LESSON 1: DESCRIBING A GRAPH OVER TIME

The bar chart shows the number of times per week (in 1000s), over five weeks, that three computer packages were downloaded from the internet.

This lesson explains how to describe a line graph or bar chart for IELTS task 1 that is over time. This uses an example of a bar chart, but it will be the same for a line graph.

When you get a chart or graph to describe, it is always important to check whether there is a time frame or not. If there is, you will need to use the language of change.

However, it is not enough just to describe the changes of each element (ActiveX, Java and Net in this case) on their own and ignore how they relate to each other.

Look at the question – you are asked to compare the data as well. So you must also compare the elements where relevant in your IELTS task 1.

You must also group data together to make sure you have a well organized and coherent answer.

To do this, you need to look for similarities and differences when you first analyze the graph for IELTS task 1, and decide what can be logically put together or not.

Now look at the bar chart below and read the IELTS task 1 model answer.

Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant.

Model Answer

The bar chart illustrates the download rate per week of ActiveX, Java and Net computer packages over a period of five weeks. It can clearly be seen that ActiveX was the most popular computer package to download, whilst Net was the least popular of the three.

To begin, ActiveX and Java showed a similar pattern, with both gradually increasing from week 1 to week 5. However, the purchases of Active X remained significantly higher than for the other product over this time frame. In week 1, purchases of ActiveX stood at around 75,000, while those for Java were about 30,000 lower. With the exception of a slight fall in week 4, downloading of ActiveX kept increasing until it reached a peak in the final week of just over 120,000. Java also increased at a steady rate, finishing the period at 80,000.

The product that was downloaded the least was Net. This began at slightly under 40,000, and, in contrast to the other two products, fell over the next two weeks to reach a low of approximately 25,000. It then increased sharply over the following two weeks to finish at about 50,000, which was well below that of ActiveX.(Words 197)

Language of Change

As you can see, there are several examples of this in the graph, so it is important to learn how to use these correctly in order to successfully write an IELTS task 1 chart over time. Here are some examples:

• gradually increasing

• a slight fall

• kept rising

• reached a peak

• increased at a steady rate

• fell

• increased sharply

• a low of

• finish at

• stood at

• finishing the period at

You will need to practice this type of language, and also make sure you know a variety of structures to get a better score – if you keep repeating the same kind of phrases this will show you have a more limited range of lexis and grammar.

Making Comparisons

In IELTS task 1, you must also compare the data as you are asked to do in the rubric.

If you just write about what happened to ActiveX, what happened to Java, and what happened to Net, without showing any relationship between them, this won’t be enough.

Here are some examples of where comparisons are made between the products in the IELTS task 1 graph, and the language of comparison is highlighted in black:

It can clearly be seen that ActiveX was the most popular computer package to download, whilst Net was the least popularof the three

ActiveX and Java showed a similar trend, with both gradually increasing from week 1 to week 5

However, the purchases of Active X remained significantly higher than for the other product over this time frame.

In week 1, purchases of ActiveX stood at around 75, 000, while those for Java were about 30,000 lower

Java also increased at a steady rate, finishing the period at 80,000

The product that was downloaded the least was Net. This began at slightly under 40,000, and, in contrast to the other two products, fell over the next two weeks

It then increased sharply over the following two weeks to finish at about 50,000, which was well below that of ActiveX

Grouping the Data

It is a good idea to divide your answer into paragraphs so it is well organized. To do this, you should group similar thingstogether into paragraphs or sections.

If you look at the chart, you will see that ActiveX and Java have a similar pattern, both steadily increasing over the period (apart from the slight fall of ActiveX in week 4), so these could be put together:

To begin, ActiveX and Java showed a similar trend, with both gradually increasing from week 1 to week 5. However, the purchases of Active X remained significantly higher than for the other product over this time frame. In week 1, purchases of ActiveX stood at around 75,000, while those for Java were about 30,000 lower. With the exception of a slight fall in week 4, downloading of ActiveX kept rising until it reached a peak in the final week of just over 120,000. Java also increased at a steady rate, finishing the period at 80,000.

