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English Grammar and Composition Classes Nine and Ten - Describing Graphs and Charts - Vocabulary

SSC (Class 9-10) ¡ English ¡ 14 Aug 2026

🎯 SSC (Class 9-10)🌐 English📅 14 Aug 2026📖 Course 44 of 82
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SSC (Class 9-10)English Grammar and Composition Classes Nine and Ten - Describing Graphs and Charts - Vocabulary

Chapter: Describing Graphs and Charts

📚 Vocabulary
English Grammar and Composition Classes Nine and Ten
⭐ Most Important Exam Words
graphchartdatafigurepercentageproportioncategoryaxisincreaseriseclimbsurgedecreasedeclinedropplungesteadilygraduallysharplyslightlydramaticallyfluctuatestableconstantcomparecontrastwhereasrespectivelysimilarhigherlowerdominantperiodtrendprojectedforecastestimateexpectedactualapproximatelyillustrateindicateaccount forrepresentoverallprominentwherebysummarise
📃 Word Formation Rules
â–ē Noun to adjective: percentage → percentage-based; trend → trendy; stability → stable.
â–ē Verb to noun: increase → increase/increment; compare → comparison; fluctuate → fluctuation; estimate → estimation.
â–ē Adjective to adverb: steady → steadily; gradual → gradually; sharp → sharply; dramatic → dramatically; approximate → approximately.
â–ē Noun to verb: summary → summarise; representation → represent; indication → indicate.
â–ē Use the suffix “-tion” to form nouns from many verbs: project → projection, predict → prediction, compare → comparison.
â–ē Use the suffix “-ly” to form adverbs from adjectives: significant → significantly, slight → slightly, considerable → considerably.
â–ē Use prefixes for opposites: likely → unlikely, stable → unstable, accurate → inaccurate, similar → dissimilar.
â–ē Use “-ed” for a predicted or completed condition: project → projected, expect → expected, record → recorded.
1. Core Terms for Graphs and Charts (8 words)
graph[/ɡrɑːf/]nouneasy
Meaning: a visual representation of data — āωāĻĒāĻžāĻ¤ā§āϤ⧇āϰ āϚāĻŋāĻ¤ā§āϰāĻ­āĻŋāĻ¤ā§āϤāĻŋāĻ• āωāĻĒāĻ¸ā§āĻĨāĻžāĻĒāύ
Alt: a diagram showing changes or relationships — āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻŦāĻ°ā§āϤāύ āĻŦāĻž āϏāĻŽā§āĻĒāĻ°ā§āĻ• āĻĒā§āϰāĻĻāĻ°ā§āĻļāύāĻ•āĻžāϰ⧀ āϰ⧇āĻ–āĻžāϚāĻŋāĻ¤ā§āϰ
Example: The graph shows the population growth of Bangladesh. — āϰ⧇āĻ–āĻžāϚāĻŋāĻ¤ā§āϰāϟāĻŋ āĻŦāĻžāĻ‚āϞāĻžāĻĻ⧇āĻļ⧇āϰ āϜāύāϏāĻ‚āĻ–ā§āϝāĻž āĻŦ⧃āĻĻā§āϧāĻŋ āĻĻ⧇āĻ–āĻžāϝāĻŧāĨ¤
Syn: chart
💡 Exam tip: Begin with “The graph shows...” or “The graph illustrates...” when introducing data.
chart[/tʃɑːt/]nouneasy
Meaning: a diagram that presents information — āϤāĻĨā§āϝ āωāĻĒāĻ¸ā§āĻĨāĻžāĻĒāύāĻ•āĻžāϰ⧀ āϚāĻŋāĻ¤ā§āϰ
Alt: a table or visual display of facts — āϤāĻĨā§āϝ āĻŦāĻž āωāĻĒāĻžāĻ¤ā§āϤ⧇āϰ āĻĻ⧃āĻļā§āϝāĻŽāĻžāύ āϤāĻžāϞāĻŋāĻ•āĻž
Example: The chart presents household expenditure in two countries. — āϚāĻžāĻ°ā§āϟāϟāĻŋ āĻĻ⧁āϟāĻŋ āĻĻ⧇āĻļ⧇āϰ āĻĒāĻžāϰāĻŋāĻŦāĻžāϰāĻŋāĻ• āĻŦā§āϝāϝāĻŧ āωāĻĒāĻ¸ā§āĻĨāĻžāĻĒāύ āĻ•āϰ⧇āĨ¤
Syn: diagram
💡 Exam tip: Use “chart” for bar charts, pie charts and other organized visual displays.
data[/ˈdeÉĒtə/]nouneasy
Meaning: facts or figures collected for analysis — āĻŦāĻŋāĻļā§āϞ⧇āώāϪ⧇āϰ āϜāĻ¨ā§āϝ āϏāĻ‚āĻ—ā§ƒāĻšā§€āϤ āϤāĻĨā§āϝ āĻŦāĻž āĻĒāϰāĻŋāϏāĻ‚āĻ–ā§āϝāĻžāύ
Alt: measured information — āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻŽāĻžāĻĒ āĻ•āϰāĻž āωāĻĒāĻžāĻ¤ā§āϤ
Example: The data were collected from a reliable source. — āϤāĻĨā§āϝāϗ⧁āϞ⧋ āĻāĻ•āϟāĻŋ āύāĻŋāĻ°ā§āĻ­āϰāϝ⧋āĻ—ā§āϝ āĻ‰ā§ŽāϏ āĻĨ⧇āϕ⧇ āϏāĻ‚āĻ—ā§āϰāĻš āĻ•āϰāĻž āĻšāϝāĻŧ⧇āĻ›āĻŋāϞāĨ¤
Syn: figures, information
💡 Exam tip: Treat “data” as plural in formal examination writing: “The data show...”
figure[/ˈfÉĒɡə(r)/]nouneasy
Meaning: a number or statistical amount — āϏāĻ‚āĻ–ā§āϝāĻž āĻŦāĻž āĻĒāϰāĻŋāϏāĻ‚āĻ–ā§āϝāĻžāύāĻ—āϤ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻŽāĻžāĻŖ
Alt: a numerical value in a chart — āϚāĻžāĻ°ā§āĻŸā§‡ āĻĒā§āϰāĻĻāĻ¤ā§āϤ āϏāĻ‚āĻ–ā§āϝāĻžāĻŽāĻžāύ
Example: The figure rose to sixty percent in 2030. — ⧍ā§Ļā§Šā§Ļ āϏāĻžāϞ⧇ āϏāĻ‚āĻ–ā§āϝāĻžāϟāĻŋ āώāĻžāϟ āĻļāϤāĻžāĻ‚āĻļ⧇ āωāĻ¨ā§āύ⧀āϤ āĻšāϝāĻŧāĨ¤
Syn: number, statistic
💡 Exam tip: Use “figure” to avoid repeating “number” or “percentage.”
