IELTS Writing Task 1 Vocabulary Paragraph 2 & 3


IELTS Writing Task 1 has very common vocabulary, and it can all be learned. After finishing the first paragraph of the Writing Task, it is now the time to start working on you second and third paragraph. These paragraph is very detailed, comprising of information which covers the general trend (the most striking part of the data) such as the highest number, the lowest percentage, the steady increase, the dramatic decline, et cetera. It also contains comparison, like when you compare the upward trend of teenagers who start smoking before the age of 17 to the number of teenagers who are actively involved in some outdoor and physical activities. Although there are many things that we need to explain in paragraph two and three, I’ll try to break it down to make it easily understood.

Let’s start with the opening of your paragraph two and three. Here are some of the most common opening in the second and the third paragraph


  • As presented in the graph
  • It can be clearly observed that...
  • The diagram reveals that...
  • It is important to notice that..
  • As can be seen in the...
  • It is interesting to note that...
  • According to the...
  • It can be seen that…
  • As shown in the illustration...
  • It is quite apparent that
  • Now, turning to the details....
  • It is apparently seen that...
  • The data clearly shows that...
  • It is worth noticing that...
  • The data suggest that...
  • It is obvious that…
  • As the diagrams suggest...
  • It is clear that
  • It could be noticed that...
  • Going back to the detail (paragraph three)


Paraphrasing for the word increase and decrease
Trend of the data
Write it as a Verb
Write it as a Noun
Increase
Rise/ raise/ uplift / increase/ go up /climb/ move upward/ rocket / upsurge / soar/ jump/ leap/
A rise/ a raise/ an upward trend/ a growth/ an increase
Decrease
decline/ reduce/ go down/ fall/ dip/ decrease/ plunge/ plummet/ drop/ collapse/ deteriorate/ slum/
a decline/ a reduction/ a fall/ a   downfall/ a decrease/ a downward trends/  a drop/ a collapse/
Steady
unchanged/ level off/ plateau/ remain constant/ remain steady/ remain static/ remain the same/ remain stable/ remain unchanged/ indicates a consistency
a plateau / a steadiness/ a static/ a stability/ a consistency
Gradual increase

-
a ceiling trend/ an upward tendency/ an upward trend
Gradual decrease

-
a downward trend/ a downward tendency/ a descending trend




Tips
  • Don’t use the same word over and over again nor similar sentence structure. Writing –for most part, is a matter of creativity. If you already use the word ‘increase’ as a Verb, change it into a Noun the next time you use the word. A complete illustration of the use of Verb and Noun can be seen in the table above.


  • Maximize the function of Adjective clause and the reduced version in the form of gerund and past participle. Take a look at an example below:


There is an upward trend of the number of train user in metropolitan cities like Jakarta, and it is dominated by commuters from nearby cities.


  1. There are two Noun(s) that can be paraphrased here. You can change the word ‘user’ by using the very general Noun ‘people’ and additional information in form of Adjective clause ‘who use train’
  2. You can also change the word ‘commuter’ with the exact same method. Replace the word ‘commuters’ with the word ‘passengers’ and add a reduced Adjective clause in form of gerund so that it becomes ‘passenger commuting from nearby cities’


After changing those two words, the sentence will eventually look like this:

There is an upward trend of the number of people who use train in metropolitan cities like Jakarta, and it is dominated by passenger commuting from nearby cities.

  • Use various sentence structure

This can be done by many ways, like changing active voice into passive (and vice versa), or changing the Subject ‘there’ with another subject (see example below).


There is an upward trend of the number of train user in metropolitan cities like Jakarta, and it is dominated by commuters from nearby cities.



This sentence has the word ‘there’ as a Subject, but it is still possible to re-arrange the sentence so that it becomes like this:


The number of train users in metropolitan cities like Jakarta indicates an upward trend and is now dominated by commuters from nearby cities




Or like this
The number of people using trains in metropolitan cities like Jakarta indicates an upward trend and is now dominated by passengers commuting from nearby cities


"This simple method of re-placing and re-arranging words and sentences can boost your Lexical resource score in IELTS, and it is indeed worth trying"



  • Use the word accurately 
Sometimes it becomes a little bit confusing to decide the choice of word that we use in Writing Task 1. The word ‘increase’ and ‘improve’ are two examples of Verbs that cannot be used interchangeably. While the word ‘increase’ is more likely to be used when explaining numerical data, the word ‘improve’ is usually used to explain data which is a-way-more-qualitative in nature. Take a look at examples below:

The number of families owning more than one car steadily increases, and now there around 68% families in big cities which own more than two private vehicle – you see that the word ‘increase’ in this example refers to ‘the number’ and ‘68%’.


Compare it to an example below:
There is a significant improvement in terms of standard of life in some developing countries – you see that the word ‘improvement’ (or improve, if it is written in Verb form) refers to ‘standard of life’ in which the betterment is not explained in figure, yet explained as a more qualitative categories like high standard or low standard.


