In today’s lesson, I’ve compiled a list of high-frequency vocabulary and classic sentence structures commonly used in the graph description portion of the IELTS writing task. These tasks often require us to describe a set of data, trends, or changes within a limited timeframe. Mastering the appropriate vocabulary and expressions will aid in completing the writing task more smoothly and improving your scores.
1. Common Vocabulary for Rising and Falling Trends
When describing changes in data from a graph, it’s essential to use vocabulary that indicates “rising” and “falling.” Depending on the speed and extent of these changes, we must choose suitable expressions. Here are some commonly used terms and their applications:
Expressions for Rising
-Go up/Climb up: These basic verbs indicate a rise in data. For example: The number of students went up significantly between 2000 and 2010.
-Gradually climb up: For a slow rise, we can add the adverb “gradually” to the verb. For instance: Sales gradually climbed up over the decade. Alternatively, we can use the noun form, such as “a slow rise,” to indicate this gradual increase.
-A robust increase: If the rise is steady, we can use the adjective “robust” to describe the noun “increase,” indicating a strong and sustained growth.
Expressions for Falling
-Deep gradually: Similarly, to express a gradual decrease, we might say The unemployment rate deepened gradually from 8% to 6% over the two years. We can also use noun phrases like “a slow decrease” or “a smooth decline.”
-A sharp increase or a sharp decline: For significant changes, we can use “sharp” to modify either the rise or fall. For example: There was a sharp increase in the number of tourists in 2020 or The economy experienced a sharp decline during the recession.
-Substantial, Significant, Steep, Marked, Dramatic, Drastic, Considerable: These terms are also frequently used to describe large fluctuations. For instance: The inflation rate showed a substantial increase from 2015 to 2018, or The company’s profits witnessed a marked decline in the third quarter.
Expressions for Minor Changes
-Slight, Moderate, Modest: When changes are minimal, these terms are commonly employed. For example: There was a slight rise in housing prices last year, or The company saw a moderate increase in sales during the summer.
2. Describing Peaks and Troughs
In graph writing, we often need to describe data points that have reached their highest or lowest levels. These extremes are key points in the graph that effectively showcase turning points or changes in trends.
-Peak, Summit, The Highest Point: These terms are used to describe when data reaches a maximum. For example: The unemployment rate peaked at 12% in 2019, or The company’s revenue reached its highest point in the second quarter.
-Bottom, The Lowest Point: Conversely, when describing a minimum, we can use “bottom” or “the lowest point.” For instance: The birth rate hit the lowest point in 1995.
3. Various Expressions for Rising and Falling
There are numerous verbs available to express rising and falling, with the choice depending on the intended meaning. Here are some commonly used verbs and their noun forms:
Expressions for Rising
-Rise, Rose (past tense), A rise: This is a basic expression for indicating any upward trend. For example: The price of oil rose dramatically in the last decade. Note that the past tense of “rise” is “rose,” which is an irregular form.
-Grow, Grew (past tense), A growth: This verb indicates natural growth. For instance: The population grew steadily from 1950 to 2000. Its noun form, “a growth,” is also commonly used to describe the process of increase.
-Increase, Increased (past tense), An increase: This regular verb indicates an increase in quantity or degree. For example: The demand for electric cars increased by 20% last year.
-Ascend, Ascended (past tense), An ascent: Although less common than “rise” and “increase,” this term is also effective for formal writing. For example: The stock price ascended gradually after the announcement.
Expressions for Falling
-Fall, Fell (past tense), A fall: “Fall” is one of the most common terms to indicate a decrease. Its past tense is “fell,” and the noun form is “a fall.” For instance: The temperature fell sharply last night.
-Drop, Dropped (past tense), A drop: This is another frequently used expression for decline. For example: The number of applicants dropped by half this year.
-Decline, A decline: “Decline” is a very formal term often used in academic writing or journalism. For instance: There was a significant decline in industrial output during the recession.
-Descent, A descent: This is the antonym of “ascend,” indicating a decrease. For example: The airplane began its descent as it approached the airport.