percentage[/pəˈsentÉĒdʒ/]nouneasy
Meaning: a proportion expressed out of one hundred — āĻāĻ•āĻļāϤāĻžāĻ‚āĻļ⧇ āĻĒā§āϰāĻ•āĻžāĻļāĻŋāϤ āĻ…āύ⧁āĻĒāĻžāϤ
Alt: a rate or share — āĻšāĻžāϰ āĻŦāĻž āĻ…āĻ‚āĻļ
Example: The percentage of urban people increased considerably. — āĻļāĻšāϰāĻŦāĻžāϏ⧀ āĻŽāĻžāύ⧁āώ⧇āϰ āĻļāϤāĻžāĻ‚āĻļ āωāĻ˛ā§āϞ⧇āĻ–āϝ⧋āĻ—ā§āϝāĻ­āĻžāĻŦ⧇ āĻŦ⧇āĻĄāĻŧ⧇āϛ⧇āĨ¤
Syn: proportion, rate
💡 Exam tip: Write the symbol only when appropriate; in formal prose, “percent” or “percentage” is safer.
proportion[/prəˈpɔːʃən/]nounmedium
Meaning: a part compared with the whole — āϏāĻŽāĻ—ā§āϰ⧇āϰ āϤ⧁āϞāύāĻžāϝāĻŧ āĻāĻ•āϟāĻŋ āĻ…āĻ‚āĻļ
Alt: a share or percentage — āĻ…āĻ‚āĻļ āĻŦāĻž āĻļāϤāĻžāĻ‚āĻļ
Example: The proportion of people living in cities is expected to double. — āĻļāĻšāϰ⧇ āĻŦāϏāĻŦāĻžāϏāĻ•āĻžāϰ⧀ āĻŽāĻžāύ⧁āώ⧇āϰ āĻ…āύ⧁āĻĒāĻžāϤ āĻĻā§āĻŦāĻŋāϗ⧁āĻŖ āĻšāĻŦ⧇ āĻŦāϞ⧇ āφāĻļāĻž āĻ•āϰāĻž āĻšāĻšā§āϛ⧇āĨ¤
Syn: share, percentageAnt: whole
💡 Exam tip: Use “the proportion of + plural noun + is/was” when describing a percentage.
category[/ˈkÃĻtəɡəri/]nouneasy
Meaning: a group of people or things with common features — āĻ…āĻ­āĻŋāĻ¨ā§āύ āĻŦ⧈āĻļāĻŋāĻˇā§āĻŸā§āϝ⧇āϰ āĻŽāĻžāύ⧁āώ āĻŦāĻž āĻŦāĻ¸ā§āϤ⧁āϰ āĻļā§āϰ⧇āĻŖāĻŋ
Alt: a classification in a chart — āϚāĻžāĻ°ā§āĻŸā§‡āϰ āĻāĻ•āϟāĻŋ āĻļā§āϰ⧇āĻŖāĻŋāĻŦāĻŋāĻ­āĻžāĻ—
Example: Food was the largest expenditure category. — āĻ–āĻžāĻĻā§āϝ āĻ›āĻŋāϞ āĻŦā§āϝāϝāĻŧ⧇āϰ āĻŦ⧃āĻšāĻ¤ā§āϤāĻŽ āĻļā§āϰ⧇āĻŖāĻŋāĨ¤
Syn: class, group
💡 Exam tip: Use “category” to refer to labels such as food, transport or housing.
axis[/ˈÃĻksÉĒs/]nounmedium
Meaning: a reference line on a graph — āĻ—ā§āϰāĻžāĻĢ⧇āϰ āύāĻŋāĻ°ā§āĻĻ⧇āĻļāĻ• āϰ⧇āĻ–āĻž
Alt: a horizontal or vertical scale line — āĻ…āύ⧁āĻ­ā§‚āĻŽāĻŋāĻ• āĻŦāĻž āωāĻ˛ā§āϞāĻŽā§āĻŦ āĻŽāĻžāĻĒāϰ⧇āĻ–āĻž
Example: The vertical axis measures the percentage of people. — āωāĻ˛ā§āϞāĻŽā§āĻŦ āĻ…āĻ•ā§āώāϟāĻŋ āĻŽāĻžāύ⧁āώ⧇āϰ āĻļāϤāĻžāĻ‚āĻļ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻŽāĻžāĻĒ āĻ•āϰ⧇āĨ¤
Syn: scale
💡 Exam tip: Remember: one is an “axis”; more than one are “axes.”
2. Describing Increase and Decrease (8 words)
increase[/ÉĒnˈkriːs/]verbeasy
Meaning: to become greater — āĻŦ⧃āĻĻā§āϧāĻŋ āĻĒāĻžāĻ“āϝāĻŧāĻž
Alt: to make something larger — āϕ⧋āύ⧋ āĻ•āĻŋāϛ⧁ āĻŦāĻžāĻĄāĻŧāĻžāύ⧋
Example: The rate increased from 20% to 35%. — āĻšāĻžāϰāϟāĻŋ ⧍ā§Ļ āĻļāϤāĻžāĻ‚āĻļ āĻĨ⧇āϕ⧇ ā§Šā§Ģ āĻļāϤāĻžāĻ‚āĻļ⧇ āĻŦ⧇āĻĄāĻŧ⧇āϛ⧇āĨ¤
Syn: rise, growAnt: decrease, fall
💡 Exam tip: As a verb, stress the second syllable: in-CREASE.
rise[/raÉĒz/]verbeasy
Meaning: to go up — āωāĻĒāϰ⧇ āĻ“āĻ āĻž āĻŦāĻž āĻŦ⧃āĻĻā§āϧāĻŋ āĻĒāĻžāĻ“āϝāĻŧāĻž
Alt: to reach a higher level — āωāĻšā§āϚāϤāϰ āĻĒāĻ°ā§āϝāĻžāϝāĻŧ⧇ āĻĒ⧌āρāĻ›āĻžāύ⧋
Example: The share price rose sharply in 2008. — ⧍ā§Ļā§Ļā§Ž āϏāĻžāϞ⧇ āĻļ⧇āϝāĻŧāĻžāϰ⧇āϰ āĻĻāĻžāĻŽ āϤ⧀āĻŦā§āϰāĻ­āĻžāĻŦ⧇ āĻŦ⧇āĻĄāĻŧ⧇āĻ›āĻŋāϞāĨ¤
Syn: increase, climbAnt: fall, drop
💡 Exam tip: The past form is “rose” and the past participle is “risen.”
climb[/klaÉĒm/]verbmedium
Meaning: to increase gradually — āϧ⧀āϰ⧇ āϧ⧀āϰ⧇ āĻŦ⧃āĻĻā§āϧāĻŋ āĻĒāĻžāĻ“āϝāĻŧāĻž
Alt: to move to a higher point — āωāĻšā§āϚāϤāϰ āĻ…āĻŦāĻ¸ā§āĻĨāĻžāύ⧇ āĻ“āĻ āĻž
Example: The number of visitors climbed steadily. — āĻĻāĻ°ā§āĻļāύāĻžāĻ°ā§āĻĨā§€āϰ āϏāĻ‚āĻ–ā§āϝāĻž āϧāĻžāϰāĻžāĻŦāĻžāĻšāĻŋāĻ•āĻ­āĻžāĻŦ⧇ āĻŦ⧇āĻĄāĻŧ⧇āϛ⧇āĨ¤
Syn: increase, escalateAnt: decline, drop
💡 Exam tip: “Climb steadily” is useful for a gradual upward trend.