On the other hand, Net is the lowest and it has a different pattern – falling and then rising again. So this could be described in another paragraph:

The product that was downloaded the least was Net. This began at slightly under 40,000, and, in contrast to the other two products, fell over the next two weeks to a low of approximately 25,000. It then increased sharply over the following two weeks to finish at about 50,000, which was well below that of ActiveX.

There is usually more than one way to group the data for an IELTS task 1, so this needs to be your decision. As long as it is logical and makes your answer easy to follow and read, this should be ok.

 Source: HOPECO

IELTS PRACTICE SPEAKING TEST 5 – QUESTION

Good afternoon. My name is Debra. Could you tell me your full name please? What should I call you? Thank you. 1 Do you work or are you student? Can you tell me about your job? When is the busiest time in your job? If you could change your job. What would you prefer to […]

Good afternoon. My name is Debra. Could you tell me your full name please? What should I call you? Thank you.

1	Do you work or are you student? Can you tell me about your job? When is the busiest time in your job? If you could change your job. What would you prefer to do? What kind of music do you enjoy listening to? Do you play a musical instrument? What musical instruments do most people play in your home country? If you can play a musical instrument does this help you to enjoy music more?
2	Now I’d like to ask you to speak for 1-2 minutes on a topic You have one minute to plan your answer Here is a pencil and paper to make notes Here is your topic. I’d like you to describe your favorite teacher. Thank you. Can you start speaking now please? You have 1-2 minutes. I will tell you when the time is up. Describe your favorite teacher You should say: who was this teacher What this teacher taught How long you had this teacher and explain why you liked this teacher so much Thank you. Did other students also like this teacher?
3	We’ve been talking about teaching and I’d like to ask you a few questions about teaching and education. What are the qualities of a good teacher? What differences in teaching styles have you experienced with different teachers? Should teachers use discipline in the classroom? Can students learn from computers? Can you describe the education system in your country? When should children start formal schooling? Has education changed since your parent’s day – in the last 25 years? Should education be free? Thank you. This is the end of the Speaking test.

IELTS PRACTICE SPEAKING TEST 4 – QUESTION

Good afternoon. My name is Debra. Could you tell me your full name please? May I check your identification please? Thank you 1 Do you work or are you student? What are you studying at the moment? What did you choose to study these subjects (This program/ This degree?) What do you hope to do […]

Good afternoon. My name is Debra. Could you tell me your full name please? May I check your identification please? Thank you

1	Do you work or are you student? What are you studying at the moment? What did you choose to study these subjects (This program/ This degree?) What do you hope to do when you have finished your current studies? How do you spend your spare time? When you go out do you usually go alone or with others? Why? Is there a particular time the week when you prefer to go out? Do you think it is important to do when regular exercise? Why/ why not?
2	Now I’d like to ask you to speak for 1-2 minutes on a topic You have one minute to think about what you might say. Here is a pencil and paper to make notes Here is your topic. I’d like you to describe some you admire very much. Thank you. Can you start speaking now please? You have 1-2 minutes. Describe someone you admire very much You should say: Who this person is What this person does How long you have known about this person and explain why you admire this person very much Thank you. Is this person admired by others, do you think?
3	What makes a person famous? What kinds of people were famous in your grandparents’ time? In your opinion, is being well-known easy to live with? What kinds of people will be famous in the future? What responsibilities to society do famous people have? Do you think the children of famous people have an easy time? Would you like to be famous? Would being famous change you? Should the media be able to invade the privacy of famous people? Thank you. This is the end of the Speaking test.

IELTS PRACTICE SPEAKING TEST 3 – QUESTION

Good afternoon. My name is Renee. Could you tell me your full name please? Can check your identification? Thank you. 1 Do you work or are you student? Could you describe what kind of work you do? What do you like about your job? What kind of job do you hope to do in 10 […]

Good afternoon. My name is Renee. Could you tell me your full name please? Can check your identification? Thank you.

