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IELTS Graphs Common Mistake

The document provides examples of common mistakes made in summarizing graphs in IELTS tasks and how to avoid them. Specifically: 1) The graphs measure consumption and usage, not the items themselves, so sentences must reflect that the hamburgers consumed and bikes used increased or decreased, rather than the items. 2) When analyzing graphs, carefully identify the subject being measured to describe rises and falls accurately. The first graph measures fast food consumption while the second measures transport use. 3) As a final example, unemployment rates changed, not countries themselves, so the correction specifies it was the unemployment rate that decreased in Canada, not Canada. Proper identification of the subject leads to accurate graph summaries.

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mago1961
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49 views

IELTS Graphs Common Mistake

The document provides examples of common mistakes made in summarizing graphs in IELTS tasks and how to avoid them. Specifically: 1) The graphs measure consumption and usage, not the items themselves, so sentences must reflect that the hamburgers consumed and bikes used increased or decreased, rather than the items. 2) When analyzing graphs, carefully identify the subject being measured to describe rises and falls accurately. The first graph measures fast food consumption while the second measures transport use. 3) As a final example, unemployment rates changed, not countries themselves, so the correction specifies it was the unemployment rate that decreased in Canada, not Canada. Proper identification of the subject leads to accurate graph summaries.

Uploaded by

mago1961
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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IELTS Graphs: A common mistake:

From 1975 to 2000, hamburgers increased dramatically from 10 to 100 times per year.
At the same time, fish and chips fell significantly to just under 40.

While buses fell from just over 25% to around 16% in 2000, cars increased
dramatically to over 35%. Meanwhile, bikes fell over this time frame.

The error:

Can hamburgers increase and fish and chips fall? Can a car increase, or a bus and a
bike fall?
No, but the consumption of hamburgers or fish and chips can fall or rise, and the
use of a car, bike or bus can increase or decrease.
There are a number of ways that the sentences in the IELTS graphs could have been
written correctly, but here are some possibilities:
From 1975 to 2000, the consumption of hamburgers increased dramatically from
10 to 100 times per year. At the same time, the number of times that fish and
chips were eaten fell significantly to just under 40.
While bus usage fell from just over 25% to around 16% in 2000, cars as a mode of
travel increased dramatically to over 35%. Meanwhile, the use of bikes fell over
this time

So you must Check your subject


When you are analysing your task 1 before you write about it, look very carefully to
identify what the subject is i.e. what is it exactly that is being measured?
A common mistake when writing about IELTS graphs in task 1 of the test is to get
the subject wrong.
The first graph is about the consumption of fast foods.
The second graph is about the use of four types of transport.

Another example:

The unemployment rate in the UK rose by 2% between 2008 and 2009, whereas
Canada decreased by about 1%. The USA was the highest, at just over 4%.
Explanation:
Canada didn't decrease! The unemployment rate decreased.

Here's the corrected version:


The unemployment rate in the UK rose by 2% between 2008 and 2009, whereas in
Canada it decreased by about 1%. The USA saw the highest rise in unemployment,
with an increase of just over 4%.

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