surge[/sɜːdʒ/]nounhard
Meaning: a sudden and powerful increase — āφāĻ•āĻ¸ā§āĻŽāĻŋāĻ• āĻ“ āϤ⧀āĻŦā§āϰ āĻŦ⧃āĻĻā§āϧāĻŋ
Alt: a rapid upward movement — āĻĻā§āϰ⧁āϤ āϊāĻ°ā§āĻ§ā§āĻŦāĻŽā§āĻ–ā§€ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻŦāĻ°ā§āϤāύ
Example: There was a surge in the demand for mobile phones. — āĻŽā§‹āĻŦāĻžāχāϞ āĻĢā§‹āύ⧇āϰ āϚāĻžāĻšāĻŋāĻĻāĻžāϝāĻŧ āφāĻ•āĻ¸ā§āĻŽāĻŋāĻ• āĻŦ⧃āĻĻā§āϧāĻŋ āϘāĻŸā§‡āĻ›āĻŋāϞāĨ¤
Syn: jump, leapAnt: plunge, collapse
💡 Exam tip: Use “a surge in” before a noun, not “a surge of” in most chart descriptions.
decrease[/dÉĒˈkriːs/]verbeasy
Meaning: to become smaller or lower — āĻ•āĻŽā§‡ āϝāĻžāĻ“āϝāĻŧāĻž
Alt: to reduce in amount — āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻŽāĻžāϪ⧇ āĻšā§āϰāĻžāϏ āĻĒāĻžāĻ“āϝāĻŧāĻž
Example: The percentage decreased slightly after 2010. — ⧍ā§Ļā§§ā§Ļ āϏāĻžāϞ⧇āϰ āĻĒāϰ āĻļāϤāĻžāĻ‚āĻļāϟāĻŋ āϏāĻžāĻŽāĻžāĻ¨ā§āϝ āĻ•āĻŽā§‡āĻ›āĻŋāϞāĨ¤
Syn: decline, reduceAnt: increase, rise
💡 Exam tip: As a verb, stress the second syllable: de-CREASE.
decline[/dÉĒˈklaÉĒn/]verbmedium
Meaning: to decrease gradually — āϧ⧀āϰ⧇ āϧ⧀āϰ⧇ āĻ•āĻŽā§‡ āϝāĻžāĻ“āϝāĻŧāĻž
Alt: to become weaker or less important — āĻĻ⧁āĻ°ā§āĻŦāϞ āĻŦāĻž āĻ•āĻŽ āϗ⧁āϰ⧁āĻ¤ā§āĻŦāĻĒā§‚āĻ°ā§āĻŖ āĻšāϝāĻŧ⧇ āϝāĻžāĻ“āϝāĻŧāĻž
Example: The figure declined steadily over the period. — āϏāĻŽāϝāĻŧāĻ•āĻžāϞāϜ⧁āĻĄāĻŧ⧇ āϏāĻ‚āĻ–ā§āϝāĻžāϟāĻŋ āϧāĻžāϰāĻžāĻŦāĻžāĻšāĻŋāĻ•āĻ­āĻžāĻŦ⧇ āĻ•āĻŽā§‡āϛ⧇āĨ¤
Syn: fall, dropAnt: grow, increase
💡 Exam tip: “Decline” sounds more formal than “go down.”
drop[/drɒp/]verbeasy
Meaning: to fall suddenly — āĻšāĻ āĻžā§Ž āĻ•āĻŽā§‡ āϝāĻžāĻ“āϝāĻŧāĻž
Alt: to become lower — āύāĻŋāĻŽā§āύāϤāϰ āĻšāĻ“āϝāĻŧāĻž
Example: The price dropped from 31 euros to 21 euros. — āĻĻāĻžāĻŽ ā§Šā§§ āχāωāϰ⧋ āĻĨ⧇āϕ⧇ ⧍⧧ āχāωāϰ⧋āϤ⧇ āύ⧇āĻŽā§‡ āĻ—āĻŋāϝāĻŧ⧇āĻ›āĻŋāϞāĨ¤
Syn: fall, plungeAnt: rise, surge
💡 Exam tip: Use “drop” for a noticeable fall, especially over a short period.
plunge[/plʌndʒ/]verbhard
Meaning: to fall suddenly and greatly — āφāĻ•āĻ¸ā§āĻŽāĻŋāĻ•āĻ­āĻžāĻŦ⧇ āĻŦā§āϝāĻžāĻĒāĻ• āĻšā§āϰāĻžāϏ āĻĒāĻžāĻ“āϝāĻŧāĻž
Alt: to decrease dramatically — āύāĻžāϟāϕ⧀āϝāĻŧāĻ­āĻžāĻŦ⧇ āĻ•āĻŽā§‡ āϝāĻžāĻ“āϝāĻŧāĻž
Example: The share price plunged to its lowest point. — āĻļ⧇āϝāĻŧāĻžāϰ⧇āϰ āĻĻāĻžāĻŽ āϏāĻ°ā§āĻŦāύāĻŋāĻŽā§āύ āĻĒāĻ°ā§āϝāĻžāϝāĻŧ⧇ āύ⧇āĻŽā§‡ āĻ—āĻŋāϝāĻŧ⧇āĻ›āĻŋāϞāĨ¤
Syn: plummet, crashAnt: soar, surge
💡 Exam tip: Reserve “plunge” for a very sharp or dramatic decrease.
3. Degree, Speed and Stability (8 words)
steadily[/ˈstedÉĒli/]adveasy
Meaning: in a regular and continuous way — āύāĻŋāϝāĻŧāĻŽāĻŋāϤ āĻ“ āϧāĻžāϰāĻžāĻŦāĻžāĻšāĻŋāĻ•āĻ­āĻžāĻŦ⧇
Alt: without sudden changes — āφāĻ•āĻ¸ā§āĻŽāĻŋāĻ• āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻŦāĻ°ā§āϤāύ āĻ›āĻžāĻĄāĻŧāĻž
Example: The population grew steadily between 1950 and 2007. — ⧧⧝ā§Ģā§Ļ āĻĨ⧇āϕ⧇ ⧍ā§Ļā§Ļā§­ āϏāĻžāϞ⧇āϰ āĻŽāĻ§ā§āϝ⧇ āϜāύāϏāĻ‚āĻ–ā§āϝāĻž āϧāĻžāϰāĻžāĻŦāĻžāĻšāĻŋāĻ•āĻ­āĻžāĻŦ⧇ āĻŦ⧇āĻĄāĻŧ⧇āϛ⧇āĨ¤
Syn: gradually, consistentlyAnt: erratically, suddenly
💡 Exam tip: Place it after the verb: “increased steadily.”
