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Describing a chart
What is being tested is your ability to:
¨ objectively describe some graphic information
¨ compare and contrast
¨ report on an impersonal topic without the use of opinion
¨ use the language of graph description
Vocabulary tips:
§ Don’t repeat verbs.
§ Before you start to write, make a list of synonyms.
§ Be careful with prepositions. They can make a big difference in meaning.
The idea is to remember that this is a language task and you need to be able to describe the numbers you see and not just write them all down.
Your report should be structured with an introduction, body and conclusion.
1. Use two standard opening sentences to introduce the graph and your report. These opening sentences should make up the first paragraph.
2. Sentence one should define what the graph is about: the date, location, what is being described in the graph etc.
For example:
The graphs compare the number of deaths caused by six diseases in Someland in 1990 with the amount of research funding allocated to each of those diseases.
Notice that the Present Simple is used in the opening sentence. Even though it describes information from the past, the graph shows the information in the present time.
Don’t copy the sentences that are given with the graph or the question! Paraphrase the sentences presented in the task question.
3. Sentence two (and possibly three) might sum up the overall trend.
For example:
It can be clearly seen that the amount of research funding in many cases did not correlate with the seriousness of the disease in terms of numbers of deaths.
Notice the tense used. Here we are talking about past and use the Past Simple.
4. The body of the report will describe the graph in detail. You will need to decide on the most clear and logical order to present the material.
5. Ideally your report should end with one or two sentences which summarise your report or draw a relevant conclusion.
Expressing approximation
We use words to express approximation when the point we are trying to describe is between milestones on the graph.
Just under / just over / well under / well over
Roughly / nearly / approximately / around / about
You can also describe increases and decreases by using fractions to show the size of the change over a certain period.
For example:
The cost of rents doubled in less than a year.
Birth rates have halved since the turn of the century.
By July, the price of petrol had fallen by a third.
The number of school leavers going on to university has risen by a quarter since 1980.
Tenses
There are 2 different types of bar charts. Some show changes over a period of time (dynamic) and some show a position for one period of time (static).
Static bar charts: we use the Present Simple if we describe the present period of time.
In dynamic charts each bar shows a position for a different period of time. It’s normal to stick to only one tense to describe this type of chart. Normally we use the Past Simple if we can see the years / months (etc.) on one of the axis. But sometimes it’s possible to vary tenses. Look at this example:
The average price reached a peak of £127,000 in 2005 and then dropped slightly in 2006 and finished at £117,000 in 2007.
It is possible to rewrite this in a slightly more stylish way using a participle (-ing) form:
After reaching a peak of £127,000 in 2005, the average price then dropped slightly in 2006 before finishing the period at £117,000 in 2007.
You should note that this type of variation is only possible in dynamic charts and graphs where you have different times to compare.
Some Don’ts:
· Don’t describe the X and Y axis. Give the information.
· Don’t describe every number on the graph. Choose the key information; describe the main points, the main trends. Group similar things together.
· Don’t write about the line or the bar: “The line went up”, “The graph went down”. Instead, write about the idea:
“The number of people travelling to work by train increased gradually.”
“Oil production shot up in 1995”.
· Don't describe items separately (e.g. 2 lines on a graph). You should always try to compare things if it is possible to do so. Instead of describing 2 lines separately, compare the 2 lines at key points.
· Don’t give your opinion. Don’t use personal pronouns. Keep it academic; just report what you see.
· Don’t start sentences with But, So, Also, And, For, Since, Because, Although.
· Don’t copy sentences from the task. Paraphrase the question, put it in your own words.
· Don't forget to write a good summary/overview of the information. A quick one-sentence conclusion is not good enough.
Sample answer:
The graph compares the rate of smoking between men and women in Someland between the years 1960 and 2000. It can be clearly seen that the rate of smoking for both men and women is currently declining and that fewer women smoked throughout the period.
In 1960, 600 men in every 1,000 were smoking. This number decreased gradually to 500 by 1974 and continued to decrease but more steeply by 250 in 2000. In contrast, the rate of smoking women in 1960 was very low at just over 80 people in every 1,000. By 1968 this number increased by 90 people, and increased again but more steeply by 150 in 1977. The rate of female smokers then remained stable at around 320 until 1984 at which point the figures began to decline and had dropped to 200 by 2000.
In conclusion it is clear that the rate of smoking men dropped throughout the whole period but was always at a higher level than the female figures. The rate of smoking women increased until 1977 but then was decreasing for the rest of the period.
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