Level 4 IELTS Writing Task 1 Task 1 Temporal Graphs Task 1 on the IELTS exam requires you to transfer information from a chart into a written report. You need to be able to give a clear interpretation of the data in the chart. You need to produce a report that gives an introduction and a body paragraph for each of the data sources. To get a band 5 or 5.5 in IELTS, you need to:- write an overview describe the main information in the chart(s) correctly make some comparisons organise your writing in a clear and logical way use some good linking words use suitable vocabulary with good range, spelling and correct word forms have some simple sentences, some compound sentences (using linking words like and & but), and some complex sentences (e.g.., which was the highest figure in the period,, after which ) In this section you will: practice identifying trends in a bar/line chart practice writing about changes in a bar/line chart
Number of Tourists (in Thousands) Tourists Visiting Three European Countries in 2008 900 800 700 600 500 400 300 France Germany Italy 200 100 0 January March May July September Month Sentence Types Two of the main sentence types for this kind of writing are those using verb/adverb and adjective/noun combinations. Directions - Look at the chart on the number of tourists visiting three European countries in 2008 and fill in the gaps below with the correct countries. 1. The number of tourists in increased dramatically in October. 2. The number of tourists in dropped steadily from January to June. 3. There was a dramatic increase in the number of tourists in in October. 4. There was a steady drop in the number of tourists in from January to June. Directions - Which of these 4 sentences use verb/adverb and which use adjective/noun? Circle the verb/adverb and adjective/noun combinations and match them with sentence type (A) or (B) below. (A) Sentences using verbs of change subject + verb + adverb + other important details (B) Sentences using nouns of change there + be verb + article + adjective + noun + in + noun + other important details 1
Key vocabulary Directions - Write the present and past tense of the verbs, and the adjectives of the adverbs. START POINT Nouns Present tense verbs Past tense verbs Adverbs Adjectives - begin at - - - stand at - - - start at - - UP rise increase climb rapidly dramatically sharply - go up gradually DOWN fall decrease decline drop - go down steadily moderately slowly slightly SAME UP and DOWN - remain - - constant - stay the same - - no change - - fluctuation upwards downwards peak - - plateau - - Introductory Verbs Others show around just over / just under illustrate approximately slightly more than / slightly less than indicate about 2
Directions - Using the vocabulary from the chart, look at the line charts and complete the sentences using the correct adverb and verb or adjective and noun. The number of students attending Oxford University between 1997 and 2000. There was a in stocks in computer chips from November to December. The amount of rainfall in the UAE in July. The number of homes owning more than one TV during September and then between October and November. TV ratings at ten million on June 30th. There was a in sales of Play Station 3 in March and then a during April. The number of people investing in houses during the months of February and March. Sales of crude oil between 2 and 2.5 million barrels from May to September. 3
Directions - Change the sentences below from (verb + adverb) to (there was a + adjective + noun) or the other way. The first one has been done as an example. 1. The number of students attending Oxford University increased steadily between 1997 and 2000. There was a steady increase in the number of students attending Oxford university between 1997 and 2000. 2. There was a slight rise in stocks in computer chips from November to December. 3. The amount of rainfall in the UAE dropped dramatically in July. 4. The number of homes owning more than one TV climbed sharply during September and then did not change between October and November. 5. TV ratings peaked at ten million on June 30th. 6. There was a slight fall in sales of Play Station 3 in March and then a rapid climb during April. 7. The number of people investing in houses plateaued during the months of February and March. 8. Sales of crude oil fluctuated upwards between 2 and 2.5 million barrels from May to September. 4
Amount of rice (in tons) Task 1 Analysis and Planning Directions- Look at the graph and answer the following questions 2500 Amount of rice grown in 3 countries 2000 1500 1000 500 China Japan India 0 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 Years 1. What kind of chart is it? 2. What is the overall trend for each country? 3. How would you organise the information in each of the paragraphs in the boxes below? 5
Model Report: The bar graph shows the amount of rice grown in three countries, which were China, Japan and India from 1920 to 2000. As an overall trend, the amount of rice for both China and India increased, while the amount for Japan decreased over the period. Looking at the amount of rice grown in China, it is clear to see that it went up over the period. It stood at approximately 300 tons in 1920. From 1920 to 1960, the amount of rice grew slightly from 300 tons to 500 tons, after which it remained constant from 1960 to 1980. Then, between 1980 and 2000, there was a sharp rise in the amount from 500 tons to 2,400 tons, which was the highest figure in the period. Similarly, the amount of rice in India climbed during the same 80 years. It began at 750 tons in 1920. Following this, there was a fluctuation in the amount of rice grown at around 800 tons between 1920 and 1960, after which the amount rose steadily from 800 tons to 1,500 tons between 1960 and 1990. Finally, the figure stayed the same from 1990 to 2000. Unlike China and India, there was an overall drop in the amount of rice grown in Japan. It started at about 1,600 tons in 1920, before rising slightly to a peak of 1,800 tons between 1920 and 1930. Next, from 1930 to 1960, it fell steadily from 1,800 tons to about 1,300 tons. After that, it remained constant from 1960 to 2000. Focus on Structure and Organisation Directions- Look at the report and answer the following questions. 1. How many paragraphs are there? 2. How are the paragraphs organised? 3. Where is the overview found? Underline/highlight the sentences(s) that are the overview. 4. Does the overview have any details such as data or numbers? 6
