Describing trends IELTS 8.0 Writting

Ways to effectively exploit the core course materials for BE2 Units 3, 4, 5, 6 Unit 1 Describing Trends Trends are changes or movements in facts and figures over a period of time an upward trend (incr.

Unit 1: Describing Trends

Trends are changes or movements in facts and figures over

a period of time

- a downward trend (decrease)

Visual aids:

- line graph

- bar chart

Language for describing trends:

e.g Sales fell by $2m to $7m

or we can use a related noun

e.g There was a fall in sales

Unit 1: Describing Trends

Examples taken from students’ assignments:

- There was a sharp rise by £3 million in May before sales went down slightly to £15 million in June

Unit 1: Describing Trends

of

Another example taken from students’ assignments:

- After a slight fall in 2002, inflation improved during the next year

Unit 1: Describing Trends

Sales slightly plummeted by $1,234 in May

Some language which will be useful to

describe movement

• There are a number of words which are similar

in meaning This means that you will be able

to use a variety of vocabulary which gives a

good impression to the reader

• The words below are particularly useful for

line graphs but they can also be used where

appropriate to describe the other types of

graph

Graph descriptions - introduction:

The graph covers the period of

shows

illustrates

gives the data on/about

presents

Prepositions

( http://dspace.utlib.ee/dspace/bitstream/handle/10062/18053/prepositions_used_to_describe_graphs _and_charts.html )

Verb + preposition

Income tax has gone up from 30% to 40% (the total increase is 10%)

Income tax has gone up by 30% to 40% (the total increase is 30%)

Inflation has risen to 5% (inflation is now 5%)

Inflation has risen by 5% (if it was 10% before, now it is 15%)

Inflation has increased to 5% (movement)

Inflation now stands at 5% (no movement)

Noun + preposition

The increase in salaries is around 5% (in + noun)

There was an increase of 5% (of + number)

The exchange rate reached a peak at USD 3.76 in April (noun + of + number)

Verbs / Nouns

fluctuate / a fluctuation (around $30 / between $20 and $40)

of

Graph descriptions

(+by/to)

Increase + +

(+by/to)

Increase + + +

plunge (v)

– a plunge (n)

slump (v)

– a slump (n)

collapse

(v) – a collapse

(n)

decrease

(v) -a decrease

decline (v)

– a decline

go down(v)

fall (off) (v)

– a fall

drop (off) (v)

– a drop

(to focus on a particular point)

level off / level out flatten out/

Stabilize/

stay at the same level

maintain /stay at the same level

(We use these phrases to indicate

no movement)

increase (v) –

an increase

rise (v)

– a rise

go up (v)

– an upturn

climb (v)

grow (v)

- growth(n)

recover (v) -a

recovery

improve(v)

– an improvement

soar (v)

jump (v)

a jump(n)

rocket (v)

boom (v)

– a boom (n)

shoot up

Generalizing numbers

a little more or less than the stated number or amount

a little less than the stated number or amount

a little more than

the stated number

or amount

about approximately around

roughly

just under well under (just) less than (slightly) less than almost

nearly

just over well over (just ) more than (slightly) more than

Graph descriptions

Expressing the Movement of a Line

A DJECTIVES A DVERBS

Dramatic dramatically Sharp sharply

Huge hugely Enormous enormously Steep steeply

Substantial substantially Considerable considerably Significant significantly Marked markedly Moderate moderately Slight slightly

Small

http://www.ieltshelpnow.com/academic_writing_test_1.html

Describing the Speed of a Change

Adjectives Adverbs

Rapid rapidly Quick quickly Swift swiftly Sudden suddenly Steady steadily Gradual gradually Slow slowly

http://www.ieltshelpnow.com/academic_writing_test_1.html

Graph descriptions

Students can find more vocabulary for describing trends They may need to

- consult a good Business English Dictionary such as

• Longman Business Dictionary

• Cambridge Dictionaries Online (at

http://dictionary.cambridge.org )

Graph descriptions

Practice

QUESTIONS

1 What is the line graph about?

_

2 What is the busiest time of day at the store?

_

3 At what time does business start to slow down?

_

4 How many people are in the store when it opens?

_

5 About how many people are in the store at 2:30 pm?

_

6 What was the greatest number of people in the store?

7 What was the least number of people in the store?

_

Practice

Describe the movement of the line in the graph using the

language above

_

Practice

Describe the movement of the line in the graph using the

language above

_

Some extracts taken from articles on the websites

MUMBAI JaguarLand Rover Thursday said its global sales for November rose 14% from a year earlier to 29,893 vehicles, with demand for its luxury cars rising in most regions

New York, while Google rose less than 1 percent to $702.92