gradually[/ˈɥrÃĻdʒuəli/]adveasy
Meaning: slowly over a period of time — āϏāĻŽāϝāĻŧ⧇āϰ āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāϧāĻžāύ⧇ āϧ⧀āϰ⧇ āϧ⧀āϰ⧇
Alt: by small stages — āϛ⧋āϟ āϛ⧋āϟ āϧāĻžāĻĒ⧇
Example: The rate gradually fell to 15%. — āĻšāĻžāϰāϟāĻŋ āϧ⧀āϰ⧇ āϧ⧀āϰ⧇ ā§§ā§Ģ āĻļāϤāĻžāĻ‚āĻļ⧇ āύ⧇āĻŽā§‡ āϝāĻžāϝāĻŧāĨ¤
Syn: slowly, progressivelyAnt: rapidly, suddenly
💡 Exam tip: Use this adverb for a smooth change rather than a sudden movement.
sharply[/ˈʃɑːpli/]advmedium
Meaning: suddenly and significantly — āφāĻ•āĻ¸ā§āĻŽāĻŋāĻ•āĻ­āĻžāĻŦ⧇ āĻ“ āωāĻ˛ā§āϞ⧇āĻ–āϝ⧋āĻ—ā§āϝāĻ­āĻžāĻŦ⧇
Alt: in a steep manner — āϤ⧀āĻŦā§āϰāĻ­āĻžāĻŦ⧇
Example: The figure rose sharply in 2013. — ⧍ā§Ļā§§ā§Š āϏāĻžāϞ⧇ āϏāĻ‚āĻ–ā§āϝāĻžāϟāĻŋ āϤ⧀āĻŦā§āϰāĻ­āĻžāĻŦ⧇ āĻŦ⧇āĻĄāĻŧ⧇āĻ›āĻŋāϞāĨ¤
Syn: dramatically, steeplyAnt: slightly, gently
💡 Exam tip: “Sharp” can describe both increases and decreases: “rose sharply” or “fell sharply.”
slightly[/ˈslaÉĒtli/]adveasy
Meaning: by a small amount — āϏāĻžāĻŽāĻžāĻ¨ā§āϝ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻŽāĻžāϪ⧇
Alt: not considerably — āωāĻ˛ā§āϞ⧇āĻ–āϝ⧋āĻ—ā§āϝāĻ­āĻžāĻŦ⧇ āύāϝāĻŧ
Example: Malaysia had a slightly higher rate than Singapore. — āϏāĻŋāĻ™ā§āĻ—āĻžāĻĒ⧁āϰ⧇āϰ āϤ⧁āϞāύāĻžāϝāĻŧ āĻŽāĻžāϞāϝāĻŧ⧇āĻļāĻŋāϝāĻŧāĻžāϰ āĻšāĻžāϰ āϏāĻžāĻŽāĻžāĻ¨ā§āϝ āĻŦ⧇āĻļāĻŋ āĻ›āĻŋāϞāĨ¤
Syn: marginally, a littleAnt: considerably, substantially
💡 Exam tip: Use it when the difference is small.
dramatically[/drəˈmÃĻtÉĒkli/]advmedium
Meaning: in a sudden and striking way — āφāĻ•āĻ¸ā§āĻŽāĻŋāĻ• āĻ“ āϚāĻŽāĻ•āĻĒā§āϰāĻĻāĻ­āĻžāĻŦ⧇
Alt: to a great extent — āĻŦā§āϝāĻžāĻĒāĻ•āĻ­āĻžāĻŦ⧇
Example: The number of books read by men increased dramatically. — āĻĒ⧁āϰ⧁āώāĻĻ⧇āϰ āĻĒāĻĄāĻŧāĻž āĻŦāχāϝāĻŧ⧇āϰ āϏāĻ‚āĻ–ā§āϝāĻž āύāĻžāϟāϕ⧀āϝāĻŧāĻ­āĻžāĻŦ⧇ āĻŦ⧇āĻĄāĻŧ⧇āĻ›āĻŋāϞāĨ¤
Syn: drastically, remarkablyAnt: slightly, moderately
💡 Exam tip: Do not use it for a tiny change; it implies a very large movement.
fluctuate[/ˈflƌktʃueÉĒt/]verbhard
Meaning: to rise and fall irregularly — āĻ…āύāĻŋāϝāĻŧāĻŽāĻŋāϤāĻ­āĻžāĻŦ⧇ āĻ“āĻ āĻžāύāĻžāĻŽāĻž āĻ•āϰāĻž
Alt: to vary repeatedly — āĻŦāĻžāϰāĻŦāĻžāϰ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻŦāĻ°ā§āϤāĻŋāϤ āĻšāĻ“āϝāĻŧāĻž
Example: The GDP growth rate fluctuated throughout the decade. — āĻĻāĻļāĻ•āϜ⧁āĻĄāĻŧ⧇ āϜāĻŋāĻĄāĻŋāĻĒāĻŋ āĻŦ⧃āĻĻā§āϧāĻŋāϰ āĻšāĻžāϰ āĻ“āĻ āĻžāύāĻžāĻŽāĻž āĻ•āϰ⧇āϛ⧇āĨ¤
Syn: vary, oscillateAnt: stabilize, remain constant
💡 Exam tip: Use “fluctuate” when data repeatedly moves up and down.
stable[/ˈsteÉĒbəl/]adjmedium
Meaning: remaining almost unchanged — āĻĒā§āϰāĻžāϝāĻŧ āĻ…āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻŦāĻ°ā§āϤāĻŋāϤ
Alt: steady and controlled — āĻ¸ā§āĻĨāĻŋāϰ āĻ“ āύāĻŋāϝāĻŧāĻ¨ā§āĻ¤ā§āϰāĻŋāϤ
Example: The percentage remained stable at around 20%. — āĻļāϤāĻžāĻ‚āĻļāϟāĻŋ āĻĒā§āϰāĻžāϝāĻŧ ⧍ā§Ļ āĻļāϤāĻžāĻ‚āĻļ⧇ āĻ¸ā§āĻĨāĻŋāϰ āĻ›āĻŋāϞāĨ¤
Syn: steady, constantAnt: unstable, volatile
💡 Exam tip: Common structure: “remained stable at...”
constant[/ˈkɒnstənt/]adjeasy
Meaning: unchanging — āĻ…āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻŦāĻ°ā§āϤāύ⧀āϝāĻŧ āĻŦāĻž āĻ¸ā§āĻĨāĻŋāϰ
Alt: continuing without interruption — āĻŦāĻŋāϰāϤāĻŋ āĻ›āĻžāĻĄāĻŧāĻž āϚāϞāĻŽāĻžāύ
Example: The figure stayed constant for three years. — āϏāĻ‚āĻ–ā§āϝāĻžāϟāĻŋ āϤāĻŋāύ āĻŦāĻ›āϰ āĻ¸ā§āĻĨāĻŋāϰ āĻ›āĻŋāϞāĨ¤
Syn: unchanged, fixedAnt: variable, changing
💡 Exam tip: Use “constant” only when the value does not change noticeably.
