Chapter: Describing Graphs and Charts
đ Vocabulary
English Grammar and Composition Classes Nine and Ten
â Most Important Exam Words
graphchartdatafigurepercentageproportioncategoryaxisincreaseriseclimbsurgedecreasedeclinedropplungesteadilygraduallysharplyslightlydramaticallyfluctuatestableconstantcomparecontrastwhereasrespectivelysimilarhigherlowerdominantperiodtrendprojectedforecastestimateexpectedactualapproximatelyillustrateindicateaccount forrepresentoverallprominentwherebysummarise
đ Word Formation Rules
âē Noun to adjective: percentage â percentage-based; trend â trendy; stability â stable.
âē Verb to noun: increase â increase/increment; compare â comparison; fluctuate â fluctuation; estimate â estimation.
âē Adjective to adverb: steady â steadily; gradual â gradually; sharp â sharply; dramatic â dramatically; approximate â approximately.
âē Noun to verb: summary â summarise; representation â represent; indication â indicate.
âē Use the suffix â-tionâ to form nouns from many verbs: project â projection, predict â prediction, compare â comparison.
âē Use the suffix â-lyâ to form adverbs from adjectives: significant â significantly, slight â slightly, considerable â considerably.
âē Use prefixes for opposites: likely â unlikely, stable â unstable, accurate â inaccurate, similar â dissimilar.
âē Use â-edâ for a predicted or completed condition: project â projected, expect â expected, record â recorded.
1. Core Terms for Graphs and Charts (8 words)
graph[/ÉĄrÉËf/]nouneasy
Meaning: a visual representation of data â āĻāĻĒāĻžāϤā§āϤā§āϰ āĻāĻŋāϤā§āϰāĻāĻŋāϤā§āϤāĻŋāĻ āĻāĻĒāϏā§āĻĨāĻžāĻĒāύ
Alt: a diagram showing changes or relationships â āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻŦāϰā§āϤāύ āĻŦāĻž āϏāĻŽā§āĻĒāϰā§āĻ āĻĒā§āϰāĻĻāϰā§āĻļāύāĻāĻžāϰ⧠āϰā§āĻāĻžāĻāĻŋāϤā§āϰ
Example: The graph shows the population growth of Bangladesh. â āϰā§āĻāĻžāĻāĻŋāϤā§āϰāĻāĻŋ āĻŦāĻžāĻāϞāĻžāĻĻā§āĻļā§āϰ āĻāύāϏāĻāĻā§āϝāĻž āĻŦā§āĻĻā§āϧāĻŋ āĻĻā§āĻāĻžāϝāĻŧāĨ¤
Syn: chart
đĄ Exam tip: Begin with âThe graph shows...â or âThe graph illustrates...â when introducing data.
chart[/tĘÉËt/]nouneasy
Meaning: a diagram that presents information â āϤāĻĨā§āϝ āĻāĻĒāϏā§āĻĨāĻžāĻĒāύāĻāĻžāϰ⧠āĻāĻŋāϤā§āϰ
Alt: a table or visual display of facts â āϤāĻĨā§āϝ āĻŦāĻž āĻāĻĒāĻžāϤā§āϤā§āϰ āĻĻā§āĻļā§āϝāĻŽāĻžāύ āϤāĻžāϞāĻŋāĻāĻž
Example: The chart presents household expenditure in two countries. â āĻāĻžāϰā§āĻāĻāĻŋ āĻĻā§āĻāĻŋ āĻĻā§āĻļā§āϰ āĻĒāĻžāϰāĻŋāĻŦāĻžāϰāĻŋāĻ āĻŦā§āϝāϝāĻŧ āĻāĻĒāϏā§āĻĨāĻžāĻĒāύ āĻāϰā§āĨ¤
Syn: diagram
đĄ Exam tip: Use âchartâ for bar charts, pie charts and other organized visual displays.
data[/ËdeÉĒtÉ/]nouneasy
Meaning: facts or figures collected for analysis â āĻŦāĻŋāĻļā§āϞā§āώāĻŖā§āϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āϏāĻāĻā§āĻšā§āϤ āϤāĻĨā§āϝ āĻŦāĻž āĻĒāϰāĻŋāϏāĻāĻā§āϝāĻžāύ
Alt: measured information â āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻŽāĻžāĻĒ āĻāϰāĻž āĻāĻĒāĻžāϤā§āϤ
Example: The data were collected from a reliable source. â āϤāĻĨā§āϝāĻā§āϞ⧠āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻāϰāϝā§āĻā§āϝ āĻā§āϏ āĻĨā§āĻā§ āϏāĻāĻā§āϰāĻš āĻāϰāĻž āĻšāϝāĻŧā§āĻāĻŋāϞāĨ¤
Syn: figures, information
đĄ Exam tip: Treat âdataâ as plural in formal examination writing: âThe data show...â
figure[/ËfÉĒÉĄÉ(r)/]nouneasy
Meaning: a number or statistical amount â āϏāĻāĻā§āϝāĻž āĻŦāĻž āĻĒāϰāĻŋāϏāĻāĻā§āϝāĻžāύāĻāϤ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻŽāĻžāĻŖ
Alt: a numerical value in a chart â āĻāĻžāϰā§āĻā§ āĻĒā§āϰāĻĻāϤā§āϤ āϏāĻāĻā§āϝāĻžāĻŽāĻžāύ
Example: The figure rose to sixty percent in 2030. â ⧍ā§Ļā§Šā§Ļ āϏāĻžāϞ⧠āϏāĻāĻā§āϝāĻžāĻāĻŋ āώāĻžāĻ āĻļāϤāĻžāĻāĻļā§ āĻāύā§āύā§āϤ āĻšāϝāĻŧāĨ¤
Syn: number, statistic
đĄ Exam tip: Use âfigureâ to avoid repeating ânumberâ or âpercentage.â
percentage[/pÉËsentÉĒdĘ/]nouneasy
Meaning: a proportion expressed out of one hundred â āĻāĻāĻļāϤāĻžāĻāĻļā§ āĻĒā§āϰāĻāĻžāĻļāĻŋāϤ āĻ
āύā§āĻĒāĻžāϤ
Alt: a rate or share â āĻšāĻžāϰ āĻŦāĻž āĻ
āĻāĻļ
Example: The percentage of urban people increased considerably. â āĻļāĻšāϰāĻŦāĻžāϏ⧠āĻŽāĻžāύā§āώā§āϰ āĻļāϤāĻžāĻāĻļ āĻāϞā§āϞā§āĻāϝā§āĻā§āϝāĻāĻžāĻŦā§ āĻŦā§āĻĄāĻŧā§āĻā§āĨ¤
Syn: proportion, rate
đĄ Exam tip: Write the symbol only when appropriate; in formal prose, âpercentâ or âpercentageâ is safer.