5. Which sentences in the body paragraphs 2 and 3 are comparisons? What are the sentences comparing? 6. Write down all the linking words that are used to order data information according to time. 7. In each body paragraph, is all data described? 8. Are there any explanations/opinions about the information in the graph? Focus on Vocabulary and Grammar 9. What verb tense is used in the report? Why? 10. In each body paragraph, what verb is used to describe the first data point? Write these verbs below: 11. Look at body paragraph 1. How many verbs can you find that have the same meaning as increased? Underline/highlight them. Are the verbs the same or different from each other? 12. Do most of the sentences use verb/adverb or adjective/noun combinations? Write down some examples of:- a. verb/adverb combinations b. adjective/noun combinations 13. Look at body paragraph 2. Write down the different ways of referring to the amount of rice grown. 14. Underline/highlight the complex structures used in the example report. 15. Below are some common phrases, fill in each gap with 1 word only. a. As overall trend, b. From 1920 1960, c. Between 1980 2000, d...decreased over period. 7
e. Looking the amount of rice grown in China,. f..it is clear to see it went up.. g. It started 750 tons h. there was an overall drop the amount i. 1920 and 930. j. Next, 1930 to 1960,.. k. it fell steadily 1,800 tons about 1,300 tons Steps to writing a report 1. Select information- Before you write think of what to include 2. Look at the main features- tops/bottoms, beginning/ends, common patterns, changes, identify the important trends. 3. Compare- similarities and differences 4. Report- Write what you see- No opinion, not an essay 5. Summarize information- need to leave out some information, don t give too much information. Additional things to think about when writing reports: Check that you have an overview and that it is correct. Make sure you give some numbers but don t write any numbers in the overview Be careful of spellings learn the vocabulary table. Use the correct tense for verbs and vary them Make sure you use a variety of sentence patterns. Use the correct adverbs to describe trends. Put your time phrases in different parts of the sentence (front/back). 8
Number of Tourists (in Thousands) Answers Tourists Visiting Three European Countries in 2008 900 800 700 600 500 400 300 France Germany Italy 200 100 0 January March May July September Month Sentence Types Two of the main sentence types for this kind of writing are those using verb/adverb and adjective/noun combinations. Directions - Look at the chart on the number of tourists visiting three European countries in 2008 and fill in the gaps below with the correct countries. 1. The number of tourists in Italy increased dramatically in October. (A) 2. The number of tourists in Germany dropped steadily from January to June. (A) 3. There was a dramatic increase in the number of tourists in Italy in October. (B) 4. There was a steady drop in the number of tourists in Germany from January to June. (B) Directions - Which of these 4 sentences use verb/adverb and which use adjective/noun? Circle the verb/adverb and adjective/noun combinations and match them with sentence type (A) or (B) below. (A) Sentences using verbs of change subject + verb + adverb + other important details (B) Sentences using nouns of change there + be verb + article + adjective + noun + in + noun + other important details 9
Key vocabulary Directions - Write the present and past tense of the verbs, and the adjectives of the adverbs. START POINT UP Nouns Present tense verbs Past tense verbs Adverbs Adjectives - begin at began at - - - stand at stood at - - - start at started at - - rise rise to rose to rapidly rapid increase increase to increased to dramatically dramatic climb climb to climbed to sharply sharp - go up to went up to gradually gradual DOWN fall fall to fell to steadily steady decrease decrease to decreased to moderately moderate decline decline to declined to slowly slow drop drop to dropped to slightly slight - go down went down to SAME UP and DOWN - remain remained - - constant at constant at - stay the same stayed the - - at same at no change does not change at did not change at - - fluctuation fluctuates at fluctuated upwards upward downwards downward peak peaks at peaked at - - plateau plateaus at plateaued at - - Introductory Verbs Others show around just over / just under illustrate approximately slightly more than / slightly less than indicate about 10
Directions - Using the vocabulary from the chart, look at the line charts and complete the sentences using the correct adverb and verb or adjective and noun. The number of students attending Oxford University increased steadily between 1997 and 2000. There was a slight rise in stocks in computer chips from November to December. The amount of rainfall in the UAE dropped dramatically in July. The number of homes owning more than one TV climbed sharply during September and then remained constant between October and November. TV ratings peaked at ten million on June 30th. There was a slight fall in sales of Play Station 3 in March and then a rapid climb during April. The number of people investing in houses plateaued during the months of February and March. Sales of crude oil fluctuated upwards between 2 and 2.5 million barrels from May to September. 11
