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