proportion[/prÉËpÉËĘÉn/]nounmedium
Meaning: a part compared with the whole â āϏāĻŽāĻā§āϰā§āϰ āϤā§āϞāύāĻžāϝāĻŧ āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻ
āĻāĻļ
Alt: a share or percentage â āĻ
āĻāĻļ āĻŦāĻž āĻļāϤāĻžāĻāĻļ
Example: The proportion of people living in cities is expected to double. â āĻļāĻšāϰ⧠āĻŦāϏāĻŦāĻžāϏāĻāĻžāϰ⧠āĻŽāĻžāύā§āώā§āϰ āĻ
āύā§āĻĒāĻžāϤ āĻĻā§āĻŦāĻŋāĻā§āĻŖ āĻšāĻŦā§ āĻŦāϞ⧠āĻāĻļāĻž āĻāϰāĻž āĻšāĻā§āĻā§āĨ¤
Syn: share, percentageAnt: whole
đĄ Exam tip: Use âthe proportion of + plural noun + is/wasâ when describing a percentage.
category[/ËkÃĻtÉÉĄÉri/]nouneasy
Meaning: a group of people or things with common features â āĻ
āĻāĻŋāύā§āύ āĻŦā§āĻļāĻŋāώā§āĻā§āϝā§āϰ āĻŽāĻžāύā§āώ āĻŦāĻž āĻŦāϏā§āϤā§āϰ āĻļā§āϰā§āĻŖāĻŋ
Alt: a classification in a chart â āĻāĻžāϰā§āĻā§āϰ āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻļā§āϰā§āĻŖāĻŋāĻŦāĻŋāĻāĻžāĻ
Example: Food was the largest expenditure category. â āĻāĻžāĻĻā§āϝ āĻāĻŋāϞ āĻŦā§āϝāϝāĻŧā§āϰ āĻŦā§āĻšāϤā§āϤāĻŽ āĻļā§āϰā§āĻŖāĻŋāĨ¤
Syn: class, group
đĄ Exam tip: Use âcategoryâ to refer to labels such as food, transport or housing.
axis[/ËÃĻksÉĒs/]nounmedium
Meaning: a reference line on a graph â āĻā§āϰāĻžāĻĢā§āϰ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻĻā§āĻļāĻ āϰā§āĻāĻž
Alt: a horizontal or vertical scale line â āĻ
āύā§āĻā§āĻŽāĻŋāĻ āĻŦāĻž āĻāϞā§āϞāĻŽā§āĻŦ āĻŽāĻžāĻĒāϰā§āĻāĻž
Example: The vertical axis measures the percentage of people. â āĻāϞā§āϞāĻŽā§āĻŦ āĻ
āĻā§āώāĻāĻŋ āĻŽāĻžāύā§āώā§āϰ āĻļāϤāĻžāĻāĻļ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻŽāĻžāĻĒ āĻāϰā§āĨ¤
Syn: scale
đĄ Exam tip: Remember: one is an âaxisâ; more than one are âaxes.â
2. Describing Increase and Decrease (8 words)
increase[/ÉĒnËkriËs/]verbeasy
Meaning: to become greater â āĻŦā§āĻĻā§āϧāĻŋ āĻĒāĻžāĻāϝāĻŧāĻž
Alt: to make something larger â āĻā§āύ⧠āĻāĻŋāĻā§ āĻŦāĻžāĻĄāĻŧāĻžāύā§
Example: The rate increased from 20% to 35%. â āĻšāĻžāϰāĻāĻŋ ⧍ā§Ļ āĻļāϤāĻžāĻāĻļ āĻĨā§āĻā§ ā§Šā§Ģ āĻļāϤāĻžāĻāĻļā§ āĻŦā§āĻĄāĻŧā§āĻā§āĨ¤
Syn: rise, growAnt: decrease, fall
đĄ Exam tip: As a verb, stress the second syllable: in-CREASE.
rise[/raÉĒz/]verbeasy
Meaning: to go up â āĻāĻĒāϰ⧠āĻāĻ āĻž āĻŦāĻž āĻŦā§āĻĻā§āϧāĻŋ āĻĒāĻžāĻāϝāĻŧāĻž
Alt: to reach a higher level â āĻāĻā§āĻāϤāϰ āĻĒāϰā§āϝāĻžāϝāĻŧā§ āĻĒā§āĻāĻāĻžāύā§
Example: The share price rose sharply in 2008. â ⧍ā§Ļā§Ļā§Ž āϏāĻžāϞ⧠āĻļā§āϝāĻŧāĻžāϰā§āϰ āĻĻāĻžāĻŽ āϤā§āĻŦā§āϰāĻāĻžāĻŦā§ āĻŦā§āĻĄāĻŧā§āĻāĻŋāϞāĨ¤
Syn: increase, climbAnt: fall, drop
đĄ Exam tip: The past form is âroseâ and the past participle is ârisen.â
climb[/klaÉĒm/]verbmedium
Meaning: to increase gradually â āϧā§āϰ⧠āϧā§āϰ⧠āĻŦā§āĻĻā§āϧāĻŋ āĻĒāĻžāĻāϝāĻŧāĻž
Alt: to move to a higher point â āĻāĻā§āĻāϤāϰ āĻ
āĻŦāϏā§āĻĨāĻžāύ⧠āĻāĻ āĻž
Example: The number of visitors climbed steadily. â āĻĻāϰā§āĻļāύāĻžāϰā§āĻĨā§āϰ āϏāĻāĻā§āϝāĻž āϧāĻžāϰāĻžāĻŦāĻžāĻšāĻŋāĻāĻāĻžāĻŦā§ āĻŦā§āĻĄāĻŧā§āĻā§āĨ¤
Syn: increase, escalateAnt: decline, drop
đĄ Exam tip: âClimb steadilyâ is useful for a gradual upward trend.