Directions - Change the sentences below from (verb + adverb) to (there was a + adjective + noun) or the other way. The first one has been done as an example. 1. The number of students attending Oxford University increased steadily between 1997 and 2000. There was a steady increase in the number of students attending Oxford university between 1997 and 2000. 2. There was a slight rise in stocks in computer chips from November to December. Stocks in computer chips rose slightly from November to December. 3. The amount of rainfall in the UAE dropped dramatically in July. There was a dramatic drop in the amount of rainfall in the UAE in July. 4. The number of homes owning more than one TV climbed sharply during September and then did not change between October and November. There was a sharp climb in the number of homes owning more than one TV during September and then no change between October and November. 5. TV ratings peaked at ten million on June 30th. There was a peak in TV ratings at ten million on June 30th. 6. There was a slight fall in sales of Play Station 3 in March and then a rapid climb during April. Sales of Play Station 3 fell slightly in March and then climbed rapidly during April. 7. The number of people investing in houses plateaued during the months of February and March. There was a plateau in the number of people investing in houses during the months of February and March. 8. Sales of crude oil fluctuated upwards between 2 and 2.5 million barrels from May to September. There was an upward fluctuation in sales of crude oil between 2 and 2.5 million barrels from May to September. 12
Amount of rice (in tons) Task 1 Analysis and Planning Directions- Look at the graph and answer the following questions 2500 Amount of rice grown in 3 countries 2000 1500 1000 500 China Japan India 0 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 Years 4. What kind of chart is it? Bar 5. What is the overall trend for each country? China & India up, Japan down 6. How would you organise the information in each of the paragraphs in the boxes below? Introduction China India Japan 13
Model Report: The bar graph shows the amount of rice grown in three countries, which were China, Japan and India from 1920 to 2000. As an overall trend, the amount of rice for both China and India increased, while the amount for Japan decreased over the period. Looking at the amount of rice grown in China, it is clear to see that it went up over the period. It stood at approximately 300 tons in 1920. From 1920 to 1960, the amount of rice grew slightly from 300 tons to 500 tons, after which it remained constant from 1960 to 1980. Then, between 1980 and 2000, there was a sharp rise in the amount from 500 tons to 2,400 tons, which was the highest figure in the period. Similarly, the amount of rice in India climbed during the same 80 years. It began at 750 tons in 1920. Following this, there was a fluctuation in the amount of rice grown at around 800 tons between 1920 and 1960, after which the amount rose steadily from 800 tons to 1,500 tons between 1960 and 1990. Finally, the figure stayed the same from 1990 to 2000. Unlike China and India, there was an overall drop in the amount of rice grown in Japan. It started at about 1,600 tons in 1920, before rising slightly to a peak of 1,800 tons between 1920 and 1930. Next, from 1930 to 1960, it fell steadily from 1,800 tons to about 1,300 tons. After that, it remained constant from 1960 to 2000. Focus on Structure and Organisation Directions- Look at the report and answer the following questions. 16. How many paragraphs are there? 4 17. How are the paragraphs organised? Intro China India - Japan 18. Where is the overview found? Underline/highlight the sentences(s) that are the overview. 19. Does the overview have any details such as data or numbers? No 14
20. Which sentences in the body paragraphs 2 and 3 are comparisons? What are the sentences comparing? 1st sentences, comparing China with India, and comparing China & India with Japan 21. Write down all the linking words that are used to order data information according to time., after which Then, Following this, Finally,, before Next, After that, 22. In each body paragraph, is all data described? No, only main changes 23. Are there any explanations/opinions about the information in the graph? No! Focus on Vocabulary and Grammar 24. What verb tense is used in the report? Why? Past tense, 1920-2000 25. In each body paragraph, what verb is used to describe the first data point? Write these verbs below: stood at began at started at 26. Look at body paragraph 1. How many verbs can you find that have the same meaning as increased? Underline/highlight them. Are the verbs the same or different from each other? went up grew 27. Do most of the sentences use verb/adverb or adjective/noun combinations? Write down some examples of:- a. verb/adverb combinations grew slightly rose steadily remained constant b. adjective/noun combinations a sharp rise an overall drop a fluctuation 28. Look at body paragraph 2. Write down the different ways of referring to the amount of rice grown. It the amount the figure 29. Underline/highlight the complex structures used in the example report. Looking at the amount of rice grown in China, it is clear to see that it went up, the amount of rice grew slightly, after which it remained constant, there was a sharp rise in the amount, which was the highest figure in the period. Unlike China and India, there was an overall drop in It started at about 1,600 tons in 1920, before rising slightly to a peak of 1,800 tons 30. Below are some common phrases, fill in each gap with 1 word only. 15
