54 60 67 75 76 77
model answer:
The chart shows that the percentage of British households with a range of consumer durables
steadily increased between 1972 and 1983. The greatest increase was in telephone ownership,
rising from 42% in 1972 to 77% in 1983. Next came centralheating ownership, rising from 37%
of households in 1972 to 64% in 1983. The percentage of households with a refrigerator rose 2
1% over the same period and of those with a washing machine by 14%. Households with vacuum-
cleaners. televisions and dishwashers increased by 8%, 5% and 2% respectively. In 1983. the year
of their introduction, 18% of households had a video recorder.
The significant social changes reflected in the statistics are that over the period the proportion of
British houses with central heating rose from one to two thuds, and of those with a phone from
under a half to over three-quarters. Together with the big increases in the ownership of washing
machines and refrigerators, they are evidence of both rising living standards and the trend to
lifestyles based on comfort and convenience.
