TABLE OF CONTENTS

UNIT 1: Line Graph: Noticing and Analysing (Type 1) 3

I. Pre-writing 3
1. Noticing 3
2. Introducing IELTS Writing Task 1 – Line Graphs 3
3. Strategy 4
4. Language for Writing 5
II. While-writing 6
III. Post-writing 12
Additional Topics for Writing 12
ANSWER KEY 14
📖 AVTC3_Unit 2_ Noticing and analyzing TRENDS

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📖 AVTC3_Unit 2_ Noticing and analyzing TRENDS

UNIT 2: Noticing & Analyzing TRENDS

(Line & Bar graphs)
I. Pre-writing
1. Noticing
Task 1. Miming game - The language of trends.
Work in small groups. First, everyone should spend 2-3 minutes to identify the meaning of the
words on the following table. Then, one representative from each team mimes the language of
trend and/ or original meaning (e.g.: diving into a pool) until the rest of the team can guess
which one the representative is demonstrating. The representative cannot speak, but he/she
can make sound effects if his/her teammates need a hint.
Note: The team members can look at the table below while watching the representatives mime.

Dive Rocket Fluctuate Grow

Reach a peak Double Triple Pick up

Improve Recover Soar Remain steady

Dramatically Drop Slightly Suddenly

Bounce back Increase Decrease Rise

(Adapted from UsingEnglish.com: English Language (ESL) Learning Online. Using English. Retrieved 20 April 2022, from
https://www.usingenglish.com/).

2. Introducing IELTS Writing Task 1 - Line Graphs and Bar Graphs

In IELTS Task 1, candidates are often asked to write about a graph that shows trends, which
are changes over time. Such essay questions can involve many different types of graphs, such
as line graphs, pie charts, tables, or bar charts. Candidates' main tasks are summarizing the
trends presented in the graphs, charts, or tables by selecting and reporting main features and
making comparisons when relevant.

The IELTS line graph consists of horizontal axis (X-axis) and vertical axis (Y-axis). Usually, the
horizontal axis involves the time units (days, months, years and so on). The time represented in
the task is often in the past, but some graphs include projections about the future. The vertical
axis can show any kinds of measurements (costs, temperatures, population, and many others).

Bar charts, also known as bar graphs, are similar to line graphs in that they have two axes and
are useful for showing how something has changed over a given period, especially when
there are significant changes. A bar chart can be categorized into two broad types: horizontal
and vertical bar charts.

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📖 AVTC3_Unit 2_ Noticing and analyzing TRENDS

A sample question of line graphs is provided below:

The graph shows data about the annual earnings of three bakeries in London, 2000-2010.
Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make
comparisons where relevant.

A sample question of bar charts is provided below:

The graph below shows the number of visitors to three museums between 2000 and
2005. Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and
make comparisons where relevant.
Museum visitor numbers, 2000-2005

(Brown, R., & Richards, L. (2011). IELTS advantage writing skills. Surrey: Delta Publishing.)

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📖 AVTC3_Unit 2_ Noticing and analyzing TRENDS

3. Strategy
Strategy to analyze a graph with TRENDS
- General trends are the main changes that took place over
the whole period
- Compare the starting point and the ending point to find the
General (overall) trend(s)
general trend
- Identify the lowest and highest range of data (e.g.: most
popular vs least popular, etc.)
Focus on:
- Starting point and ending point of the line/ bar
- Periods with similar and contrasting trends (e.g.: increasing
Details – Body paragraph
significantly, decreasing slightly, remaining stable, etc.)
- Intersection points
- Lowest and highest point (e.g.: peak, etc.)

4. Language for Writing

Task 1. Look at the infographic below and note down the meaning of useful
language expressions to describe trends.

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📖 AVTC3_Unit 2_ Noticing and analyzing TRENDS

Task 2. Study the information about the prepositions below.

Verbs/ Nouns Preposition Example
Sales increased from $1 million => Sales were at a level of
from
$1 million at the beginning of the period.
Those that mean “to Sales increased to $2 million => Sales were at a level of
to
rise or to drop.” $2 million at the end of the period.
Sales increased by 2 million dollars => Sales increased 2
by
million dollars during the period.

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📖 AVTC3_Unit 2_ Noticing and analyzing TRENDS

There was a decline from 1000 smokers to 100 smokers

from
over the 10-year period => There were 1000 smokers at
Those that mean “a the beginning of the period and 100 smokers at the end of
to
rise or a drop”. the period.
of There was a decline of 900 in the number of smokers =>
in The number of smokers declined 900 during the period.
To stay/ remain The rate of infant mortality started at 8 per 1000 children,
To start peaked at 20 in the next 5 years before finishing at 4 at the
To end at end of the period.
To peak out
To bottom out
between A The percentage of single women fluctuated between 20
and B and 40 over the period.
To fluctuate
The percentage of single women fluctuated around 30
around
over the period.
(Lecturers could draw a single line graph to illustrate the differences in the use of these
prepositions)

II. While-writing
Task 1: Work in pairs. Discuss and match each graph with its correct description.

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📖 AVTC3_Unit 2_ Noticing and analyzing TRENDS

Description Graph
Oil
After a short period of fluctuation, imports rose steadily throughout the year. Exports,
however, declined dramatically, and recovered slightly at the end of the year.
Electrical goods
Exports fell significantly in the first half of the year but recovered slightly and
remained stable starting from late October to December. Imports fluctuated,
especially in the first three months of the year, but the general trend was upwards.
Wheat
Both imports and exports fluctuated in the first half of the year. Starting from July,
imports rose steadily while exports continued to fluctuate until October, when they
suddenly began to fall.
Clothes

