IELTS Writing Task 1 Language

In order to get a high band score in IELTS Writing Task 1, you must use a good range of language. In fact, 25% of your final band score comes from the “lexical resource”, or range of vocabulary, that you use in your report.

I’ve put together a list of language which shows you the kind of language you can use to help you describe charts, graphs and diagrams. When you practice writing IELTS writing task 1, use this language!

I’ve also created a slideshow of this language – scroll down to see it!

Find out more in my article about how to improve your vocabulary.

Making An Overview Statement

We can see from the chart / table that…

The chart / table shows us that…

Describing An Overall Trend

Overall…

From an overall perspective…

Looking at the graph/chart/table as a whole…

One of the first things to note is…

One thing that clearly stands out is…

Introducing A Key Point

It is interesting to see/note that…

One striking feature of the graph/chart is…

Interestingly…

Surprisingly…

Introducing Supporting Details

For example, 

For instance,

Moreover,

More specifically,

This fact is borne out by…

Comparing Data

There are twice/3 times as many X as Y

In comparison to X, Y is… 

There are slightly more/fewer X than Y

There are significantly more/fewer X than Y

The amount/quantity/percentage of X is ____er than that of Y

Approximating

Approximately

Roughly

About

Just above/over/under/below

A little less/more than

Slightly less/more than

Describing Trends

The figures rose/increased/went up from…to

The figures fell/decreased/went down from…to

There is/was a steady/gradual/sudden…

There is/was a(n) upward/downward trend

There is/was little or no change

There is/was a…

…rise/increase between / from…to

…fall/decrease/drop/decline between / from…to

Fluctuated between

Rose to…

Dipped to…

Reached a peak/high (point) of…

Reached a low point of…

Describing Trends: Adverbs

Dramatically

Sharply

Suddenly

Significantly

Steadily

Gradually

Talking About Time

From the beginning of this period

During this period

From then until March

Between March and June

…ending the year at…

When/once/as soon as

Describing A Process

First

Then / next / after that

Before that

As soon as

until

Finally

The X is made/done…

After X has been completed / finished…

…Y is begun / initiated / started

 

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Charles Cornelius is a former IELTS Examiner with 25 years' teaching experience all over the world. He has worked for some of the major English language schools including International House, IDP and The British Council. He holds a MA in Education from the University of Bath. His courses, for both English language learners and teachers, have been taken by over 80,000 students in over 160 countries around the world.

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