4. Comparison and Contrast (8 words)
compare[/kəmˈpeə(r)/]verbeasy
Meaning: to examine similarities and differences — āϏāĻžāĻĻ⧃āĻļā§āϝ āĻ“ āĻĒāĻžāĻ°ā§āĻĨāĻ•ā§āϝ āĻĒāϰ⧀āĻ•ā§āώāĻž āĻ•āϰāĻž
Alt: to relate one thing to another — āĻāĻ•āϟāĻŋ āĻŦāĻŋāώāϝāĻŧ⧇āϰ āϏāĻ™ā§āϗ⧇ āĻ…āĻ¨ā§āϝāϟāĻŋāϰ āϏāĻŽā§āĻĒāĻ°ā§āĻ• āĻ¸ā§āĻĨāĻžāĻĒāύ āĻ•āϰāĻž
Example: The report compares transport habits in two cities. — āĻĒā§āϰāϤāĻŋāĻŦ⧇āĻĻāύāϟāĻŋ āĻĻ⧁āϟāĻŋ āĻļāĻšāϰ⧇āϰ āϝāĻžāϤāĻžāϝāĻŧāĻžāϤ⧇āϰ āĻ…āĻ­ā§āϝāĻžāϏ āϤ⧁āϞāύāĻž āĻ•āϰ⧇āĨ¤
Syn: contrast, relateAnt: separate
💡 Exam tip: Use “compare A with B” or “compare A and B.”
contrast[/ˈkɒntrɑːst/]nounmedium
Meaning: a clear difference between things — āĻŦāĻŋāώāϝāĻŧāϗ⧁āϞ⧋āϰ āĻŽāĻ§ā§āϝ⧇ āĻ¸ā§āĻĒāĻˇā§āϟ āĻĒāĻžāĻ°ā§āĻĨāĻ•ā§āϝ
Alt: a comparison showing differences — āĻĒāĻžāĻ°ā§āĻĨāĻ•ā§āϝ āĻĻ⧇āĻ–āĻžāύ⧋ āϤ⧁āϞāύāĻž
Example: There is a sharp contrast between the two countries. — āĻĻ⧁āϟāĻŋ āĻĻ⧇āĻļ⧇āϰ āĻŽāĻ§ā§āϝ⧇ āϤ⧀āĻŦā§āϰ āĻĒāĻžāĻ°ā§āĻĨāĻ•ā§āϝ āϰāϝāĻŧ⧇āϛ⧇āĨ¤
Syn: difference, distinctionAnt: similarity, resemblance
💡 Exam tip: Useful phrase: “In contrast, ...” to begin a contrasting sentence.
whereas[/ˌweərˈÃĻz/]conjmedium
Meaning: while showing a difference — āĻĒāĻžāĻ°ā§āĻĨāĻ•ā§āϝ āĻŦā§‹āĻāĻžāϤ⧇ āϝāĻ–āύ
Alt: in comparison with the fact that — āĻāχ āϤ⧁āϞāύāĻžāϝāĻŧ āϝ⧇
Example: Japan spent 20% on transport, whereas Malaysia spent only 10%. — āϜāĻžāĻĒāĻžāύ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻŦāĻšāύ⧇ ⧍ā§Ļ āĻļāϤāĻžāĻ‚āĻļ āĻŦā§āϝāϝāĻŧ āĻ•āϰ⧇āϛ⧇, āϝ⧇āĻ–āĻžāύ⧇ āĻŽāĻžāϞāϝāĻŧ⧇āĻļāĻŋāϝāĻŧāĻž āĻŽāĻžāĻ¤ā§āϰ ā§§ā§Ļ āĻļāϤāĻžāĻ‚āĻļ āĻŦā§āϝāϝāĻŧ āĻ•āϰ⧇āϛ⧇āĨ¤
Syn: while, although
💡 Exam tip: Join two contrasting clauses with a comma before “whereas.”
respectively[/rÉĒˈspektÉĒvli/]advhard
Meaning: in the same order as previously mentioned — āĻĒā§‚āĻ°ā§āĻŦ⧇ āωāĻ˛ā§āϞāĻŋāĻ–āĻŋāϤ āĻāĻ•āχ āĻ•ā§āϰāĻŽā§‡
Alt: correspondingly — āĻ…āύ⧁āϰ⧂āĻĒāĻ­āĻžāĻŦ⧇
Example: The rates were 35% and 30%, respectively. — āĻšāĻžāϰāϗ⧁āϞ⧋ āϝāĻĨāĻžāĻ•ā§āϰāĻŽā§‡ ā§Šā§Ģ āĻļāϤāĻžāĻ‚āĻļ āĻ“ ā§Šā§Ļ āĻļāϤāĻžāĻ‚āĻļ āĻ›āĻŋāϞāĨ¤
Syn: correspondingly
💡 Exam tip: Use it only when two or more figures match the same order of subjects.
similar[/ˈsÉĒmÉĒlə(r)/]adjeasy
Meaning: almost the same — āĻĒā§āϰāĻžāϝāĻŧ āĻāĻ•āχ
Alt: having common features — āĻ…āĻ­āĻŋāĻ¨ā§āύ āĻŦ⧈āĻļāĻŋāĻˇā§āĻŸā§āϝāϏāĻŽā§āĻĒāĻ¨ā§āύ
Example: The two countries had similar spending patterns. — āĻĻ⧁āϟāĻŋ āĻĻ⧇āĻļ⧇āϰ āĻŦā§āϝāϝāĻŧ⧇āϰ āϧāϰāύ āĻāĻ•āχ āϰāĻ•āĻŽ āĻ›āĻŋāϞāĨ¤
Syn: alike, comparableAnt: different, dissimilar
💡 Exam tip: Use “similar to,” not “similar with.”
higher[/ˈhaÉĒə(r)/]adjeasy
Meaning: greater in amount or level — āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻŽāĻžāĻŖ āĻŦāĻž āĻŽāĻžāĻ¤ā§āϰāĻžāϝāĻŧ āĻŦ⧇āĻļāĻŋ
Alt: above another value — āĻ…āĻ¨ā§āϝ āĻāĻ•āϟāĻŋ āĻŽāĻžāύ⧇āϰ āĻšā§‡āϝāĻŧ⧇ āϊāĻ°ā§āĻ§ā§āĻŦ⧇
Example: The urbanization rate was higher in North America. — āωāĻ¤ā§āϤāϰ āφāĻŽā§‡āϰāĻŋāĻ•āĻžāϝāĻŧ āύāĻ—āϰāĻžāϝāĻŧāϪ⧇āϰ āĻšāĻžāϰ āĻŦ⧇āĻļāĻŋ āĻ›āĻŋāϞāĨ¤
Syn: greater, largerAnt: lower, smaller
💡 Exam tip: Use “higher than” for direct comparisons.