surge[/sÉËdĘ/]nounhard
Meaning: a sudden and powerful increase â āĻāĻāϏā§āĻŽāĻŋāĻ āĻ āϤā§āĻŦā§āϰ āĻŦā§āĻĻā§āϧāĻŋ
Alt: a rapid upward movement â āĻĻā§āϰā§āϤ āĻāϰā§āϧā§āĻŦāĻŽā§āĻā§ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻŦāϰā§āϤāύ
Example: There was a surge in the demand for mobile phones. â āĻŽā§āĻŦāĻžāĻāϞ āĻĢā§āύā§āϰ āĻāĻžāĻšāĻŋāĻĻāĻžāϝāĻŧ āĻāĻāϏā§āĻŽāĻŋāĻ āĻŦā§āĻĻā§āϧāĻŋ āĻāĻā§āĻāĻŋāϞāĨ¤
Syn: jump, leapAnt: plunge, collapse
đĄ Exam tip: Use âa surge inâ before a noun, not âa surge ofâ in most chart descriptions.
decrease[/dÉĒËkriËs/]verbeasy
Meaning: to become smaller or lower â āĻāĻŽā§ āϝāĻžāĻāϝāĻŧāĻž
Alt: to reduce in amount â āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻŽāĻžāĻŖā§ āĻšā§āϰāĻžāϏ āĻĒāĻžāĻāϝāĻŧāĻž
Example: The percentage decreased slightly after 2010. â ⧍ā§Ļā§§ā§Ļ āϏāĻžāϞā§āϰ āĻĒāϰ āĻļāϤāĻžāĻāĻļāĻāĻŋ āϏāĻžāĻŽāĻžāύā§āϝ āĻāĻŽā§āĻāĻŋāϞāĨ¤
Syn: decline, reduceAnt: increase, rise
đĄ Exam tip: As a verb, stress the second syllable: de-CREASE.
decline[/dÉĒËklaÉĒn/]verbmedium
Meaning: to decrease gradually â āϧā§āϰ⧠āϧā§āϰ⧠āĻāĻŽā§ āϝāĻžāĻāϝāĻŧāĻž
Alt: to become weaker or less important â āĻĻā§āϰā§āĻŦāϞ āĻŦāĻž āĻāĻŽ āĻā§āϰā§āϤā§āĻŦāĻĒā§āϰā§āĻŖ āĻšāϝāĻŧā§ āϝāĻžāĻāϝāĻŧāĻž
Example: The figure declined steadily over the period. â āϏāĻŽāϝāĻŧāĻāĻžāϞāĻā§āĻĄāĻŧā§ āϏāĻāĻā§āϝāĻžāĻāĻŋ āϧāĻžāϰāĻžāĻŦāĻžāĻšāĻŋāĻāĻāĻžāĻŦā§ āĻāĻŽā§āĻā§āĨ¤
Syn: fall, dropAnt: grow, increase
đĄ Exam tip: âDeclineâ sounds more formal than âgo down.â
drop[/drÉp/]verbeasy
Meaning: to fall suddenly â āĻšāĻ āĻžā§ āĻāĻŽā§ āϝāĻžāĻāϝāĻŧāĻž
Alt: to become lower â āύāĻŋāĻŽā§āύāϤāϰ āĻšāĻāϝāĻŧāĻž
Example: The price dropped from 31 euros to 21 euros. â āĻĻāĻžāĻŽ ā§Šā§§ āĻāĻāϰ⧠āĻĨā§āĻ⧠⧍⧧ āĻāĻāϰā§āϤ⧠āύā§āĻŽā§ āĻāĻŋāϝāĻŧā§āĻāĻŋāϞāĨ¤
Syn: fall, plungeAnt: rise, surge
đĄ Exam tip: Use âdropâ for a noticeable fall, especially over a short period.
plunge[/plĘndĘ/]verbhard
Meaning: to fall suddenly and greatly â āĻāĻāϏā§āĻŽāĻŋāĻāĻāĻžāĻŦā§ āĻŦā§āϝāĻžāĻĒāĻ āĻšā§āϰāĻžāϏ āĻĒāĻžāĻāϝāĻŧāĻž
Alt: to decrease dramatically â āύāĻžāĻāĻā§āϝāĻŧāĻāĻžāĻŦā§ āĻāĻŽā§ āϝāĻžāĻāϝāĻŧāĻž
Example: The share price plunged to its lowest point. â āĻļā§āϝāĻŧāĻžāϰā§āϰ āĻĻāĻžāĻŽ āϏāϰā§āĻŦāύāĻŋāĻŽā§āύ āĻĒāϰā§āϝāĻžāϝāĻŧā§ āύā§āĻŽā§ āĻāĻŋāϝāĻŧā§āĻāĻŋāϞāĨ¤
Syn: plummet, crashAnt: soar, surge
đĄ Exam tip: Reserve âplungeâ for a very sharp or dramatic decrease.
3. Degree, Speed and Stability (8 words)
steadily[/ËstedÉĒli/]adveasy
Meaning: in a regular and continuous way â āύāĻŋāϝāĻŧāĻŽāĻŋāϤ āĻ āϧāĻžāϰāĻžāĻŦāĻžāĻšāĻŋāĻāĻāĻžāĻŦā§
Alt: without sudden changes â āĻāĻāϏā§āĻŽāĻŋāĻ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻŦāϰā§āϤāύ āĻāĻžāĻĄāĻŧāĻž
Example: The population grew steadily between 1950 and 2007. â ⧧⧝ā§Ģā§Ļ āĻĨā§āĻ⧠⧍ā§Ļā§Ļā§ āϏāĻžāϞā§āϰ āĻŽāϧā§āϝ⧠āĻāύāϏāĻāĻā§āϝāĻž āϧāĻžāϰāĻžāĻŦāĻžāĻšāĻŋāĻāĻāĻžāĻŦā§ āĻŦā§āĻĄāĻŧā§āĻā§āĨ¤
Syn: gradually, consistentlyAnt: erratically, suddenly
đĄ Exam tip: Place it after the verb: âincreased steadily.â
gradually[/ËÉĄrÃĻdĘuÉli/]adveasy
Meaning: slowly over a period of time â āϏāĻŽāϝāĻŧā§āϰ āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāϧāĻžāύ⧠āϧā§āϰ⧠āϧā§āϰā§
Alt: by small stages â āĻā§āĻ āĻā§āĻ āϧāĻžāĻĒā§
Example: The rate gradually fell to 15%. â āĻšāĻžāϰāĻāĻŋ āϧā§āϰ⧠āϧā§āϰ⧠⧧ā§Ģ āĻļāϤāĻžāĻāĻļā§ āύā§āĻŽā§ āϝāĻžāϝāĻŧāĨ¤
Syn: slowly, progressivelyAnt: rapidly, suddenly
đĄ Exam tip: Use this adverb for a smooth change rather than a sudden movement.
