Vocabulary for Describing Graph TrendsWord Part of SpeechExample Sentence

increaseverb: to increase, is increasing, has increased, increasedTotal expenditure increased from $33,611m to $39,165m from 1995 to 1996.

noun: an increase of $5,554man increase in spending of $5,554mFrom 1995 to 1996 there was an increase in expenditure of $5,554m.

decreaseverb: to decrease, is decreasing, has decreased, decreasedExpenditure on primary education decreased from 22.2% to 21.5% from 1995 to 1996.

noun: a decrease of 0.7%a decrease in spending of 0.7%From 1995 to 1996 there was a decrease in expenditure of 0.7%.

riseverb: to rise, is rising, has risen, roseTotal expenditure rose from $33,611m to $39,165m from 1995 to 1996.

noun: a rise of $5,554ma rise in spending of $5,554mFrom 1995 to 1996 there was a rise in expenditure of $5,554m.

fallverb: to fall, is falling, has fallen, fellExpenditure on primary education fell from 22.2% to 21.5% from 1995 to 1996.

noun: a fall of 0.7%a fall in spending of 0.7%From 1995 to 1996 there was a fall in expenditure of 0.7%.

dropverb: to drop, is dropping, has dropped, droppedExpenditure on primary education dropped from 22.2% to 21.5% from 1995 to 1996.

noun: a drop of 0.7%a drop in spending of 0.7%From 1995 to 1996 there was a drop in expenditure of 0.7%.

-ing formsAfter an introductory clause that includes some analysis; e.g. 'Spending rose in all three years', an '_ing' form can be used to describe numbers and dates.Spending rose in all three years, increasing from 17.6% to 18% from 1995 to 1996, and then rising again to 18.2% in 1997-8.

PracticeHave a look at the table below.Then, to help you with describing graph trends, decide which word should go in the gap in the example answer.Expenditure on Education in Hong Kong 1995 to 1998 Breakdown of spending1995-61996-71997-8

Total expenditure ($ million)33,61139,16545,315

As % of government budget17.6%18%18.2%

% spent on primary education secondary education tertiary education22.2%33.7%35.9%21.5%33.2%36.7%21.6%33.5%35.9%

Describing Graph Trends - Gap FillPublic expenditure on education in Hong Kong (1) _____________ continuously from 1995 to 1998. In academic year 1995-6 it (2)_________________ HK$33,611 million, (3)______________ to $39,165 million in 1996-7 and $45,315 million in 1997-8. As a percentage of the governments budget spending on education also increased (4)______ year, from 17.6% to 18% and then to 18.2%.However, the percentage of expenditure spent on primary, secondary and tertiary education did not show the same consistent (5)_______. In 1995-6 expenditure on primary education was 22.2% of the education budget, 33.7% (6)_________ on secondary, and 35.9% on tertiary.In 1996, (7) ____________ of 0.8% in spending on tertiary education was finanaced by a (8)_________ in spending of 0.7% in primary and 0.5% in secondary schooling.In 1997-8 tertiary spending as a percent of the education budget (9)_________to its 1995-6 level. The percentage spent on primary education (10)__________ to 21.6% and that on secondary to 33.5%, both figures being less than 1995-6 levels.Choose the correct word to fit in the gap

Top of Form1. increasesincreasedincreasing

2. wasrose to reached

3. increased droppingrising

4. an increaseincreasedincreasing

5. riseroserising

6. spentspending was spent

7. an increaseincreasewas increased

8. increasedropdropped

9. droppedincreasedreturned

10. risedroseincrease

Bottom of FormThis lesson will hopefully have helped you with the basics of describing graph trends and some of the different structures you can use. Remember though this example has only used a few of the words possible for describing change. It's important to vary your language so look around the IELTS buddy site, for example on the model graphs, to see what other language you can use. Academic task 1 trend vocabularyThis post looks at some vocabulary for IELTS writing task 1 when you need to describe a graph or chart that has a time element. I begin by looking at some of the most common vocabulary you need. Then I give you some variations and talk about some grammar.Test yourself firstBefore you read on, you may want to test your knowledge first.The most basic trend vocabulary a few variationsLets look at this graph and see what words we need to describe it. Put simply we need language that describes up (2009 to 2010), down (2008 to 2009), up and down (between 2006 and 2009) no change (2006 and 2007) the top (2010)

The trend vocabulary I am going to suggest may seem very basic. It does, however, allow you to say the same thing in up to 6 different ways. Thats good.Tip: if you find yourself repeating a word, try changing the form of it from a verb to a nounYou should also note that, even with this basic language, there are a variety of grammar problems that cause many candidates problems. Thats bad.Up variations

Down variations

Up and downSometimes you need to describe a graph that goes up and then down. Here we have fewer options.

No change

Top

Preposition problem 1 by and toPrepositions are horrid in English. Have another look at the graph:

Note how these two sentences mean exactly the same:The rate of unemployment rose to 12% in 2010.The rate of unemployment rose by 5% in 2010.Preposition problem 2 in and ofThis one is harder. We use in to describe changes in things and of to describe changes in number or amount. For example,There was a rise in the rate of unemploymentThere was a rise of 5% in the rate of unemployment.Some more advanced trend vocabularyThis is some useful trend vocabulary for charts and graphs for people looking to get band 7.0 or over.Test yourself firstUpwards trendsDownward trendsadjectives and adverbs

VerbsThese verbs are alternatives to the basic rise and fall vocabulary. One benefit of using them is that sometimes they help you avoid repeating too many numbers. If you have a strong verb, you dont always have to give the exact figure.Up verbs

Notes: Soar and rocket are both very strong words that describe large rises. Rocket is more sudden. You probably do not need to qualify these verbs with adverbs. Leap shows a large and sudden rise. Again, you probably do not need to qualify it with an adverb. Climb is a relatively neutral verb that can be used with the adverbs below.Down verbsVerbExamples

PlummetIt then plummeted to a low of 20%

SinkAfter that it sank to 75

DropThis amount dropped by 30% in the third quarter of the year

Slip backOnly to slip back to 900 in May

Dip The number of female doctors dipped in the last decades

Notes: Plummet is the strongest word here. It means to fall very quickly and a long way. Drop and drop are normally used for fairly small decreases Slip back is used for falls that come after rises Drop and Dip are also frequently used as nouns: eg a slight dip a sudden dropAdjectives and adverbsThis is a selection of some of the most common adjectives and adverbs used for trend language. Please be careful. This is an area where it is possible to make low-level mistakes. Make sure that you use adjectives with nouns and adverbs with verbs: a significant rise correct (adjective/noun) rose significantly correct (adverb/verb) a significantly rise wrong wrong wrongPlease also note the spelling of the adverbs. There is a particular problem with the word dramatically: dramatically correct dramaticly wrong dramaticaly wrongAdjectives of degree

notes sudden and sharp can be used of relatively minor changes that happen quickly spectacular and dramatic are very strong words only to used to big, big, big changesSteady adjectives

Small adjectives

notes marginal is a particularly useful word for describing very small changesOther useful adjectivesThese adjectives can be used to describes more general trends

notes overall can be used to describe changes in trend over the whole period: very useful in introductions and conclusions upward and downward are adjectives: the adverbs are upwards and downwards