Overview

Examine your chart and identify these features:

 the overall trend (which one(s) increase/ decrease/fluctuate/remain stable...)

 or the most significant changes (the most significant increase/ decrease...)
 or the ranking (in the final year)
 similar or opposite trends among different categories.

Some common starting phrases.

 Overall, main feature 1. In addition, main feature 2.

 In general, main feature 1. Additionally, main feature 2.
 Also: informal.

Important note:

- Do NOT add detailed numbers/ figures since an overview only presents main features.
- Normally, an overview presents around 2 main features.
- Do NOT use phrases including pronouns such as: “As you can see from the chart,...” or
“We can see that...”. This shows informal language.

Sample phrases

1. Overall, S + V
Overall, car ownership in Britain increased between 1971 and 2007. In particular, the number of
households with two cars rose, while the number of households without a car fell.
Overall, goods sent by all forms of delivery increased except for railways, which fluctuated.
Overall, in the past, there was an upward trend for all types of energy except natural gas, and
all forms are predicted to increase by 2030.
Overall, the graph indicates that energy production in the US is not keeping up with
consumption, so imports will continue to increase.
Overall, total tourists rose considerably, and those staying on cruise ships increased in
particular, overtaking staying on the island itself, which underwent a more moderate increase.
Overall, while the population size in both countries increased considerably over the period,
Malaysia’s grew at a much higher rate.
Overall, country A produced the most films during the given three-year period followed by
country B, while the film industry was not as strong in countries C, D, and E. The largest
increase was in country B while country A experienced a small decrease and there were
minimal rises in the other nations.
2. In general,
In general, all sports saw gradual increases in interest over the full period with the exception of
tennis. Football was by far the most popular throughout the period while tennis, swimming,
volleyball and rugby had similar numbers and golf generated the least interest.
In general, although the amount of pork eaten surpassed that of chicken in the first two
decades, the amount of chicken consumed for the rest of this period of time was always more
than pork.
Note: if you're at band 5, you might be worried about total word count (from 150+ words) so
you might want to use long phrases. However, if you aim at band 6.0+, simply use "overall" or
"in general" because you should be able to write at least 150+ words using complex structures.
Useful patterns for overview
- [Category A] increased / decreased (significantly / gradually) over the period.
Pattern 1 There was ... + while the figures for
 Overall, there was an increase/ a decrease in A while the figure(s) for C (and D)
decreased/increased over this time period.
Pattern 2 There was ..., [highlight A] + while the figures for
 Overall, there was an increase/decrease in A, B, and C, with A witnessing the most
dramatic rise/fall, while the figures for ...
Pattern 3 There was an upward/downward trend for/in
 Overall, in the past, there was an upward trend for/in all types of energy except natural
gas, and all forms are predicted to increase by 2030.
Pattern 4 A + V the most X follow by B, while C was
 Overall, country A produced the most films during the three-year period, (which was)
followed by country B, while the film industry was not as strong in countries C, D, and E.
  Overall, country A produced the most films during the three-year period, (which was)
followed by country B and country C.
Pattern 5 The largest .... was seen in A while B experienced/witnessed ...and there was...
 The largest increase was seen in Japan while Germany experienced a small decrease
and there were minimal rises in the other nations.
 Japan/1990 saw the largest increase in the number of films while Germany experienced
a small decrease and there were minimal rises in the other nations.
Note: A category in a chart can go with verbs like experience/witness but an increase/decrease
has to be in passive voice. For example: The largest increase was seen in Japan while Germany
experienced a small decrease and there were minimal rises in the other nations.
Note: You may want to use the following expressions to write the overview.
1. The number of + countable nouns
2. The amount of + uncountable nouns (it can come with countable nouns sometimes)
3. The percentage/proportion of both types of nouns
4. The figure for + both types of nouns
Overall, the number of tourists to Vietnam and Laos experienced a significant rise, while the
figure for Cambodia fell over this time period.
Overall, Vietnam and Laos experienced an increase in the percentages of tourists except for
Laos, which showed wild fluctuations over this time period.
I. Ways to add information to the overview.
1. Use “that” clause
It is clear that the proportion of the population who used the Internet increased in three
countries from 1999 to 2009, and that Canada experienced the fastest growth in Internet
usage.
2. Use “with”
It is clear that the proportion of the population who used the Internet increased in three
countries from 1999 to 2009, with Canada experiencing the fastest growth in Internet usage.
3. Use “see” [The most considerable/dramatic decrease/increase was seen in…….]
It is clear that the proportion of the population who used the Internet increased in three
countries from 1999 to 2009. Overall, the most dramatic/considerable increase was seen in
the number of Canadian Internet users.
4. Use “comparative” structure
It is clear that the proportion of the population who used the Internet increased in three
countries from 1999 to 2009, and that Canada experienced a faster growth in Internet usage
compared to/in comparison with the other two countries.
It is clear that both immigration and emigration rates rose from 1999 to 2008, and the figures
for immigration were significantly higher.