sharply[/ËĘÉËpli/]advmedium
Meaning: suddenly and significantly â āĻāĻāϏā§āĻŽāĻŋāĻāĻāĻžāĻŦā§ āĻ āĻāϞā§āϞā§āĻāϝā§āĻā§āϝāĻāĻžāĻŦā§
Alt: in a steep manner â āϤā§āĻŦā§āϰāĻāĻžāĻŦā§
Example: The figure rose sharply in 2013. â ⧍ā§Ļā§§ā§Š āϏāĻžāϞ⧠āϏāĻāĻā§āϝāĻžāĻāĻŋ āϤā§āĻŦā§āϰāĻāĻžāĻŦā§ āĻŦā§āĻĄāĻŧā§āĻāĻŋāϞāĨ¤
Syn: dramatically, steeplyAnt: slightly, gently
đĄ Exam tip: âSharpâ can describe both increases and decreases: ârose sharplyâ or âfell sharply.â
slightly[/ËslaÉĒtli/]adveasy
Meaning: by a small amount â āϏāĻžāĻŽāĻžāύā§āϝ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻŽāĻžāĻŖā§
Alt: not considerably â āĻāϞā§āϞā§āĻāϝā§āĻā§āϝāĻāĻžāĻŦā§ āύāϝāĻŧ
Example: Malaysia had a slightly higher rate than Singapore. â āϏāĻŋāĻā§āĻāĻžāĻĒā§āϰā§āϰ āϤā§āϞāύāĻžāϝāĻŧ āĻŽāĻžāϞāϝāĻŧā§āĻļāĻŋāϝāĻŧāĻžāϰ āĻšāĻžāϰ āϏāĻžāĻŽāĻžāύā§āϝ āĻŦā§āĻļāĻŋ āĻāĻŋāϞāĨ¤
Syn: marginally, a littleAnt: considerably, substantially
đĄ Exam tip: Use it when the difference is small.
dramatically[/drÉËmÃĻtÉĒkli/]advmedium
Meaning: in a sudden and striking way â āĻāĻāϏā§āĻŽāĻŋāĻ āĻ āĻāĻŽāĻāĻĒā§āϰāĻĻāĻāĻžāĻŦā§
Alt: to a great extent â āĻŦā§āϝāĻžāĻĒāĻāĻāĻžāĻŦā§
Example: The number of books read by men increased dramatically. â āĻĒā§āϰā§āώāĻĻā§āϰ āĻĒāĻĄāĻŧāĻž āĻŦāĻāϝāĻŧā§āϰ āϏāĻāĻā§āϝāĻž āύāĻžāĻāĻā§āϝāĻŧāĻāĻžāĻŦā§ āĻŦā§āĻĄāĻŧā§āĻāĻŋāϞāĨ¤
Syn: drastically, remarkablyAnt: slightly, moderately
đĄ Exam tip: Do not use it for a tiny change; it implies a very large movement.
fluctuate[/ËflĘktĘueÉĒt/]verbhard
Meaning: to rise and fall irregularly â āĻ
āύāĻŋāϝāĻŧāĻŽāĻŋāϤāĻāĻžāĻŦā§ āĻāĻ āĻžāύāĻžāĻŽāĻž āĻāϰāĻž
Alt: to vary repeatedly â āĻŦāĻžāϰāĻŦāĻžāϰ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻŦāϰā§āϤāĻŋāϤ āĻšāĻāϝāĻŧāĻž
Example: The GDP growth rate fluctuated throughout the decade. â āĻĻāĻļāĻāĻā§āĻĄāĻŧā§ āĻāĻŋāĻĄāĻŋāĻĒāĻŋ āĻŦā§āĻĻā§āϧāĻŋāϰ āĻšāĻžāϰ āĻāĻ āĻžāύāĻžāĻŽāĻž āĻāϰā§āĻā§āĨ¤
Syn: vary, oscillateAnt: stabilize, remain constant
đĄ Exam tip: Use âfluctuateâ when data repeatedly moves up and down.
stable[/ËsteÉĒbÉl/]adjmedium
Meaning: remaining almost unchanged â āĻĒā§āϰāĻžāϝāĻŧ āĻ
āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻŦāϰā§āϤāĻŋāϤ
Alt: steady and controlled â āϏā§āĻĨāĻŋāϰ āĻ āύāĻŋāϝāĻŧāύā§āϤā§āϰāĻŋāϤ
Example: The percentage remained stable at around 20%. â āĻļāϤāĻžāĻāĻļāĻāĻŋ āĻĒā§āϰāĻžāϝāĻŧ ⧍ā§Ļ āĻļāϤāĻžāĻāĻļā§ āϏā§āĻĨāĻŋāϰ āĻāĻŋāϞāĨ¤
Syn: steady, constantAnt: unstable, volatile
đĄ Exam tip: Common structure: âremained stable at...â
constant[/ËkÉnstÉnt/]adjeasy
Meaning: unchanging â āĻ
āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻŦāϰā§āϤāύā§āϝāĻŧ āĻŦāĻž āϏā§āĻĨāĻŋāϰ
Alt: continuing without interruption â āĻŦāĻŋāϰāϤāĻŋ āĻāĻžāĻĄāĻŧāĻž āĻāϞāĻŽāĻžāύ
Example: The figure stayed constant for three years. â āϏāĻāĻā§āϝāĻžāĻāĻŋ āϤāĻŋāύ āĻŦāĻāϰ āϏā§āĻĨāĻŋāϰ āĻāĻŋāϞāĨ¤
Syn: unchanged, fixedAnt: variable, changing
đĄ Exam tip: Use âconstantâ only when the value does not change noticeably.