lower[/ˈləʊə(r)/]adjeasy
Meaning: smaller in amount or level — āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻŽāĻžāĻŖ āĻŦāĻž āĻŽāĻžāĻ¤ā§āϰāĻžāϝāĻŧ āĻ•āĻŽ
Alt: below another value — āĻ…āĻ¨ā§āϝ āĻāĻ•āϟāĻŋ āĻŽāĻžāύ⧇āϰ āĻšā§‡āϝāĻŧ⧇ āύāĻŋāĻšā§‡
Example: Africa had a lower urbanization rate than Europe. — āχāωāϰ⧋āĻĒ⧇āϰ āϤ⧁āϞāύāĻžāϝāĻŧ āφāĻĢā§āϰāĻŋāĻ•āĻžāϰ āύāĻ—āϰāĻžāϝāĻŧāϪ⧇āϰ āĻšāĻžāϰ āĻ•āĻŽ āĻ›āĻŋāϞāĨ¤
Syn: lesser, reducedAnt: higher, greater
💡 Exam tip: “Lower than” is preferred when comparing numerical data.
dominant[/ˈdɒmÉĒnənt/]adjhard
Meaning: more important, powerful or noticeable — āĻ…āϧāĻŋāĻ• āϗ⧁āϰ⧁āĻ¤ā§āĻŦāĻĒā§‚āĻ°ā§āĻŖ, āĻļāĻ•ā§āϤāĻŋāĻļāĻžāϞ⧀ āĻŦāĻž āϞāĻ•ā§āώāĻŖā§€āϝāĻŧ
Alt: having the largest share — āϏāĻ°ā§āĻŦāĻŦ⧃āĻšā§Ž āĻ…āĻ‚āĻļ⧇āϰ āĻ…āϧāĻŋāĻ•āĻžāϰ⧀
Example: Cars were the dominant means of transport. — āĻ—āĻžāĻĄāĻŧāĻŋ āĻ›āĻŋāϞ āϝāĻžāϤāĻžāϝāĻŧāĻžāϤ⧇āϰ āĻĒā§āϰāϧāĻžāύ āĻŽāĻžāĻ§ā§āϝāĻŽāĨ¤
Syn: leading, majorAnt: minor, secondary
💡 Exam tip: Use it in the overview to identify the largest or most influential category.
5. Time, Forecast and Data Interpretation (8 words)
period[/ˈpÉĒəriəd/]nouneasy
Meaning: a length of time — āϏāĻŽāϝāĻŧāĻ•āĻžāϞ
Alt: a specified interval — āύāĻŋāĻ°ā§āĻĻāĻŋāĻˇā§āϟ āϏāĻŽāϝāĻŧ⧇āϰ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāϏāϰ
Example: The chart covers a period of ten years. — āϚāĻžāĻ°ā§āϟāϟāĻŋ āĻĻāĻļ āĻŦāĻ›āϰ⧇āϰ āĻāĻ•āϟāĻŋ āϏāĻŽāϝāĻŧāĻ•āĻžāϞ āύāĻŋāϝāĻŧ⧇ āϤ⧈āϰāĻŋāĨ¤
Syn: duration, intervalAnt: moment
💡 Exam tip: Common phrase: “over the period from 2006 to 2015.”
trend[/trend/]nounmedium
Meaning: a general direction of change — āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻŦāĻ°ā§āϤāύ⧇āϰ āϏāĻžāϧāĻžāϰāĻŖ āĻĒā§āϰāĻŦāĻŖāϤāĻž
Alt: a pattern of movement — āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻŦāĻ°ā§āϤāύ⧇āϰ āϧāϰāĻŖ
Example: The graph indicates an upward trend in income. — āĻ—ā§āϰāĻžāĻĢāϟāĻŋ āφāϝāĻŧ⧇āϰ āϊāĻ°ā§āĻ§ā§āĻŦāĻŽā§āĻ–ā§€ āĻĒā§āϰāĻŦāĻŖāϤāĻž āύāĻŋāĻ°ā§āĻĻ⧇āĻļ āĻ•āϰ⧇āĨ¤
Syn: tendency, patternAnt: randomness
💡 Exam tip: Mention the overall trend in the concluding or overview paragraph.
projected[/prəˈdʒektÉĒd/]adjmedium
Meaning: predicted for the future — āĻ­āĻŦāĻŋāĻˇā§āϝāϤ⧇āϰ āϜāĻ¨ā§āϝ āĻ…āύ⧁āĻŽāĻžāύāĻ•ā§ƒāϤ
Alt: calculated as a likely future figure — āϏāĻŽā§āĻ­āĻžāĻŦā§āϝ āĻ­āĻŦāĻŋāĻˇā§āĻ¯ā§Ž āϏāĻ‚āĻ–ā§āϝāĻž āĻšāĻŋāϏ⧇āĻŦ⧇ āĻ—āĻŖāύāĻžāĻ•ā§ƒāϤ
Example: The projected population will reach 60 million. — āĻ…āύ⧁āĻŽāĻŋāϤ āϜāύāϏāĻ‚āĻ–ā§āϝāĻž ā§Ŧā§Ļ āĻŽāĻŋāϞāĻŋāϝāĻŧāύ⧇ āĻĒ⧌āρāĻ›āĻžāĻŦ⧇āĨ¤
Syn: predicted, estimatedAnt: actual, recorded
💡 Exam tip: Use it for future data shown in a graph.
forecast[/ˈfɔːkɑːst/]nounhard
Meaning: a statement about future conditions — āĻ­āĻŦāĻŋāĻˇā§āĻ¯ā§Ž āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻ¸ā§āĻĨāĻŋāϤāĻŋ āϏāĻŽā§āĻĒāĻ°ā§āϕ⧇ āĻĒā§‚āĻ°ā§āĻŦāĻžāĻ­āĻžāϏ
Alt: a prediction based on information — āϤāĻĨā§āϝāύāĻŋāĻ°ā§āĻ­āϰ āĻ…āύ⧁āĻŽāĻžāύ
Example: The forecast suggests that urbanization will continue. — āĻĒā§‚āĻ°ā§āĻŦāĻžāĻ­āĻžāϏ⧇ āĻŦā§‹āĻāĻž āϝāĻžāϝāĻŧ āϝ⧇ āύāĻ—āϰāĻžāϝāĻŧāĻŖ āĻ…āĻŦā§āϝāĻžāĻšāϤ āĻĨāĻžāĻ•āĻŦ⧇āĨ¤
Syn: prediction, projectionAnt: fact, record
💡 Exam tip: Use “forecast” for predicted data, especially economic or population figures.
estimate[/ˈestÉĒmeÉĒt/]verbmedium
Meaning: to calculate approximately — āφāύ⧁āĻŽāĻžāύāĻŋāĻ• āĻšāĻŋāϏāĻžāĻŦ āĻ•āϰāĻž
Alt: to judge the likely amount — āϏāĻŽā§āĻ­āĻžāĻŦā§āϝ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻŽāĻžāĻŖ āύāĻŋāĻ°ā§āϧāĻžāϰāĻŖ āĻ•āϰāĻž
Example: Experts estimate that the figure will double by 2030. — āĻŦāĻŋāĻļ⧇āώāĻœā§āĻžāϰāĻž āĻ…āύ⧁āĻŽāĻžāύ āĻ•āϰ⧇āύ āϝ⧇ ⧍ā§Ļā§Šā§Ļ āϏāĻžāϞ⧇āϰ āĻŽāĻ§ā§āϝ⧇ āϏāĻ‚āĻ–ā§āϝāĻžāϟāĻŋ āĻĻā§āĻŦāĻŋāϗ⧁āĻŖ āĻšāĻŦ⧇āĨ¤
Syn: calculate, approximateAnt: measure exactly
💡 Exam tip: Use “is estimated to” when the exact future value is uncertain.
