Ó¢Åô¹ú¼ÊÑÅ˼½Ì³Ì Writing lesson 1
This is an overview lesson from UPIC Language Center in Dandong, china and Language Open Learning.
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2. Test Structure of IELTS
Writing
Task 1
Line
Graph Pie Table of Process
Chart Figures Diagram
Bar Chart
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3. What to expect
20 minutes, 150 words
In Task 1, candidates are given a task
based on some graphic or pictorial
information. You are expected to write a
descriptive report of at least 150 words on
the information provided, and advised to
spend approximately 20 minutes on the
task.
You are assessed on the ability to:
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4. Task 1 Strategy
? Describing trends -- Line Graphs
? Summarizing data -- Bar Charts
? Describing facts and figures -- Pie Charts/
Tables of figures
? Describing a process -- Process Diagrams
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5. Section one of the Writing test
Line Graph
Line Graphs are used to show a trend
or pattern which usually takes place
over a period of time. It is important to
look at:
?Patterns/Trends of different phases on
a line graph
?Significant features
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6. How to achieve-
Describing trends
Steps can be done as followed:
1. What information is being shown
in the graph below?
2. Here are two simple descriptions
of the graph information about
trends:
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7. Describing a general trend
? The number of overseas students has
risen. Or
? The graph shows an increase in the
number of overseas students at the
university.
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8. Developing your ideas
?Try to add 'considerably' to the first
sentence and 'considerable' to the
second one.
?Tell what effect does this word
have?
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9. Thinking of...
3. What are some Words and Phrases to
describe trends:
4. Compose a sentence which describes
trends and includes more figure to support.
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10. Trend Type one Trend Type two Trend Type three adjectives and adverbs
an increase a decrease remain the same sharp(ly)
a rise a fall reach a plateau dramatic(ally)
a peak a drop hit a high/ low large(ly)
a summit a decline plateau significant(ly)
the maximum a dip remain stable considerable(ly)
reach a peak reach the remain constant steep(ly)
peak at minimum stand at steady(ily)
hit the highest hit the lowest stabilize at slight(ly)
point at point at A parallel B gradual(ly)
reach a summit decrease/ fall/ fluctuation relative(ly)
drop further to
increase/ rise
further to
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11. Increasing or Decreasing Trends
? Look at this bar chart. The information it
presents shows a consistent overall trend.
? First ask yourself these questions:
- what is the chart about?
- what does the horizontal axis show?
- what does the vertical axis show?
- what overall trend does the graph show?
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12. Look at the chart carefully, then complete these descriptions of
the overall trend. And then include more figures.
? 1 Between ¡¡ and ¡¡ the global
number of text messages sent rose
steadily.
? 2 There was ¡¡ in the global number of
text messages sent ¡¡
? 3 The number of text messages sent
worldwide rose from ¡¡ in ¡¡ to ¡¡
in ¡¡
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13. Suggested answer
? 1. 1998, 2002
? 2. a steady increase, between 1998 and
2002
3. 4 billion, 1998, 80 billion, 2002
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14. Trends: Stability
? Look at the examples of ¡®stability¡¯ shown in
the two graphs.
? Write two sentences which describe the
overall trends in one graph.
? Write two or more sentences to form a
short paragraph which describes the other
graph.
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15. Model and suggested answers
- Average attendance at NBA matches in
America has remained fairly stable since
1996 at 17,000 spectators per game.
- Although attendance at Dallas Maverick
games dropped sharply between 1996
and 1998, it has risen equally sharply
since then and is now almost equal to the
NBA average.
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16. Model and suggested answers,
Continued
- Membership at Jay¡¯s Sports Club rose
during the first three months of last year
from 50 to approximately 120.
- Between March and August this figure
remained stable but in September there
was a sudden rise in membership
numbers, which reached a peak of 175 in
October.
- After that, figures fell again to a low of 100
in December.
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17. Further practice for
Describing the trends
? Exercise required:
- Using some of the words and
phrases in the table, describe the
pattern in each graph below;
- Describe each pattern using a verb.
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18. Trends: Fluctuation
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? Write one-sentence description of the
graph that provides an overall picture of
the trend.
? Write five or more sentences about the
graph, using the prompts below.
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19. ? There may be several possibilities.
? During the course of a televised World
Cup football match electricity consumption
fluctuates widely/ undergoes considerable
fluctuation.
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20. - At the start ¡¡
- There is a ¡¡ during the first ¡¡ but
then ¡¡
- Demand falls again ¡¡ lowest point ¡¡
- In the last forty minutes ¡¡
- However, at the beginning ¡¡ plateau
¡¡ resume normal ¡¡
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21. Suggested answer
- At the start of the match, demand for electricity stands at
about 28,500 units.
- There is a significant fall in demand during the first hour of
the match but then the demand rises steeply and peaks at
29,000 units at half time.
- Demand falls again quite sharply at the start of the
second half and hits its lowest point at 26,000 units.
- In the last forty minutes of the match, electricity
consumption increases steadily to just over 28,000 units.
- However, at the beginning of the extra-time period
consumption falls dramatically, hits a low plateau and
then immediately rises to resume normal consumption
levels at the end of this period.
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