4. Comparison and Contrast (8 words)
compare[/kÉmËpeÉ(r)/]verbeasy
Meaning: to examine similarities and differences â āϏāĻžāĻĻā§āĻļā§āϝ āĻ āĻĒāĻžāϰā§āĻĨāĻā§āϝ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž āĻāϰāĻž
Alt: to relate one thing to another â āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻŦāĻŋāώāϝāĻŧā§āϰ āϏāĻā§āĻā§ āĻ
āύā§āϝāĻāĻŋāϰ āϏāĻŽā§āĻĒāϰā§āĻ āϏā§āĻĨāĻžāĻĒāύ āĻāϰāĻž
Example: The report compares transport habits in two cities. â āĻĒā§āϰāϤāĻŋāĻŦā§āĻĻāύāĻāĻŋ āĻĻā§āĻāĻŋ āĻļāĻšāϰā§āϰ āϝāĻžāϤāĻžāϝāĻŧāĻžāϤā§āϰ āĻ
āĻā§āϝāĻžāϏ āϤā§āϞāύāĻž āĻāϰā§āĨ¤
Syn: contrast, relateAnt: separate
đĄ Exam tip: Use âcompare A with Bâ or âcompare A and B.â
contrast[/ËkÉntrÉËst/]nounmedium
Meaning: a clear difference between things â āĻŦāĻŋāώāϝāĻŧāĻā§āϞā§āϰ āĻŽāϧā§āϝ⧠āϏā§āĻĒāώā§āĻ āĻĒāĻžāϰā§āĻĨāĻā§āϝ
Alt: a comparison showing differences â āĻĒāĻžāϰā§āĻĨāĻā§āϝ āĻĻā§āĻāĻžāύ⧠āϤā§āϞāύāĻž
Example: There is a sharp contrast between the two countries. â āĻĻā§āĻāĻŋ āĻĻā§āĻļā§āϰ āĻŽāϧā§āϝ⧠āϤā§āĻŦā§āϰ āĻĒāĻžāϰā§āĻĨāĻā§āϝ āϰāϝāĻŧā§āĻā§āĨ¤
Syn: difference, distinctionAnt: similarity, resemblance
đĄ Exam tip: Useful phrase: âIn contrast, ...â to begin a contrasting sentence.
whereas[/ËweÉrËÃĻz/]conjmedium
Meaning: while showing a difference â āĻĒāĻžāϰā§āĻĨāĻā§āϝ āĻŦā§āĻāĻžāϤ⧠āϝāĻāύ
Alt: in comparison with the fact that â āĻāĻ āϤā§āϞāύāĻžāϝāĻŧ āϝā§
Example: Japan spent 20% on transport, whereas Malaysia spent only 10%. â āĻāĻžāĻĒāĻžāύ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻŦāĻšāύ⧠⧍ā§Ļ āĻļāϤāĻžāĻāĻļ āĻŦā§āϝāϝāĻŧ āĻāϰā§āĻā§, āϝā§āĻāĻžāύ⧠āĻŽāĻžāϞāϝāĻŧā§āĻļāĻŋāϝāĻŧāĻž āĻŽāĻžāϤā§āϰ ā§§ā§Ļ āĻļāϤāĻžāĻāĻļ āĻŦā§āϝāϝāĻŧ āĻāϰā§āĻā§āĨ¤
Syn: while, although
đĄ Exam tip: Join two contrasting clauses with a comma before âwhereas.â
respectively[/rÉĒËspektÉĒvli/]advhard
Meaning: in the same order as previously mentioned â āĻĒā§āϰā§āĻŦā§ āĻāϞā§āϞāĻŋāĻāĻŋāϤ āĻāĻāĻ āĻā§āϰāĻŽā§
Alt: correspondingly â āĻ
āύā§āϰā§āĻĒāĻāĻžāĻŦā§
Example: The rates were 35% and 30%, respectively. â āĻšāĻžāϰāĻā§āϞ⧠āϝāĻĨāĻžāĻā§āϰāĻŽā§ ā§Šā§Ģ āĻļāϤāĻžāĻāĻļ āĻ ā§Šā§Ļ āĻļāϤāĻžāĻāĻļ āĻāĻŋāϞāĨ¤
Syn: correspondingly
đĄ Exam tip: Use it only when two or more figures match the same order of subjects.
similar[/ËsÉĒmÉĒlÉ(r)/]adjeasy
Meaning: almost the same â āĻĒā§āϰāĻžāϝāĻŧ āĻāĻāĻ
Alt: having common features â āĻ
āĻāĻŋāύā§āύ āĻŦā§āĻļāĻŋāώā§āĻā§āϝāϏāĻŽā§āĻĒāύā§āύ
Example: The two countries had similar spending patterns. â āĻĻā§āĻāĻŋ āĻĻā§āĻļā§āϰ āĻŦā§āϝāϝāĻŧā§āϰ āϧāϰāύ āĻāĻāĻ āϰāĻāĻŽ āĻāĻŋāϞāĨ¤
Syn: alike, comparableAnt: different, dissimilar
đĄ Exam tip: Use âsimilar to,â not âsimilar with.â
higher[/ËhaÉĒÉ(r)/]adjeasy
Meaning: greater in amount or level â āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻŽāĻžāĻŖ āĻŦāĻž āĻŽāĻžāϤā§āϰāĻžāϝāĻŧ āĻŦā§āĻļāĻŋ
Alt: above another value â āĻ
āύā§āϝ āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻŽāĻžāύā§āϰ āĻā§āϝāĻŧā§ āĻāϰā§āϧā§āĻŦā§
Example: The urbanization rate was higher in North America. â āĻāϤā§āϤāϰ āĻāĻŽā§āϰāĻŋāĻāĻžāϝāĻŧ āύāĻāϰāĻžāϝāĻŧāĻŖā§āϰ āĻšāĻžāϰ āĻŦā§āĻļāĻŋ āĻāĻŋāϞāĨ¤
Syn: greater, largerAnt: lower, smaller
đĄ Exam tip: Use âhigher thanâ for direct comparisons.
lower[/ËlÉĘÉ(r)/]adjeasy
Meaning: smaller in amount or level â āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻŽāĻžāĻŖ āĻŦāĻž āĻŽāĻžāϤā§āϰāĻžāϝāĻŧ āĻāĻŽ
Alt: below another value â āĻ
āύā§āϝ āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻŽāĻžāύā§āϰ āĻā§āϝāĻŧā§ āύāĻŋāĻā§
Example: Africa had a lower urbanization rate than Europe. â āĻāĻāϰā§āĻĒā§āϰ āϤā§āϞāύāĻžāϝāĻŧ āĻāĻĢā§āϰāĻŋāĻāĻžāϰ āύāĻāϰāĻžāϝāĻŧāĻŖā§āϰ āĻšāĻžāϰ āĻāĻŽ āĻāĻŋāϞāĨ¤
Syn: lesser, reducedAnt: higher, greater
đĄ Exam tip: âLower thanâ is preferred when comparing numerical data.