a. As an overall trend, b. From 1920 to 1960, c. Between 1980 and 2000, d...decreased over the period. e. Looking at the amount of rice grown in China,. f..it is clear to see that it went up.. g. It started at 750 tons h. there was an overall drop in the amount i. between 1920 and 930. j. Next, from 1930 to 1960,.. k. it fell steadily from 1,800 tons to about 1,300 tons Steps to writing a report 1. Select information- Before you write think of what to include 2. Look at the main features- tops/bottoms, beginning/ends, common patterns, changes, identify the important trends. 3. Compare- similarities and differences 4. Report- Write what you see- No opinion, not an essay 5. Summarize information- need to leave out some information, don t give too much information. Additional things to think about when writing reports: Check that you have an overview and that it is correct. Make sure you give some numbers but don t write any numbers in the overview Be careful of spellings learn the vocabulary table. Use the correct tense for verbs and vary them Make sure you use a variety of sentence patterns. Use the correct adverbs to describe trends. Put your time phrases in different parts of the sentence (front/back). 16
Practice Task 1: You should spend 20 minutes on this task. The bar chart below illustrates the number of students who played three sports at UAEU from 2000 to 2008. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and making comparisons where relevant. You should write at least 150 words. 17
Name: ID: 18
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Model Answer: Sports played at UAEU from 2000 to 2008 Directions Fill in the missing words. The first letter of each word has been given for you. T b g s t n o students at UAE University who played three sports, w w football, tennis and badminton between 2000 and 2008. A a o t the number of students who participated in football and badminton decreased, w the number of students who played tennis increased o t 9 year p. L a the number of UAEU students who played football, i i c t s t i fell o t p. It s a about 85 in 2000, a t the f rose steadily to around 110 in 2004. N, t w a slight drop to approximately 105 in 2005. A t, it peaked a 140 i 2006. F, it declined dramatically to just under 60, w w t l in the 9 years. S, the number of students who enjoyed badminton dropped d t s 9 years. In 2000, i b a 40, before falling rapidly to 10 in 2001. From 2001 to 2003, it rose slightly to 20. F t, t w a sharp climb to around 65 in 2004, a w it decreased moderately to 20 in 2007 and remained constant to 2008. U the number of students who played football and badminton, t w a o climb i the number of students who participated in tennis. The figure s a 40 in 2000, a w it fluctuated upwards to about 68 in 2005, w w t h in the period. Then it fell slightly to approximately 58 in 2006. F, between 2006 and 2008, t n stayed the same. 20
Model Answer: Sports played at UAEU from 2000 to 2008 Teachers Answers The bar graph shows the number of students at UAE University who played three sports, which were football, tennis and badminton between 2000 and 2008. As an overall trend the number of students who participated in football and badminton decreased, while the number of students who played tennis increased over the 9 year period. Looking at the number of UAEU students who played football, it is clear to see that it fell over the period. It stood at about 85 in 2000, and then the figure rose steadily to around 110 in 2004. Next, there was a slight drop to approximately 105 in 2005. After that, it peaked at 140 in 2006. Finally, it declined dramatically to just under 60, which was the lowest in the 9 years. Similarly, the number of students who enjoyed badminton dropped during the same 9 years. In 2000, it began at 40, before falling rapidly to 10 in 2001. From 2001 to 2003, it rose slightly to 20. Following this, there was a sharp climb to around 65 in 2004, after which it decreased moderately to 20 in 2007 and remained constant to 2008. Unlike the number of students who played football and badminton, there was an overall climb in the number of students who participated in tennis. The figure started at 40 in 2000, after which it fluctuated upwards to about 68 in 2005, which was the highest in the period. Then it fell slightly to approximately 58 in 2006. Finally, between 2006 and 2008, the number stayed the same. 21
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Amount of Coal (in Tons) Temporal Task 1 Practice Writing For each of the practice tasks below, you can do any or all of the following:- plan and write the overview write the introduction write the first sentence of each body paragraph write the full report in 20 minutes Practice 1 The bar chart below illustrates the coal produced by three countries. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words. 700 Amount of Coal Produced in Three Countries 600 500 400 300 England Scotland Wales 200 100 0 Year 22
Practice 2 Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words. 23
Practice 3 The graph below shows male unemployment rates in each country of the United Kingdom from 1999 to 2014. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words. 24
Practice 4 (Extension) The chart shows student expenditure over a three-year period in the United Kingdom. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words. 25
Practice 4 (Extension) The chart shows components of GDP in the UK from 1992 to 2000. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words 26
Practice 5 (Extension) The graph shows estimated oil production capacity for several Gulf countries between 1990 and 2010. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. You should write at least 150 words. You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. 27