How to write GRAPHS AND CHARTS in IELTS writing task 1

GRAPHS AND CHARTS
The graph below shows the monthly consumption of vegetables, fish and red meat in kilograms in households in Malaysia between
1990 and 2010.

Fish
Veg
Red Meat

OUTLINE
1st Paragraph

SAMPLE
What is the study all about?

1. Paraphrase
- Show: compare, present, illustrate,
exhibit, showcase
2. Present Tense
3. From, To // Between, And

DRILL:
The graph below shows the monthly consumption of
vegetables, fish and red meat in kilograms in
households in Malaysia between 1990 and 2010.
(Linear Graph.)
The linear graph compares the amount of vegetables,
fish and red meat consumed in kilograms per month
by Malaysian homes from 1990 to 2010.

2nd Paragraph

What is the overall trend?

1. Identify the Relationships
2. Refrain from quoting Specific Figures
- No figures (No numbers)
3. Expressions: By and large, Overall, All in
all, Generally, On the whole

In general, while the demand for red meat was
consistently decreasing, the use of both vegetables and
fish was inversely proportional to that of red meat.

-

Over the span of ____ years
Over a ____ - period
From the start to the end of the period.
Over the surveyed years.


A. Two Types of Relationships:
1. Inversely Proportional // Inverse Proportion
2. Directly Proportional // Direct Proportion

Formula: A is Inversely Proportional to B
Formula: A is Directly Proportional to B

B. Trend
TREND:
Movement + Modifier

MOVEMENT: Increase or Decrease
MODIFIERS

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

gradually/slowly
dramatically/sharply/steeply
considerably/significantly/markedly
whopping/staggering/tremendous
exponential/astronomical
consistently/continuously/regularly
occasionally/sporadically

3rd and 4th
Paragraph

10- 11- 13- 14- 16- 17
10- 20- 30- 40- 50- 60
10- 35- 70- 95- 120- 150
10- 100- 250- 400- 600
10- 1, 000- 5. 000- 10, 000
10- 11- 13- 25- 40- 42- 43 (GENERIC MODIFIERS)
10- 18- 15- 29- 20- 45 Versus (Fluctuation)

REMINDERS
1. Divide the details into 2 groups.
2. Use the correct verb tenses.
3. Compare and Contrast
OUTLINE
General Description- Trend
- Compare and Contrast 1
- Compare and Contrast 2

Compare and Contrast

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Percentage
Folds of Change
Numbers of Change
Plus/ Minus
Range
Enumerate in RARE occasions only.

FORMULA:

1. Percentage

= Fv – Iv x 100%

Iv

2. Folds of Change
= Fv – Iv
Iv

3. Number of Change


= Fv
Iv

4. Plus/ Minus
Plus= Fv- Iv
Minus= Iv- Fv

5. Range

Sv – Hv
From// To; Between// And

3rd Paragraph

GROUP 1
The household members in Malaysia made a dramatic decrease in their red meat consumption. In
1990, 40 kilograms of red meat was eaten by Malaysians per month. After 5 years, it decreased by
25% and was further cut into 50% by 2000. This amount, nonetheless, scaled down to as low as 5
kilograms in the final year which is also equivalent to 12.5%.

4th Paragraph

GROUP 2
Meanwhile, although not as high as meat usage, the demand for fish recorded a steep increase.
Initially 5 kilograms of fish was consumed monthly, yet this went up to 300% after 2 decades.
Moreover, vegetable consumption had an occasional climb ranging between 10 and 14 kilograms
during the years surveyed.


SAMPLE DRILL
The graph below shows the monthly consumption of vegetables, fish and red meat in kilograms in households in
Malaysia between 1990 and 2010.

The linear graph compares the amount of vegetables, fish and red
meat consumed in kilograms per month by Malaysian homes from
1990 to 2010.
In

general, while the demand for red meat was consistently
decreasing, the use of both vegetables and fish was inversely
proportional to that of red meat for a span of 20 years.
The household members in Malaysia made a dramatic decrease in their red meat consumption. In 1990, 40
kilograms of red meat was eaten by Malaysians per month. After 5 years, it decreased by 25% and was further
cut into 50% by 2000. This amount, nonetheless, scaled down to as low as 5 kilograms in the final year which
is also equivalent to 12.5%.
Meanwhile, although not as high as meat usage, the demand for fish recorded a steep increase. Initially 5
kilograms of fish was consumed monthly, yet this went up to 300% after 2 decades. Moreover, vegetable
consumption had an occasional climb ranging between 10 and 14 kilograms during the years surveyed.


EASY DRILL

The graph below shows the number of puppies and kittens sold at X Pet Shop from 2000 to 2015.

1st Paragraph

2nd Paragraph

The linear graph presents the total sales of puppies and kittens between 2000 and 2015 at X
pet shop.
Considerable increase// significant fluctuations
By and large, while puppies had a considerable increase in sales, kittens, in contrast, experienced
significant fluctuations over a 15-year period.

3rd Paragraph

4th Paragraph


DRIFFICULT DRILL
The graph below shows the proportion of the population aged 10 to 15 who were considered genius in three different
countries between 2000 and 2015.

1st Paragraph

2nd Paragraph

3rd Paragraph

4th Paragraph