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📖 AVTC3_Unit 2_ Noticing and analyzing TRENDS

Imports increased slightly during the first six months of the year, then fluctuated
before starting to fall dramatically in October. Exports, however, remained quite
stable throughout the year.
Coal
Imports rose dramatically from January until the end of June, but exports increased
only slightly. In the second half of the year, exports declined but imports continued to
rise, and levelled off at the end of the year.
Cars
Imports rose steadily during the first half of the year, but exports decreased slightly.
Starting from July, both imports and exports remained steady, although exports
fluctuated slightly at the end of the year.
(Adapted from Marks, J. (2007). IELTS Resource Pack. Surrey: Delta Publishing.)

Task 2: Analyze the following line graph. Read the statements and decide whether
or not they are correct (Correct = C / Not Correct = NC). If the statement is not
correct, rewrite it.

The graph shows data about the annual earnings of three bakeries in London, 2000-2010.
Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make
comparisons where relevant.

(Brown, R., & Richards, L. (2011). IELTS advantage writing skills. Surrey: Delta Publishing.)

1. Overall, the earnings of Bernie’s Buns increased from 2000 to 2010, but the income of
Lovely Loaves and Robbie’s Bakery decreased. C / NC

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📖 AVTC3_Unit 2_ Noticing and analyzing TRENDS

2. From 2000 to 2003, Bernie’s Buns experienced a fluctuation in earnings and then the
income remained stable at just under £60,000 until 2006. C / NC
3. After that, Bernie’s Buns’ income went up significantly to £65,000 in 2010. C / NC
4. Robbie’s Bakery’s earnings remained stable at approximately £55,000 in the first 6
years. C / NC
5. After that, Robbie’s Bakery’s income rose slightly to nearly £100,000 in 2008. C / NC
6. There was then a slight increase in Robbie’s Bakery’s income to around £105,000 in
2010. C / NC
7. Lovely Loaves’ earnings remained stable at around £90,000 from 2000 to 2004. C / NC
8. Lovely Loaves’ earnings decreased sharply to just under £40,000 in 2008. C / NC
9. Lovely Loaves’ income levelled off in the last two years. C / NC

Task 3: Look at the charts below and fill in the blanks with the prepositions:
in – at – between – and – from – to – by – of. Some prepositions can be used more
than once.

- The monthly expenditure on children’s sports saw a rise (1) _______ 20 pounds (2) _______ a
little over 30 pounds between 2008 and 2014.
- Figures for participation in athletics started (3) _______ around 1 million children in 2008. This
remained constant until 2010. However, between 2010 and 2012, there was a rise (4) _______
4 million (5) _______ the number of children taking part in athletics with a slight dip by the end
of the period.
- The number of children taking part in swimming began (6) _______ a little less than 2.5 million
in 2008 and saw a steady increase (7) _______ around 4 million in 2014.
- The figures for youngsters participating in football stood (8) _______ just over 7.5 million in
2008. From 2010 to 2014, it fluctuated (9) _______ 8 million (10) _______ 9 million. All the
three sports showed increases during the whole period.

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📖 AVTC3_Unit 2_ Noticing and analyzing TRENDS

(IELTS Writing Task 1: Using prepositions correctly. (2022). Retrieved 22 February 2022, from
https://ieltsfocus.com/2019/04/12/prepositions-ielts-writing/)

Task 4: Analyze the line graph below. Identify main trends and key features of the
graph. Write full sentences from the given prompts.

The line graph below shows the oil production and consumption in China between 1982
and 2006.

(Ielts writing actual test. IELTS Practice Online (Band 9). Retrieved December 25, 2021 from https://ieltspracticeonline.com/ielts-
writing-actual-test-02-11-2019-society/)

1. Overall trend in oil production:

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

2. Overall trend in oil consumption:

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

3. Trend in oil production from 1982 to 1986:

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

4. Trend in oil production from 1986 to 1994:

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

5. Trend in oil production from 1994 to 2006:

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

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📖 AVTC3_Unit 2_ Noticing and analyzing TRENDS

6. Trend in oil consumption from 1982 to 1990:

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

7. Trend in oil consumption from 1990 to 2006:

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

III. Post-writing
Additional Questions for Practice.
Here are more IELTS Task 1 graphs for you to practice analyzing trends. Ask and answer the
following questions.
1. What kind of graph is it?
2. What basic information does the graph provide?
3. How many lines/ types of bars are there in the graph?
4. What does each line/ bar on the graph indicate?
5. What is measured on the vertical axis? What unit of measurement is used?
6. What is measured on the horizontal axis?
7. What major trends do you see in the graph?
8. What are some of the most important features of this graph (highest point, lowest point,
etc.)?
9. How will the details be organized in the body paragraph?

Task 1. The line graph below shows the production of paper, wood pulp and sawn-wood
in the UK from 1980 to 2000.

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📖 AVTC3_Unit 2_ Noticing and analyzing TRENDS

Task 2. The chart below shows the number of passengers who used public
transportation in Somewhere town from 2012 to 2015.

Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make
comparisons where relevant.
(Writing task 1. IELTS Focus. Retrieved 20 February 2022, from https://ieltsfocus.com/)

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