expected[/ÉĒkˈspektÉĒd/]adjeasy
Meaning: believed likely to happen — āϘāϟāĻŦ⧇ āĻŦāϞ⧇ āĻĒā§āϰāĻ¤ā§āϝāĻžāĻļāĻŋāϤ
Alt: anticipated — āĻĒā§‚āĻ°ā§āĻŦāĻžāύ⧁āĻŽāĻŋāϤ
Example: The percentage is expected to rise next year. — āφāĻ—āĻžāĻŽā§€ āĻŦāĻ›āϰ āĻļāϤāĻžāĻ‚āĻļāϟāĻŋ āĻŦāĻžāĻĄāĻŧāĻŦ⧇ āĻŦāϞ⧇ āφāĻļāĻž āĻ•āϰāĻž āĻšāĻšā§āϛ⧇āĨ¤
Syn: anticipated, predictedAnt: unexpected, unlikely
💡 Exam tip: “Is expected to + base verb” is a useful structure for future trends.
actual[/ˈÃĻktʃuəl/]adjeasy
Meaning: real or recorded, not predicted — āĻĒā§āϰāĻ•ā§ƒāϤ āĻŦāĻž āύāĻĨāĻŋāϭ⧁āĻ•ā§āϤ, āĻ…āύ⧁āĻŽāĻŋāϤ āύāϝāĻŧ
Alt: existing in fact — āĻŦāĻžāĻ¸ā§āϤāĻŦ⧇ āĻŦāĻŋāĻĻā§āϝāĻŽāĻžāύ
Example: The actual figure was lower than the projected figure. — āĻĒā§āϰāĻ•ā§ƒāϤ āϏāĻ‚āĻ–ā§āϝāĻžāϟāĻŋ āĻ…āύ⧁āĻŽāĻŋāϤ āϏāĻ‚āĻ–ā§āϝāĻžāϰ āĻšā§‡āϝāĻŧ⧇ āĻ•āĻŽ āĻ›āĻŋāϞāĨ¤
Syn: real, recordedAnt: estimated, predicted
💡 Exam tip: Contrast “actual” data with “projected” or “forecast” data.
approximately[/əˈprɒksÉĒmətli/]advmedium
Meaning: nearly but not exactly — āĻĒā§āϰāĻžāϝāĻŧ, āϤāĻŦ⧇ āϏāĻŽā§āĻĒā§‚āĻ°ā§āĻŖ āϏāĻ āĻŋāĻ• āύāϝāĻŧ
Alt: about — āφāύ⧁āĻŽāĻžāύāĻŋāĻ•āĻ­āĻžāĻŦ⧇
Example: Approximately 40% of the population lived in cities. — āϜāύāϏāĻ‚āĻ–ā§āϝāĻžāϰ āĻĒā§āϰāĻžāϝāĻŧ ā§Ēā§Ļ āĻļāϤāĻžāĻ‚āĻļ āĻļāĻšāϰ⧇ āĻŦāĻžāϏ āĻ•āϰāϤāĨ¤
Syn: about, roughlyAnt: exactly, precisely
💡 Exam tip: Use it when a graph gives an approximate value.
6. Useful Reporting Language (8 words)
illustrate[/ˈÉĒləstreÉĒt/]verbmedium
Meaning: to explain or show clearly — āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻˇā§āĻ•āĻžāϰāĻ­āĻžāĻŦ⧇ āĻŦā§āϝāĻžāĻ–ā§āϝāĻž āĻŦāĻž āĻĻ⧇āĻ–āĻžāύ⧋
Alt: to represent information visually — āϤāĻĨā§āϝ āϚāĻŋāĻ¤ā§āϰ⧇āϰ āĻŽāĻžāĻ§ā§āϝāĻŽā§‡ āωāĻĒāĻ¸ā§āĻĨāĻžāĻĒāύ āĻ•āϰāĻž
Example: The bar chart illustrates science qualifications in two countries. — āĻŦāĻžāϰ āϚāĻžāĻ°ā§āϟāϟāĻŋ āĻĻ⧁āϟāĻŋ āĻĻ⧇āĻļ⧇āϰ āĻŦāĻŋāĻœā§āĻžāĻžāύāĻŦāĻŋāώāϝāĻŧāĻ• āϝ⧋āĻ—ā§āϝāϤāĻž āωāĻĒāĻ¸ā§āĻĨāĻžāĻĒāύ āĻ•āϰ⧇āĨ¤
Syn: show, demonstrateAnt: conceal, hide
💡 Exam tip: “Illustrates” is a formal alternative to “shows” in the opening sentence.
indicate[/ˈÉĒndÉĒkeÉĒt/]verbmedium
Meaning: to point out or show — āύāĻŋāĻ°ā§āĻĻ⧇āĻļ āĻ•āϰāĻž āĻŦāĻž āĻĻ⧇āĻ–āĻžāύ⧋
Alt: to suggest a fact or trend — āϕ⧋āύ⧋ āϤāĻĨā§āϝ āĻŦāĻž āĻĒā§āϰāĻŦāĻŖāϤāĻž āĻŦā§‹āĻāĻžāύ⧋
Example: The figures indicate a gradual improvement. — āϏāĻ‚āĻ–ā§āϝāĻžāϗ⧁āϞ⧋ āϧ⧀āϰ⧇ āϧ⧀āϰ⧇ āωāĻ¨ā§āύāϤāĻŋāϰ āχāĻ™ā§āĻ—āĻŋāϤ āĻĻ⧇āϝāĻŧāĨ¤
Syn: suggest, revealAnt: hide, contradict
💡 Exam tip: Use it when the data suggest a conclusion rather than state it directly.
account for[/əˈkaʊnt fɔː(r)/]verbhard
Meaning: to constitute a particular amount or share — āϕ⧋āύ⧋ āύāĻŋāĻ°ā§āĻĻāĻŋāĻˇā§āϟ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻŽāĻžāĻŖ āĻŦāĻž āĻ…āĻ‚āĻļ āĻ—āĻ āύ āĻ•āϰāĻž
Alt: to explain the amount of something — āϕ⧋āύ⧋ āĻ•āĻŋāϛ⧁āϰ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻŽāĻžāĻŖ āĻŦā§āϝāĻžāĻ–ā§āϝāĻž āĻ•āϰāĻž
Example: Housing accounted for 34% of total expenditure. — āĻŽā§‹āϟ āĻŦā§āϝāϝāĻŧ⧇āϰ ā§Šā§Ē āĻļāϤāĻžāĻ‚āĻļ āφāĻŦāĻžāϏāύ āĻ–āĻžāϤ⧇ āĻ›āĻŋāϞāĨ¤
Syn: constitute, representAnt: exclude
💡 Exam tip: Use “accounted for + percentage” when describing pie charts.