dominant[/ËdÉmÉĒnÉnt/]adjhard
Meaning: more important, powerful or noticeable â āĻ
āϧāĻŋāĻ āĻā§āϰā§āϤā§āĻŦāĻĒā§āϰā§āĻŖ, āĻļāĻā§āϤāĻŋāĻļāĻžāϞ⧠āĻŦāĻž āϞāĻā§āώāĻŖā§āϝāĻŧ
Alt: having the largest share â āϏāϰā§āĻŦāĻŦā§āĻšā§ āĻ
āĻāĻļā§āϰ āĻ
āϧāĻŋāĻāĻžāϰā§
Example: Cars were the dominant means of transport. â āĻāĻžāĻĄāĻŧāĻŋ āĻāĻŋāϞ āϝāĻžāϤāĻžāϝāĻŧāĻžāϤā§āϰ āĻĒā§āϰāϧāĻžāύ āĻŽāĻžāϧā§āϝāĻŽāĨ¤
Syn: leading, majorAnt: minor, secondary
đĄ Exam tip: Use it in the overview to identify the largest or most influential category.
5. Time, Forecast and Data Interpretation (8 words)
period[/ËpÉĒÉriÉd/]nouneasy
Meaning: a length of time â āϏāĻŽāϝāĻŧāĻāĻžāϞ
Alt: a specified interval â āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻĻāĻŋāώā§āĻ āϏāĻŽāϝāĻŧā§āϰ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāϏāϰ
Example: The chart covers a period of ten years. â āĻāĻžāϰā§āĻāĻāĻŋ āĻĻāĻļ āĻŦāĻāϰā§āϰ āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āϏāĻŽāϝāĻŧāĻāĻžāϞ āύāĻŋāϝāĻŧā§ āϤā§āϰāĻŋāĨ¤
Syn: duration, intervalAnt: moment
đĄ Exam tip: Common phrase: âover the period from 2006 to 2015.â
trend[/trend/]nounmedium
Meaning: a general direction of change â āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻŦāϰā§āϤāύā§āϰ āϏāĻžāϧāĻžāϰāĻŖ āĻĒā§āϰāĻŦāĻŖāϤāĻž
Alt: a pattern of movement â āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻŦāϰā§āϤāύā§āϰ āϧāϰāĻŖ
Example: The graph indicates an upward trend in income. â āĻā§āϰāĻžāĻĢāĻāĻŋ āĻāϝāĻŧā§āϰ āĻāϰā§āϧā§āĻŦāĻŽā§āĻā§ āĻĒā§āϰāĻŦāĻŖāϤāĻž āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻĻā§āĻļ āĻāϰā§āĨ¤
Syn: tendency, patternAnt: randomness
đĄ Exam tip: Mention the overall trend in the concluding or overview paragraph.
projected[/prÉËdĘektÉĒd/]adjmedium
Meaning: predicted for the future â āĻāĻŦāĻŋāώā§āϝāϤā§āϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āĻ
āύā§āĻŽāĻžāύāĻā§āϤ
Alt: calculated as a likely future figure â āϏāĻŽā§āĻāĻžāĻŦā§āϝ āĻāĻŦāĻŋāώā§āϝ⧠āϏāĻāĻā§āϝāĻž āĻšāĻŋāϏā§āĻŦā§ āĻāĻŖāύāĻžāĻā§āϤ
Example: The projected population will reach 60 million. â āĻ
āύā§āĻŽāĻŋāϤ āĻāύāϏāĻāĻā§āϝāĻž ā§Ŧā§Ļ āĻŽāĻŋāϞāĻŋāϝāĻŧāύ⧠āĻĒā§āĻāĻāĻžāĻŦā§āĨ¤
Syn: predicted, estimatedAnt: actual, recorded
đĄ Exam tip: Use it for future data shown in a graph.
forecast[/ËfÉËkÉËst/]nounhard
Meaning: a statement about future conditions â āĻāĻŦāĻŋāώā§āϝ⧠āĻĒāϰāĻŋāϏā§āĻĨāĻŋāϤāĻŋ āϏāĻŽā§āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§ āĻĒā§āϰā§āĻŦāĻžāĻāĻžāϏ
Alt: a prediction based on information â āϤāĻĨā§āϝāύāĻŋāϰā§āĻāϰ āĻ
āύā§āĻŽāĻžāύ
Example: The forecast suggests that urbanization will continue. â āĻĒā§āϰā§āĻŦāĻžāĻāĻžāϏ⧠āĻŦā§āĻāĻž āϝāĻžāϝāĻŧ āϝ⧠āύāĻāϰāĻžāϝāĻŧāĻŖ āĻ
āĻŦā§āϝāĻžāĻšāϤ āĻĨāĻžāĻāĻŦā§āĨ¤
Syn: prediction, projectionAnt: fact, record
đĄ Exam tip: Use âforecastâ for predicted data, especially economic or population figures.
estimate[/ËestÉĒmeÉĒt/]verbmedium
Meaning: to calculate approximately â āĻāύā§āĻŽāĻžāύāĻŋāĻ āĻšāĻŋāϏāĻžāĻŦ āĻāϰāĻž
Alt: to judge the likely amount â āϏāĻŽā§āĻāĻžāĻŦā§āϝ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻŽāĻžāĻŖ āύāĻŋāϰā§āϧāĻžāϰāĻŖ āĻāϰāĻž
Example: Experts estimate that the figure will double by 2030. â āĻŦāĻŋāĻļā§āώāĻā§āĻāϰāĻž āĻ
āύā§āĻŽāĻžāύ āĻāϰā§āύ āϝ⧠⧍ā§Ļā§Šā§Ļ āϏāĻžāϞā§āϰ āĻŽāϧā§āϝ⧠āϏāĻāĻā§āϝāĻžāĻāĻŋ āĻĻā§āĻŦāĻŋāĻā§āĻŖ āĻšāĻŦā§āĨ¤
Syn: calculate, approximateAnt: measure exactly
đĄ Exam tip: Use âis estimated toâ when the exact future value is uncertain.
