IELTS WRITING TASK 1 – VOCABULARY

1. How to write an introduction? - the graph below shows ...

Starting Presentation Type Verb Description

The/ the given / diagram / table / shows / represents / the comparison of…
the supplied / the figure / illustration / depicts / enumerates the differences…
presented / the graph / chart / flow / illustrates / the changes...
shown / the chart / picture/ presents/ gives / the number of…
provided presentation/ pie provides / information on…
chart / bar graph/ delineates/ outlines/ data on…
column graph / line describes / the proportion of…
graph / table data/ delineates/ the amount of…
data / information / expresses/ denotes/ information on...
pictorial/ process compares/ shows data about...
diagram/ map/ pie contrast / indicates / comparative data...
chart and table/ bar figures / gives data the trend of...
graph and pie on / gives the percentages of…
chart ... information on/ the ratio of…
presents information how the…
about/ shows data
about/ the figure for
demonstrates/
sketch out/
summarizes...

2. How to write a general statement? Overview

In general, In common, Generally speaking, Overall, It is obvious, As is observed, As a general

trend, As can be seen, As an overall trend, As is presented, It can be clearly seen that, At the
first glance, it is clear, At the onset, it is clear that, A glance at the graph/maps/diagram reveals
that...

3. How to write the body?

 4. As is presented in the diagram(s)/ graph(s)/ pie chart(s)/ table...

2. As (is) shown in the illustration...

3. As can be seen in the...
4. As the diagrams suggest...
5. According to the...
6. Categorically speaking...
7. Turning to the details...
8. Now, turning to the details...
9. The table data clearly shows that...
10. The diagram reveals that...
11. The data suggest that...
12. The graph gives the figure...
13. It is interesting to note that...
14. It is apparently seen that...
15. It is conspicuous that...
16. It is explicitly observed that...
17. It is obvious...
18. It is clear from the data...
19. It is worth noticing that...
20. It is crystal clear/ lucid that...
21. It can be clearly observed that...
22. It could be plainly viewed that...
23. It could be noticed that...

Trends Verb form Noun Form

Increase rise / increase / go up / uplift / rocket(ed) / a rise / an increase / an upward

climb / upsurge / soar/ shot up/ improve/ trend / a growth / a leap / a jump /
jump/ leap/ move upward/ skyrocket/ an improvement/ a climb.
soar/ surge.

Decrease fall / decrease / decline / plummet / a fall / a decrease / a reduction / a

plunge / drop / reduce / collapse / downward trends /a downward
deteriorate/ dip / dive / go down / take a tendency / a decline/ a drop / a
nosedive / slum / slide / go into free-fall. slide / a collapse / a downfall.
 Steadiness unchanged / level out / remain constant / a steadiness/ a plateau / a stability/
remain steady / plateau / remain the a static
same / remain stable / remain static

Gradual increase an upward trend / an upward

------------ tendency / a ceiling trend

Gradual decrease a downward trend / a downward

------------ tendency / a descending trend

Standability/ Flat level(ed) off / remain(ed) constant /

remain(ed) unchanged / remain(ed) No change, a flat, a plateau.
stable / prevail(ed) consistency / plateaued
/ reach(ed) a plateau / stay(ed) uniform
/immutable / level(ed) out/ stabilise/
remain(ed) the same.

Verbs for upward trend the data climbed significantly/slightly

Verbs Example
soar the use of water soared in March
leap the prices leapt to 90% in one year
Climb populations climbed to over one million by 1980
Rocket use of cars rocketed in the first decade
Surge a surge of migration is seen in November
strong verbs => adjectives are unnecessary (ex: a gradual climb >< the data rocket

Verbs for downward trend

Verbs Example
Sink The cost of housing sunk after 2008
Slip back Use of electricity slipped back to 50 in May
Dip Divorce rate dipped in the 60s
Drop A drop in crime can be seen last year
Plummet Tourists to the city plummets after September: đột ngột
Adjectives of Degree
 Adjective Example Adverb Example
Significant A significant change Significantly Changed significantly
Dramatic A dramatic shift Dramatically Shifts dramatically
Sudden A sudden rise Suddenly Has risen suddenly
Substantial A substantial gain Substantially Gained substantially
Sharp A sharp decrease Sharply Had decreased
sharply

Steady Adjectives

Adjective Example Adverb Example

Consistent A consistent flow Consistently Flowed consistently
Steady A steady movement Steadily Moved steadily
Constant Constant shift Constantly Sifted constantly

Small adjectives

Adjective Example Adverb Example

Slight A slight rise Slightly Rose slightly
Gradual A gradual fall Gradually Has fallen gradually
Marginal A marginal change Marginally Had changed
marginally
Modest A modest increase Modestly Increases modestly

Other useful adjectives

These adjectives can be used to describes more general trends

Adjective Example
Upward By looking at the five data points, there appears to be a clear upward pattern in
prices
Downward Over the past quarter century there is a downward trend in use of pesticides
Overall The overall shift in the market seems to favour the use of nuclear power

Rapid change
 - Adverbs: dramatically / rapidly / sharply / quickly / hurriedly / speedily / swiftly /
significantly/ considerably / substantially / noticeably.
- Adjectives: dramatic / rapid / sharp / quick / hurried / speedy / swift / significant /
considerable / substantial / noticeable.

Moderate change
- Adverbs: moderately / gradually / progressively / sequentially.
- Adjectives: moderate / gradual / progressive /sequential.

Steady change
- Adverbs: steadily/ ceaselessly.
- Adjectives: steady/ ceaseless.

Slight change:
- Adverbs: slightly / slowly / mildly / tediously.
- Adjectives: slight / slow / mild / tedious.
Rapid ups and downs: wave / fluctuate / oscillate / vacillate / palpitate
Great change / Huge difference: Medium change / Moderate difference:
Adjectives Adverbs Adjectives Adverbs
Overwhelming Overwhelmingly Somewhat Somewhat
Substantial Substantially Moderate Moderately
Enormous Enormously

Big change / Big difference: Minor change / Small difference:

Adjectives Adverbs Adjectives Adverbs
Significant Significantly Fractional Fractionally
Considerable Considerably Marginal Marginally
Slight Slightly

Percentages:
10% increase, 25 percent decrease, increased by 15%, dropped by 10 per cent, fall at 50%,
reached to 75%, tripled, doubled, one-fourth, three-quarters, half, double fold, treble, 5 times
higher, 3 timers lower, declined to about 49%, stood exactly at 43%.

Fractions:
4% = A tiny fraction.
24% = Almost a quarter.
25% Exactly a quarter.
26% = Roughly one quarter.
32% Nearly one-third, nearly a third.
49% = Around a half, just under a half.
50% Exactly a half.
51% = Just over a half.
73% = Nearly three quarters.
77% = Approximately three quarters, more than three-quarter.
79% = Well over three quarters.

Proportions:
2% = A tiny portion, a very small proportion.
4% = An insignificant minority, an insignificant proportion.
16% = A small minority, a small portion.
70% = A large proportion.
72% = A significant majority, A significant proportion.89% = A very large proportion.
89% = A very large proportion.