4. Expressing Rates of Increase and Decrease
In addition to describing rising or falling trends, we sometimes need to emphasise their speed. Here are some commonly used terms for expressing speed:
-Rapid, Sudden, Swift, Abrupt: These words describe quick changes. For example: The company’s profits experienced rapid growth in the second quarter, or There was a sudden drop in temperatures last night.
-Steady, Gentle, Slow, Gradual, Smooth: When changes are slow, these words can be used to describe them. For instance: Stock prices fell gradually over the course of the year.
5. Vivid Expressions for Dramatic Increases and Decreases
In graph writing, we sometimes need to describe significant changes. Here are some vivid vocabulary options:
Expressions for Dramatic Increases
-Boom, Shoot up, Soar, Skyrocket: These verbs indicate rapid and substantial increases. For example: The housing market boomed after the new policies were implemented, or The company’s stock price skyrocketed after the successful product launch.
Expressions for Dramatic Decreases
-Plunge, Slump, Plummet: These words are very evocative, denoting steep declines. For example: The stock prices plunged following the financial crisis, or The company’s revenue slumped after the failed merger.
6. Describing Stability and Fluctuation
At times, the data in a graph may not change dramatically but instead remain relatively stable. Other times, the data may fluctuate within a certain range.
Expressions for Stability
-Remain steady, Remain stable, Maintain the same level: These phrases indicate data remaining constant. For instance: The inflation rate remained steady at 2% throughout the year.
-Reach a plateau, Level off: These phrases describe data that reaches a certain level and then stops changing significantly. For example: The population growth rate reached a plateau in the 1990s.
Expressions for Fluctuation
-Fluctuate, Fluctuation: These terms denote data varying within a certain range. For example: Stock prices fluctuated wildly during the economic downturn.
-Tiny fluctuations and Extreme fluctuations: These expressions describe the magnitude of fluctuations. For example: The data showed tiny fluctuations in the early stages of the experiment.
7. Expressions for Surpassing and Proportions
When describing data in a graph that surpasses another or represents a certain proportion, the following expressions are commonly used:
-Surpass, Outnumber, Exceed: These verbs indicate surpassing. For example: The number of female applicants surpassed that of males this year.
-Take up, Account for, Occupy, Represent: These phrases describe proportions. For instance: The sales of smartphones accounted for 60% of the total market.
8. Describing Relative Changes: More Than and Less Than
When describing data in a graph, we often need expressions for data that is greater or less than a certain standard:
-More than: We can use “above,” “over,” “just over” for slight increases, while “well over” or “well above” indicates a significant increase. For instance: The number of participants was just over 100, or The profits were well above the expected levels.
-Less than: In contrast to “more than,” we can use “below,” “under,” or “just under” for slight decreases, while “well below” indicates a substantial decrease. For example: The company’s revenue was just under $1 million, or The unemployment rate was well below the national average.
9. Classic Sentence Structures Explained
Using classic sentence structures in writing tasks can help organise language more clearly, presenting the logic of data changes. Here are some commonly used sentence structures:
1.Subject as the Main Subject:
- “The proportion of elderly people increased remarkably between 1940 and 1985.”
- In this structure, the data subject serves as the main focus, allowing for straightforward descriptions of changes. This structure is clear and concise, making it suitable for beginners.
2.Time Period as the Main Subject:
- “The period from 1940 to 1985 saw a generally steady increase in the proportion of elderly people.”
- This structure emphasises changes occurring over a specific time period, enhancing sentence variety and avoiding repetitive subjects.
3.Location as the Main Subject:
- “
Both the USA and Sweden experienced an alarming increase in the proportion of elderly people.”
- This structure is particularly useful when describing data from multiple locations, highlighting changes in different regions.
4.Using Multiplicative Expressions:
- “The rate of unemployment for women was three times as high as that of men during the economic depression.”
- Multiplicative expressions effectively showcase comparative relationships between different data sets, allowing for clear distinctions in differences.
By mastering the above high-frequency vocabulary and classic sentence structures, students can approach graph writing tasks in the IELTS with greater confidence. I hope today’s lesson helps you better understand how to use language and organise your writing, ultimately leading to improved performance in your exams.
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