IELTS Writing Task 1: describing 2 charts

Here are some tips for writing about 2 charts, graphs or tables:

1. Introduction

Write one sentence, but introduce each chart separately e.g. "The first bar chart shows..., and the second chart illustrates..."

2. Summary of main points

Write 2 sentences. If the information in the charts is not connected, find one main point or general trend for each chart. If the charts are connected, try to make comparisons.

3. Main body paragraphs

If the 2 charts are completely different (e.g. a graph and a table), write a separate paragraph about each.

If the charts are the same, and show the same information (e.g. 2 pie charts), don't describe them separately; the examiner will want to see comparisons. In this case, you could write one paragraph describing all of the information, but I still prefer to write 2 paragraphs because it makes the essay look more organised.

Comments

[Christina]

Hi Simon can I ask you some grammatical questions. i know this is not the right category to post under.

Today I came across this sentence: May will be perhaps our most spectacular month when our fruit trees will be in full blossom.

This was taken from a listening script of a sample IELTS test, but i dont understand why future tense is used in the dependent clause.

Could you enlighten me?

q2: long-term hospital care is in fact probably less of an issue than the media would have us believe.

i dont understand why it is not have us believed but have us believe

Thanx a lot

[Maria]

Hi Simon,
In writing part of IELTS exams, we have to write on paper or computer? I have exam on 21st January and I have to do 250 words practice.

Thanks

[Oscar]

Hi, Simon

Your blog really helps me a lot. I have appeared two IELTS tests, and get 5.5 in the Writing Part in both of the tests. I hope I will get at least 6 in the Writing part on the 14th, January.

By the way, this article seems a little familiar. Is it an old one which has been posted before?

[Abe]

Hi Simoon,
I would be grateful if you could send me the extra 10 lessons that you mentioned (you have sent them for the people who bought your e.book & on your mailing list because I have not received them). Also I would like to know how much is the fees for writing feedback services provided by one of your colleagues.

Best Wishes
Abe

[Simon]

Hi Christina,

1. Strictly speaking, the future tense shouldn't have been used there. You will sometimes hear this kind of mistake in spoken English, which is a bit 'freer' than written English.

2. This is just a typical phrase in English, so it's best not to analyse it grammatically. "less of an issue than the media would have us believe" means "less important than the media want us to believe".

...

Hi Maria,

It's all on paper. Good luck!

...

Good luck Oscar!

Yes, I do sometimes repost my older lessons - well noticed!

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Hi Abe,

If you bought the ebook more recently, you do have the 10 lessons. I repackaged them into 3 attachments (because 10 took too long to attach!) - all 10 lessons are in the 3 extra attachments I sent with the ebook.

[Jannatul FERDOUS]

Hi Simon,
I haven't receive ur 10 extra lessons of ur e book.can u sent me pls.
Thanx
Jannat

[siya]

in case of any graph for exapmle in single line represented sales of gold in 2002 for 12 months.when i started to write 1st body paragraph so its essential to write 2002 to state figure but in all months i have to mention 2002 in sentence.According once i start sentence with the year 2002 then i do not need to write all time 2002

wait for your replay
thanks

[sammy]

Hi Simon
My English name is Sammy. I am one of the people trying to get 6.5 from ielts. At 23:40, I found this website which is awesome for practising. that is why, I`m absulately thankfull about the work you`ve done.

[Simon]

Hi Jannatul,

If you bought the ebook recently, you received the 10 lessons as the 3 extra attachments I sent with the ebook. I repackaged the 10 lessons into 3 attachments to avoid sending 10 attachments.

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Hi Siya,

Yes, if you've mentioned the year at the start of the sentence, you don't need to mention it again (until you start describing a new year).

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No problem Sammy. I'm happy you found us!

[Patty]

Hi Simon,

I haven't got 10 extra lessons attached with e book.Is it just in your package? I bought e-book on 23 November,2011.Could you sent them to me please?
Thank you very much.

[Simon]

Hi Patty,

If you bought the ebook recently, you received the 10 lessons as the 3 extra attachments I sent with the ebook. I repackaged the 10 lessons into 3 attachments to avoid sending 10 attachments.

[daniel luo]

Hi Simon,
I haven't receive your 10 extra lessons too. Can you sent me please.

[Patty]

Hi Simon,

I got it already with e-book!! On the first time,I understood that it wasn't 10 lessons because it didn't specify about chapters.
Your e-book was really beneficial!! I still can't remember all but I always try to revise it for using idea in writing.

[Simon]

Hi Daniel,

I sent you an email.

If you bought the ebook recently, you received the 10 lessons as the 3 extra attachments I sent with the ebook. I repackaged the 10 lessons into 3 attachments to avoid sending 10 attachments.

...

No problem Patty.

[Oscar]

Hi, Simon

Comparing with making cement, the concrete production is rather simple.

Compared with making coment, the concrete production is rather simple.

Which one is right?

Thanks.

[Simon]

Hi Oscar,

You need to write:

Compared with making cement, concrete production is rather simple.

[mitch]

I get confuse on what figures to compare with..the highest or lowest,the country with the same figure ,countries with little difference in a span of 2 years things like that....it takes much of my time ...what should I do simon.

tnx,
M

[Simon]

Hi Mitch,

Start by looking for things like highest and lowest, the beginning of the period and the end of the period (if years are shown). Then choose maybe one other figure for each country e.g. a big change or a high point. That's usually enough.

[daisy]

Hi Simon

I bought the ebook last year, around october. Can I avail the 10 lessons as well? Please send it to me if you don't mind.
Thank you in advance

[Simon]

Hi Daisy,

You already have them. I repackaged the 10 lessons into 3 attachments (instead of sending 10 attachments). I sent the 3 extra attachments in the original email with the ebook.