represent[/ˌreprÉĒˈzent/]verbmedium
Meaning: to stand for or show — āĻĒā§āϰāϤāĻŋāĻĢāϞāĻŋāϤ āĻŦāĻž āωāĻĒāĻ¸ā§āĻĨāĻžāĻĒāύ āĻ•āϰāĻž
Alt: to equal a particular percentage — āύāĻŋāĻ°ā§āĻĻāĻŋāĻˇā§āϟ āĻļāϤāĻžāĻ‚āĻļ⧇āϰ āϏāĻŽāĻžāύ āĻšāĻ“āϝāĻŧāĻž
Example: Women represented the larger share in 2012. — ⧍ā§Ļ⧧⧍ āϏāĻžāϞ⧇ āύāĻžāϰ⧀āϰāĻž āĻŦ⧃āĻšāĻ¤ā§āϤāϰ āĻ…āĻ‚āĻļ⧇āϰ āĻĒā§āϰāϤāĻŋāύāĻŋāϧāĻŋāĻ¤ā§āĻŦ āĻ•āϰ⧇āĻ›āĻŋāϞāĨ¤
Syn: denote, symbolizeAnt: misrepresent
💡 Exam tip: “Represent” is useful for explaining what a segment or figure means.
overall[/ˌəʊvərˈɔːl/]adveasy
Meaning: considering everything — āϏāĻŦāĻ•āĻŋāϛ⧁ āĻŦāĻŋāĻŦ⧇āϚāύāĻž āĻ•āϰ⧇
Alt: in general — āϏāĻžāĻŽāĻ—ā§āϰāĻŋāĻ•āĻ­āĻžāĻŦ⧇
Example: Overall, the number of books read by men increased. — āϏāĻžāĻŽāĻ—ā§āϰāĻŋāĻ•āĻ­āĻžāĻŦ⧇, āĻĒ⧁āϰ⧁āώāĻĻ⧇āϰ āĻĒāĻĄāĻŧāĻž āĻŦāχāϝāĻŧ⧇āϰ āϏāĻ‚āĻ–ā§āϝāĻž āĻŦ⧇āĻĄāĻŧ⧇āϛ⧇āĨ¤
Syn: generally, on the wholeAnt: partially, specifically
💡 Exam tip: Start the overview or conclusion with “Overall,” followed by a comma.
prominent[/ˈprɒmÉĒnənt/]adjhard
Meaning: important and noticeable — āϗ⧁āϰ⧁āĻ¤ā§āĻŦāĻĒā§‚āĻ°ā§āĻŖ āĻ“ āϞāĻ•ā§āώāĻŖā§€āϝāĻŧ
Alt: easily seen or recognized — āϏāĻšāĻœā§‡ āĻĻ⧇āĻ–āĻž āĻŦāĻž āĻšā§‡āύāĻž āϝāĻžāϝāĻŧ āĻāĻŽāύ
Example: A prominent feature is the low percentage of master’s degrees. — āĻāĻ•āϟāĻŋ āϞāĻ•ā§āώāĻŖā§€āϝāĻŧ āĻŦ⧈āĻļāĻŋāĻˇā§āĻŸā§āϝ āĻšāϞ⧋ āĻŽāĻžāĻ¸ā§āϟāĻžāĻ°ā§āϏ āĻĄāĻŋāĻ—ā§āϰāĻŋāϰ āĻ•āĻŽ āĻļāϤāĻžāĻ‚āĻļāĨ¤
Syn: noticeable, significantAnt: insignificant, hidden
💡 Exam tip: Use “a prominent feature is...” to introduce an important observation.
whereby[/weəˈbaÉĒ/]advhard
Meaning: by which or through which — āϝāĻžāϰ āĻŽāĻžāĻ§ā§āϝāĻŽā§‡
Alt: according to which — āϝ⧇ āĻĒāĻĻā§āϧāϤāĻŋāϤ⧇
Example: The survey used a method whereby participants reported their activities. — āϜāϰāĻŋāĻĒ⧇ āĻāĻŽāύ āĻāĻ•āϟāĻŋ āĻĒāĻĻā§āϧāϤāĻŋ āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰ āĻ•āϰāĻž āĻšāϝāĻŧ⧇āĻ›āĻŋāϞ āϝāĻžāϰ āĻŽāĻžāĻ§ā§āϝāĻŽā§‡ āĻ…āĻ‚āĻļāĻ—ā§āϰāĻšāĻŖāĻ•āĻžāϰ⧀āϰāĻž āϤāĻžāĻĻ⧇āϰ āĻ•āĻžāĻ°ā§āϝāĻ•ā§āϰāĻŽ āϜāĻžāύāĻŋāϝāĻŧ⧇āĻ›āĻŋāϞāĨ¤
Syn: by which, through which
💡 Exam tip: This formal word is useful in complex descriptions but should not be overused.
summarise[/ˈsƌməraÉĒz/]verbmedium
Meaning: to present the main points briefly — āĻĒā§āϰāϧāĻžāύ āĻŦāĻŋāώāϝāĻŧāϗ⧁āϞ⧋ āϏāĻ‚āĻ•ā§āώ⧇āĻĒ⧇ āωāĻĒāĻ¸ā§āĻĨāĻžāĻĒāύ āĻ•āϰāĻž
Alt: to give an overview — āϏāĻžāϰāϏāĻ‚āĻ•ā§āώ⧇āĻĒ āĻĻ⧇āĻ“āϝāĻŧāĻž
Example: The answer should summarise the main features of the chart. — āωāĻ¤ā§āϤāϰ⧇ āϚāĻžāĻ°ā§āĻŸā§‡āϰ āĻĒā§āϰāϧāĻžāύ āĻŦ⧈āĻļāĻŋāĻˇā§āĻŸā§āϝāϗ⧁āϞ⧋āϰ āϏāĻžāϰāϏāĻ‚āĻ•ā§āώ⧇āĻĒ āĻĻāĻŋāϤ⧇ āĻšāĻŦ⧇āĨ¤
Syn: outline, condenseAnt: expand, elaborate
💡 Exam tip: Do not copy every detail; select the most important features and comparisons.
💡 Exam Tips
â€ĸ Read both axes, units, categories, time period and legend before writing.
â€ĸ Start with a paraphrased introduction; do not copy the question wording.
â€ĸ Write an overview mentioning the most important trends, highest values, lowest values or major contrasts.
â€ĸ Organise the description into an introduction, overview and detail paragraphs.
â€ĸ Use the simple past for completed time, the present perfect for unfinished time and future forms for predicted data.
â€ĸ Use “is expected to,” “is predicted to” or “is likely to” for uncertain future figures.
â€ĸ Use precise comparison structures such as “higher than,” “twice as high as,” “whereas” and “respectively.”
â€ĸ Use adverbs such as steadily, gradually, sharply, slightly and dramatically to show the speed or degree of change.
â€ĸ For pie charts, use “accounted for,” “represented” and “made up” with percentages.
â€ĸ Do not list every figure mechanically; select the main features and support them with accurate data.
â€ĸ End with a concluding observation about the overall pattern or dependence shown by the data.
â€ĸ Check subject-verb agreement, tense, percentage symbols, spelling and comparative forms before submitting.

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