In the IELTS Writing examination, chart writing is a key component of the academic task. Candidates need to analyse and summarise data trends and changes through detailed examination of charts and figures. To accomplish this effectively, it is crucial to master certain essential vocabulary, sentence structures, and expressions. This article will analyse commonly used vocabulary and phrases in chart writing, accompanied by practical examples.
1. Describing Fluctuations
Fluctuations are a common phenomenon in charts, especially when depicting price changes, market trends, or variations in data. When using the term “fluctuations,” it is often helpful to precede it with adjectives or nouns to specify the type or nature of the fluctuations. Here are some common examples:
-Seasonal fluctuations: Refers to variations that occur seasonally, such as price changes due to seasonal factors.
> "The prices of fresh vegetables are subject to seasonal fluctuations, with higher prices in winter and lower prices in summer."
-Market fluctuations: Refers to changes in prices in stock or commodity markets.
> "Investors need to be cautious of sudden market fluctuations that can lead to significant financial losses."
-Business fluctuations: Refers to changes within the business realm, such as sales variations.
> "The company's revenues have experienced notable business fluctuations over the last fiscal year."
-Exchange fluctuations: Commonly used to describe changes in the foreign exchange market.
> "Global trade is highly sensitive to exchange rate fluctuations, especially for multinational corporations."
By adding suitable modifiers before "fluctuations," you provide readers with a clearer understanding of the specific nature and scope of the variations. Flexibly employing these expressions in chart writing will significantly enhance the richness of your language.
2. Verbs and Phrases for "Exceeding" and "Occupying"
The use of verbs is particularly important when describing data proportions and when one value exceeds or falls below a certain standard. Here are some commonly used verbs and phrases:
1.Exceeding
When a data point surpasses another standard or figure, consider using the following verbs:
-Surpass: To go beyond.
> "In 2020, the company's profits surpassed the expectations of most analysts."
-Outnumber: To exceed in quantity (often in statistical comparisons).
> "Female participants in the survey outnumbered male participants by 20%."
-Exceed: Commonly used in formal written contexts.
> "The sales in 2021 exceeded those in the previous year by nearly 30%."
2.Occupying
To describe a certain data or proportion occupying a specific share, you can use the following phrases:
-Take up: To occupy (a part or proportion).
> "This product takes up 40% of the total market share."
-Account for: A very common expression in academic writing to indicate a proportion.
> "Renewable energy sources now account for more than 20% of global energy consumption."
-Occupy: To hold a specific position or proportion, somewhat formal.
> "China currently occupies a dominant position in global manufacturing."
-Represent: Commonly used in chart descriptions.
> "Online sales represent a significant portion of the company’s overall revenue."
3. Common Expressions for Describing Increases and Decreases
Using precise vocabulary and phrases when comparing increases and decreases in data can make your writing more vivid and accurate. Here are common expressions:
1.For "more than":
-Above/Over: To exceed a certain value.
> "The unemployment rate was slightly over 6% last year."
-Just over/Slightly more than: Indicates a minor difference.
> "The company’s revenue was just over $1 million, marking a slight improvement from the previous quarter."
-Well over/Well above: Significantly exceeds a certain value.
> "The number of tourists this year is well over 500,000, significantly more than expected."
2.For "less than":
-Below/Under: Indicates being lower than a standard.
> "The sales figures for the second quarter were slightly below expectations."
-Just under/Slightly less than: Indicates a minor decrease.
> "The company’s expenses were just under $2 million, showing a slight decrease from last year."
-Well under: Significantly lower than a standard.
> "The population growth rate has fallen well under the global average."
4. Classic Sentence Structures
Mastering some common sentence structures can make your chart writing more concise and efficient, especially when dealing with complex data. Here are a few examples:
1.Subject + Verb Structure
This is the simplest and most commonly used sentence structure, where the subject of the description is followed by a verb. For example:
- "Between 1940 and 1985, the proportion of elderly people increased remarkably."
2.Time as the Subject
When describing changes over a period, the time frame can be the subject, followed by the verb “saw,” indicating that a change occurred during that time. For example:
- "The period from 1940 to 1985 saw a generally steady increase in the proportion of elderly people."
3.Location as the Subject
Places or countries can also serve as subjects, followed by the verb “experienced,” indicating that a change occurred in that area. For example:
- "Both the USA and Sweden experienced an alarming increase in the proportion of elderly people."
This structure is often used to compare data changes across different countries or regions.
5. Data Grouping and Comparison
Grouping data is a crucial step in processing large amounts of information in chart writing. You can classify data based on similarities or differences for analysis. For similar data, consider using:
-"Similarly": To indicate comparable situations.
> "Similarly, the USA also experienced a sharp rise in sales from 2011 to 2013."
For contrasting data, you can use multiples, percentages, or fractions for comparison:
-"Three times"/"Triple"/"Threefold": To indicate three times.
> "The rate of unemployment among women was three times as much as that of men during the economic depression."
This structure not only highlights the differences in data but also makes comparisons more intuitive.
In summary, this article has provided a detailed overview of the vocabulary, phrases, and sentence structures commonly used in IELTS Writing Task 1 for chart descriptions. By effectively employing these techniques, candidates can organise their language more efficiently and accurately express trends and changes in data presented in charts.
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