1	Do you work or are you student? Could you describe what kind of work you do? What do you like about your job? What kind of job do you hope to do in 10 years time? Do you play any sports? What are the most popular sports in your country? Is it better to play sport or watch it? Why? Can sport be dangerous? Do men and women play different sport in your country?
2	Now I am going to give you a topic and I’d like you to speak on it for 1 – 2 minutes. You have one minute to prepare your answer. Here is a pencil and paper to make notes. Here is your topic. I’d like you to describe a vacation you have really enjoyed. Thank you. Can you start talking now please? I will stop you at 2 minutes. Describe a vacation you have really enjoyed. You should say: Where you went for the vacation Who you traveled with What you did on this holiday and explain why you enjoyed the holiday. Thank you. Would you go there again?
3	Now I’d like to ask you a few more questions about vacations and holidays away. Are people talking more holidays and travelling far away these days? Where did people go for holidays in your grandfather’s time – say 50 years ago? Where do people usually like to go for a holiday away these days? Why do people want to travel, to go away, for a holiday? Is tourism having an effect on the environment? How important is the tourist dollar for economy? Will the tourist industry grow in the next 10 – 20 years? Why? What do you think of tourism designed not to damage the environment? Thank you. That is the end of the Speaking Test.

IELTS PRACTICE SPEAKING TEST 2 – QUESTION

Good afternoon. My name is Anna. Could you tell me your full name please? What should I call you? Thank you 1 Do you work or are you a student? Can you tell me about your studies? What is your favorite subject? What is your study plan? Do you have any hobbies or interests? What […]

Good afternoon. My name is Anna. Could you tell me your full name please? What should I call you? Thank you

1	Do you work or are you a student? Can you tell me about your studies? What is your favourite subject? What is your study plan? Do you have any hobbies or interests? What hobbies are popular with young boys and girls in your country? Do people usually continue their hobbies when they get older?
2	Now I’d like to ask you to speak for 1 – 2 minutes on a topic You have one minute to plan your answer Here is a pencil and paper to make notes Here is your topic. I’d like you to describe a movie which made a strong impression on you Thank you. Can you start speaking now, please? Remember you have a maximum of two minutes Describe a moive which made a strong impression on you. You should say: Which movie it was – the name What the movie was about Who the main stars were and explain why you enjoyed the movie Thank you. Do you go to the movies often?
3	Now I’d like to ask you a few more questions about films and movies Are films popular where you come from? Are people going to the cinema more these days compared with 25 year ago? What films are popular with young people? Do people’s taste in films change as they grow older? Has technology made a difference to the quality of modern films? How will technology be used to improve films in the future? Why have the forms of popular entertainment changed over the years? Will people still go to the cinema in the future? Thank you. That the end of the Speaking Test.

IELTS PRACTICE SPEAKING TEST 1 – QUESTION

Good afternoon. My name is Andy. Could you tell me your name please? Thank you 1 I’d like you to tell me about home town [or city] Can you tell me about the most interesting things in your home town? Could you descibe places of special interest I could visit near where you live? What […]

1	I’d like you to tell me about home town [or city] Can you tell me about the most interesting things in your home town? Could you descibe places of special interest I could visit near where you live? What would be the best way for to get to those places? Should I go there at any special time of the year? I’d like to ask you a few questions about food and diet. What do you usually eat for breakfast? What is the most important meal of the day for you? What sould we eat to stay healthy? Will people’s diet change in the future?
2	Now I’d like to ask you to speak for 1 – 2 minutes on a topic. You have one minute to plan your answer. Here is a pencil and paper to make notes. Here is your topic. I’d like you to describe a celebration you recently participated in. Thank you. Can you start speaking now. Please? I will stop you after two minutes. I’d like you to describe a celebration you recently participated in. You should say: Where the celebration took place. When it happened. Why it was held – what was being celebrated and explain how the celebration was conducted. Thank you. Are there many similar celebrations where you come from?
3	Now, let’s talk more about traditions and celebrations. What role do traditional ceremonies play in the social like of people in your country? What traiditions were important for your grandparents, say 50 year a go? Which traditions will continue to be celebrated in the future? How would you describe young people’s attitudes towards tradition? Are customs and traditions changing these days? Why do you think this is happening? Do you think traditions and customs are affected by advertising? Do some coutries celebrate traditions more than others? Thank you. That is the end of the Speaking Test.

Good afternoon. My name is Andy. Could you tell me your name please? Thank you