How to Effectively Describe a

Graph

EFL SMARTblog

Warm up Videos:
Video 1:
Comment on one striking piece of s
tatistics from this video
Tutorial (describing charts and
graphs)

Discuss the Following Questions:

Why are visuals used in scientific papers?
What visuals do researchers in your major commonly use
to show data? Why?

Match the beginnings and endings of the following

sentences about setting data in tables and charts:
1. Tables, graphs, charts, etc are
necessary

a. Be consistent with them

2. Visual summaries allow

b. Reduced in size in a paper

3. Deciding how to present data

visually makes you

c. Show trends; tables to show

exact numbers.

4. Visuals need to be clear even

when

d. The reader to check the data

for themselves.

5. Graphs should be used to

e. Think carefully about what

your results mean

6. Too much information in a

visual

f. To avoid filling up the text with

lists of numbers

7. Use standard symbols and

g. Will confuse the reader

Answer Keys

What language to use in describing a graph?

VERB + ADVERB

ADJECTIVE + NOUN

EFL SMARTblog

What language to use in describing a graph?

ADJECTIVE + NOUN

VERB + ADVERB
alter
decline
decrease
double
drop
exceed
fall
fluctuate
halve
hover
increase
level out
peak
plummet
reduce
rise
rocket
stabilize
triple

approximately

dramatically
gradually
rapidly
slightly

An

downward
gradual
huge
sharp
slight
stable
subsequent
upward

decline
decrease
drop
fall
increase
peak
period
rise
trend

steadily

Look at the graphs on

the following pages
and use the vocabulary
to describe them.
EFL SMARTblog

What language to use in describing a graph?

ADJECTIVE + NOUN

VERB + ADVERB
alter
decline
decrease
double
drop
exceed
fall
fluctuate
halve
hover
increase
level out
peak
plummet
reduce
rise
rocket
stabilize
triple

approximately

dramatically
gradually
rapidly
slightly

An

downward
gradual
huge
sharp
slight
stable
subsequent
upward

steadily

EFL SMARTblog

decline
decrease
drop
fall
increase
peak
period
rise
trend

What language to use in describing a graph?

ADJECTIVE + NOUN

VERB + ADVERB
alter
decline
decrease
double
drop
exceed
fall
fluctuate
halve
hover
increase
level out
peak
plummet
reduce
rise
rocket
stabilize
triple

approximately

dramatically
gradually
rapidly
slightly

An

downward
gradual
huge
sharp
slight
stable
subsequent
upward

steadily

EFL SMARTblog

decline
decrease
drop
fall
increase
peak
period
rise
trend

Describe what you see on the graph below:

EFL SMARTblog

Describe what you see on the graph below:

EFL SMARTblog

IELTS Task 1 Language - Graphs

Describe what you see on the graph

EFL SMARTblog

Describe what you see on the graph

EFL SMARTblog

Attempt to answer the following questions based on the

graphs shown:
1.What percentage of boys prefer to
study reading online?
a. Eighty per cent
b. Approximately 80%
2.What percentage of boys prefer
to study writing online?
a. Ten per cent
b. Slightly more than 10%
3.What percentage of girls prefer to
study listening online?
a. Approximately 75%
b. Between 60% and 70%
4. What percentage of girls prefer to
study speaking online?
a. slightly less than 60%
b. about 40%
5. What percentage of boys prefer to
study vocabulary online?
a. Almost 90%
b. Slightly more than 80%

1.How many computers and software

items were sold to teenagers during the
month?
a. 306
b.1030
c. 903
2. What was the total number of
items sold to teenagers during the
month?
a.1030
b. 903
c. 369
3. What was the total number of
digital cameras sold?
a.172
b. 628
c.1030
4. How many digital cameras were
sold to adults aged 50 and over?
a.652
b.628
c.188

5. How many items were sold to

adults aged 1849?
1385
903
3067

1.How many tusks were found in

1996?
a.40
b.43
c.30
2.How many skulls were found
in 1996?
a.20
b.21
c.23
3.In what year was the smallest
number of skulls found?
a.1996
b.1998
c.2000
4.In which two years did the
number of mandibles found
remain the same?
a.1996 and 1998
b.1998 and 2000
c.2000 and 2002
5.In which year was the largest
number of scapulae found?
a.1996
b.1998
c.2000

The pie chart below shows the leading causes of insomnia, in percentages, as reported by a
group of people between the ages of 20 and 40. They were interviewed in April 2004.
Use the information in the pie chart to answer the questions. Select the best answer.

1:What does the information on this chart

represent?
a. People and insomnia (sleeplessness)
b. Factors influencing insomnia
2:What is the most common cause of insomnia for
this group?
a. Stress
b. Drinks with caffeine
3:What is the least common cause of insomnia for
this group?
a. Ill health
b. Medication
4:Which two factors were reported as leading
causes of insomnia by an identical percentage of
people?
a. ill health and medication
b. depression and environmental factors
5:Which two factors were reported by almost the
same percentage of people?
a. ill health and medication
b. environmental factors and ill health