expected[/ÉĒkËspektÉĒd/]adjeasy
Meaning: believed likely to happen â āĻāĻāĻŦā§ āĻŦāϞ⧠āĻĒā§āϰāϤā§āϝāĻžāĻļāĻŋāϤ
Alt: anticipated â āĻĒā§āϰā§āĻŦāĻžāύā§āĻŽāĻŋāϤ
Example: The percentage is expected to rise next year. â āĻāĻāĻžāĻŽā§ āĻŦāĻāϰ āĻļāϤāĻžāĻāĻļāĻāĻŋ āĻŦāĻžāĻĄāĻŧāĻŦā§ āĻŦāϞ⧠āĻāĻļāĻž āĻāϰāĻž āĻšāĻā§āĻā§āĨ¤
Syn: anticipated, predictedAnt: unexpected, unlikely
đĄ Exam tip: âIs expected to + base verbâ is a useful structure for future trends.
actual[/ËÃĻktĘuÉl/]adjeasy
Meaning: real or recorded, not predicted â āĻĒā§āϰāĻā§āϤ āĻŦāĻž āύāĻĨāĻŋāĻā§āĻā§āϤ, āĻ
āύā§āĻŽāĻŋāϤ āύāϝāĻŧ
Alt: existing in fact â āĻŦāĻžāϏā§āϤāĻŦā§ āĻŦāĻŋāĻĻā§āϝāĻŽāĻžāύ
Example: The actual figure was lower than the projected figure. â āĻĒā§āϰāĻā§āϤ āϏāĻāĻā§āϝāĻžāĻāĻŋ āĻ
āύā§āĻŽāĻŋāϤ āϏāĻāĻā§āϝāĻžāϰ āĻā§āϝāĻŧā§ āĻāĻŽ āĻāĻŋāϞāĨ¤
Syn: real, recordedAnt: estimated, predicted
đĄ Exam tip: Contrast âactualâ data with âprojectedâ or âforecastâ data.
approximately[/ÉËprÉksÉĒmÉtli/]advmedium
Meaning: nearly but not exactly â āĻĒā§āϰāĻžāϝāĻŧ, āϤāĻŦā§ āϏāĻŽā§āĻĒā§āϰā§āĻŖ āϏāĻ āĻŋāĻ āύāϝāĻŧ
Alt: about â āĻāύā§āĻŽāĻžāύāĻŋāĻāĻāĻžāĻŦā§
Example: Approximately 40% of the population lived in cities. â āĻāύāϏāĻāĻā§āϝāĻžāϰ āĻĒā§āϰāĻžāϝāĻŧ ā§Ēā§Ļ āĻļāϤāĻžāĻāĻļ āĻļāĻšāϰ⧠āĻŦāĻžāϏ āĻāϰāϤāĨ¤
Syn: about, roughlyAnt: exactly, precisely
đĄ Exam tip: Use it when a graph gives an approximate value.
6. Useful Reporting Language (8 words)
illustrate[/ËÉĒlÉstreÉĒt/]verbmedium
Meaning: to explain or show clearly â āĻĒāϰāĻŋāώā§āĻāĻžāϰāĻāĻžāĻŦā§ āĻŦā§āϝāĻžāĻā§āϝāĻž āĻŦāĻž āĻĻā§āĻāĻžāύā§
Alt: to represent information visually â āϤāĻĨā§āϝ āĻāĻŋāϤā§āϰā§āϰ āĻŽāĻžāϧā§āϝāĻŽā§ āĻāĻĒāϏā§āĻĨāĻžāĻĒāύ āĻāϰāĻž
Example: The bar chart illustrates science qualifications in two countries. â āĻŦāĻžāϰ āĻāĻžāϰā§āĻāĻāĻŋ āĻĻā§āĻāĻŋ āĻĻā§āĻļā§āϰ āĻŦāĻŋāĻā§āĻāĻžāύāĻŦāĻŋāώāϝāĻŧāĻ āϝā§āĻā§āϝāϤāĻž āĻāĻĒāϏā§āĻĨāĻžāĻĒāύ āĻāϰā§āĨ¤
Syn: show, demonstrateAnt: conceal, hide
đĄ Exam tip: âIllustratesâ is a formal alternative to âshowsâ in the opening sentence.
indicate[/ËÉĒndÉĒkeÉĒt/]verbmedium
Meaning: to point out or show â āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻĻā§āĻļ āĻāϰāĻž āĻŦāĻž āĻĻā§āĻāĻžāύā§
Alt: to suggest a fact or trend â āĻā§āύ⧠āϤāĻĨā§āϝ āĻŦāĻž āĻĒā§āϰāĻŦāĻŖāϤāĻž āĻŦā§āĻāĻžāύā§
Example: The figures indicate a gradual improvement. â āϏāĻāĻā§āϝāĻžāĻā§āϞ⧠āϧā§āϰ⧠āϧā§āϰ⧠āĻāύā§āύāϤāĻŋāϰ āĻāĻā§āĻāĻŋāϤ āĻĻā§āϝāĻŧāĨ¤
Syn: suggest, revealAnt: hide, contradict
đĄ Exam tip: Use it when the data suggest a conclusion rather than state it directly.
account for[/ÉËkaĘnt fÉË(r)/]verbhard
Meaning: to constitute a particular amount or share â āĻā§āύ⧠āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻĻāĻŋāώā§āĻ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻŽāĻžāĻŖ āĻŦāĻž āĻ
āĻāĻļ āĻāĻ āύ āĻāϰāĻž
Alt: to explain the amount of something â āĻā§āύ⧠āĻāĻŋāĻā§āϰ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻŽāĻžāĻŖ āĻŦā§āϝāĻžāĻā§āϝāĻž āĻāϰāĻž
Example: Housing accounted for 34% of total expenditure. â āĻŽā§āĻ āĻŦā§āϝāϝāĻŧā§āϰ ā§Šā§Ē āĻļāϤāĻžāĻāĻļ āĻāĻŦāĻžāϏāύ āĻāĻžāϤ⧠āĻāĻŋāϞāĨ¤
Syn: constitute, representAnt: exclude
đĄ Exam tip: Use âaccounted for + percentageâ when describing pie charts.
represent[/ËreprÉĒËzent/]verbmedium
Meaning: to stand for or show â āĻĒā§āϰāϤāĻŋāĻĢāϞāĻŋāϤ āĻŦāĻž āĻāĻĒāϏā§āĻĨāĻžāĻĒāύ āĻāϰāĻž
Alt: to equal a particular percentage â āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻĻāĻŋāώā§āĻ āĻļāϤāĻžāĻāĻļā§āϰ āϏāĻŽāĻžāύ āĻšāĻāϝāĻŧāĻž
Example: Women represented the larger share in 2012. â ⧍ā§Ļ⧧⧍ āϏāĻžāϞ⧠āύāĻžāϰā§āϰāĻž āĻŦā§āĻšāϤā§āϤāϰ āĻ
āĻāĻļā§āϰ āĻĒā§āϰāϤāĻŋāύāĻŋāϧāĻŋāϤā§āĻŦ āĻāϰā§āĻāĻŋāϞāĨ¤
Syn: denote, symbolizeAnt: misrepresent
đĄ Exam tip: âRepresentâ is useful for explaining what a segment or figure means.
overall[/ËÉĘvÉrËÉËl/]adveasy
Meaning: considering everything â āϏāĻŦāĻāĻŋāĻā§ āĻŦāĻŋāĻŦā§āĻāύāĻž āĻāϰā§
Alt: in general â āϏāĻžāĻŽāĻā§āϰāĻŋāĻāĻāĻžāĻŦā§
Example: Overall, the number of books read by men increased. â āϏāĻžāĻŽāĻā§āϰāĻŋāĻāĻāĻžāĻŦā§, āĻĒā§āϰā§āώāĻĻā§āϰ āĻĒāĻĄāĻŧāĻž āĻŦāĻāϝāĻŧā§āϰ āϏāĻāĻā§āϝāĻž āĻŦā§āĻĄāĻŧā§āĻā§āĨ¤
Syn: generally, on the wholeAnt: partially, specifically
đĄ Exam tip: Start the overview or conclusion with âOverall,â followed by a comma.
prominent[/ËprÉmÉĒnÉnt/]adjhard
Meaning: important and noticeable â āĻā§āϰā§āϤā§āĻŦāĻĒā§āϰā§āĻŖ āĻ āϞāĻā§āώāĻŖā§āϝāĻŧ
Alt: easily seen or recognized â āϏāĻšāĻā§ āĻĻā§āĻāĻž āĻŦāĻž āĻā§āύāĻž āϝāĻžāϝāĻŧ āĻāĻŽāύ
Example: A prominent feature is the low percentage of masterâs degrees. â āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āϞāĻā§āώāĻŖā§āϝāĻŧ āĻŦā§āĻļāĻŋāώā§āĻā§āϝ āĻšāϞ⧠āĻŽāĻžāϏā§āĻāĻžāϰā§āϏ āĻĄāĻŋāĻā§āϰāĻŋāϰ āĻāĻŽ āĻļāϤāĻžāĻāĻļāĨ¤
Syn: noticeable, significantAnt: insignificant, hidden
đĄ Exam tip: Use âa prominent feature is...â to introduce an important observation.
whereby[/weÉËbaÉĒ/]advhard
Meaning: by which or through which â āϝāĻžāϰ āĻŽāĻžāϧā§āϝāĻŽā§
Alt: according to which â āϝ⧠āĻĒāĻĻā§āϧāϤāĻŋāϤā§
Example: The survey used a method whereby participants reported their activities. â āĻāϰāĻŋāĻĒā§ āĻāĻŽāύ āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻĒāĻĻā§āϧāϤāĻŋ āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰ āĻāϰāĻž āĻšāϝāĻŧā§āĻāĻŋāϞ āϝāĻžāϰ āĻŽāĻžāϧā§āϝāĻŽā§ āĻ
āĻāĻļāĻā§āϰāĻšāĻŖāĻāĻžāϰā§āϰāĻž āϤāĻžāĻĻā§āϰ āĻāĻžāϰā§āϝāĻā§āϰāĻŽ āĻāĻžāύāĻŋāϝāĻŧā§āĻāĻŋāϞāĨ¤
Syn: by which, through which
đĄ Exam tip: This formal word is useful in complex descriptions but should not be overused.
summarise[/ËsĘmÉraÉĒz/]verbmedium
Meaning: to present the main points briefly â āĻĒā§āϰāϧāĻžāύ āĻŦāĻŋāώāϝāĻŧāĻā§āϞ⧠āϏāĻāĻā§āώā§āĻĒā§ āĻāĻĒāϏā§āĻĨāĻžāĻĒāύ āĻāϰāĻž
Alt: to give an overview â āϏāĻžāϰāϏāĻāĻā§āώā§āĻĒ āĻĻā§āĻāϝāĻŧāĻž
Example: The answer should summarise the main features of the chart. â āĻāϤā§āϤāϰ⧠āĻāĻžāϰā§āĻā§āϰ āĻĒā§āϰāϧāĻžāύ āĻŦā§āĻļāĻŋāώā§āĻā§āϝāĻā§āϞā§āϰ āϏāĻžāϰāϏāĻāĻā§āώā§āĻĒ āĻĻāĻŋāϤ⧠āĻšāĻŦā§āĨ¤
Syn: outline, condenseAnt: expand, elaborate
đĄ Exam tip: Do not copy every detail; select the most important features and comparisons.
đĄ Exam Tips
âĸ Read both axes, units, categories, time period and legend before writing.
âĸ Start with a paraphrased introduction; do not copy the question wording.
âĸ Write an overview mentioning the most important trends, highest values, lowest values or major contrasts.
âĸ Organise the description into an introduction, overview and detail paragraphs.
âĸ Use the simple past for completed time, the present perfect for unfinished time and future forms for predicted data.
âĸ Use âis expected to,â âis predicted toâ or âis likely toâ for uncertain future figures.
âĸ Use precise comparison structures such as âhigher than,â âtwice as high as,â âwhereasâ and ârespectively.â
âĸ Use adverbs such as steadily, gradually, sharply, slightly and dramatically to show the speed or degree of change.
âĸ For pie charts, use âaccounted for,â ârepresentedâ and âmade upâ with percentages.
âĸ Do not list every figure mechanically; select the main features and support them with accurate data.
âĸ End with a concluding observation about the overall pattern or dependence shown by the data.
âĸ Check subject-verb agreement, tense, percentage symbols, spelling and comparative forms before submitting.