Adverb and Adjective for the word increase and decrease
When talking about increase and decrease, it’s not just about increase and decrease. Increase and decrease can be of different level (slight, moderate, or drastic), and this is explained by using Adjective and Adverb. You probably have known that the function of Adjective is to give additional information for Noun while the function of Adverb is (mainly) to give additional information for Verb. We explain increase and decrease in both Verb and Noun form, but their combination with Adjective and Adverb is not interchangeable. Noun cannot be combined with Adverb just the same way Verb cannot be combined with Adjective. For more explanation about the possible combination of certain words in English, click here


Here are some of the Adverb and Adjective that are commonly used in IELTS Writing Task 1
Change
Use the Adverb
Use the Adjective
Rapid change
Dramatically
Rapidly
Sharply
Quickly
Swiftly
Significantly
Considerably
Substantially
Noticeably
Enormously
Dramatic
Rapid
Sharp
Quick
Swift
Significant
Considerable
Substantial
Noticeable
Enormous
Moderate change
Moderately
Gradually
Progressively
Sequentially
Moderate
Gradual
Progressive
Sequential
Steady change
Steadily
Steady
Little or no change
Slightly
Slowly
Mildly
Marginally
Slight
Slow
Mild
Marginal



There are also several Verbs representing rapid change of the data, such as:
Rapid Change
Wave
Wave(s)
Fluctuate
Fluctuation
Oscillate
Oscillation
Palpitate
Palpitation
Undergo/experience/witness ups and downs
Ups and downs



Tips
  • Do not include all explanations given in the data. The purpose of presenting a data in form of visual graph or diagrams is so that we can draw a pattern, find out the most significant trends, and compare/contrast the findings.


  • Other than explaining increase and decrease, you also use a lot of numbers (or percentages) in the second and the third paragraph. Please remember that number should not be written in exactly similar style. You have to paraphrase them, and these are some of the most common ways


Using number and percentage
15% growth

Reduced by 12%

Drop by 1,2 millions



Using Fractions
5% = A tiny fraction.

23% = Almost a quarter.

25% =A quarter.

27% = Roughly one quarter.

29% = Nearly one-third, nearly a third.

30% = A third

49% = Around a half, just under a half.

50% = A half.
51% = Just over a half.
74% = Almost three quarters.
78% = More than three-quarter.
 



Using Proportion
2% = A very small proportion.

4% = An insignificant proportion.

16% = A small portion.

70% = A large proportion.

74% = A significant majority, A significant proportion.

92% = A very large proportion. 



 In some cases, we also need to use approximation
About

Just about

Around

Just around

Nearly

Approximately



A little less than.

Just below

Roughly


Almost

A little more than

More or less


Just over

Just under

Tips
  • IELTS Writing Task 1 is better written in three to four paragraphs. If you write more than four paragraph, there is a possibility that you will digress, become too specific, or run out of time
  • Do not put all your ideas in one paragraph. A writing that consists of only paragraph cannot be categorized as a writing, it is a paragraph.
  • Conclusion part is optional and should be used only as a mitigation step. If you already write at least 150 words, you may want to skip conclusion and focus your time and energy on IELTS Writing Task 2





IELTS Writing Task 1 Vocabulary - Paragraph 1



IELTS Writing Task 1 Vocabulary
In the IELTS writing, your mastery of English vocabulary as well as the accuracy will be one of the most crucial part, since it becomes one of the four criteria graded in the test (It is called Lexical Resource in the IELTS test). In my personal opinion, vocabulary should be one thing that deserves your serious attention.


However, Writing Task 1 is known as a part where everything is sort of predictable. It is not that Writing Task 1 is easier than Writing Task 2, but it is commonly known that there is a template for Writing Task 1, by which you can do the task simply by using the pre-determined writing structure. By strictly following the guideline, a test taker can arrange their idea better and make the flow of the ideas easier to understand.



Writing Task 1 consists of several parts, namely:
  • Overview
  • Explaining main features
  • Explaining major trend (which later divides the data into two paragraphs)
  • Giving detailed explanation
  • Conclusion (optional)


The way you write each part of the writing is almost similar. For example, overview is written by giving general information about the data, and the typical style would be:


  • The bar graph describes….

  • The pie chart illustrates…



There may be some other ways of doing this (like changing the sentence into passive voice), but as far as I know, a Writing Task 1 always begins with the same explanation.


Advantages
The objective nature of IELTS Writing Task 1 will make it possible for you to prepare yourself with the most effective template. There are several writing template that you can use, and you can find one them here.


If you already master the writing template, you don’t have to worry about the structure of the writing, the kind of information you want to include in certain paragraph, or any other things that will slow you down. You just need to start with your own template and fill the ‘gap’ by looking at the data given in the test. It’s more like fill-in-the-blank kind of job you do in Writing Task 1.


Here is an illustration of the so called fill-in-the-blank job you should do in the IELTS test.


The pie chart compares the number of people who have mental problem at an age of 20 in in 1990-2000


Paragraph 1
Vocabulary for the Overview

Overview
The given [insert the type of presentation here –which is Pie chart] [insert the verb here, and make sure that you don’t repeat it over and over again, use it once only in your writing] [paraphrased version of the original title].



Explaining Main Features
There are [how many mental problems depicted in the pie chart –let’s say 5] which are [V3 –remember, paraphrase the verbin the pie chart, along with the number of people having the problem by the age of [see the data] years old in a period of [how many years, see the data] starting from [when is the starting point]




Explaining the major trend
It is clearly indicated in the [type of presentation] that a significant number of people have [what mental problem] and [what mental problem]. Meanwhile, only [how many] of the total cases is represented by the other types of mental disorder.



After filling out the ‘gap’ by using information given by the data, the whole paragraph will probably look like this:


The given Pie chart describes the proportion of citizens having mental illness in their 20s. There are 5 types of mental health issues which are shown in the pie chart, along with the number of people having the problem by the age of 20 years old in a period of ten years starting from 1990. It is clearly indicated that a significant number of people have anxiety problem and bipolar disorder. Meanwhile, only a third of the total cases is represented by the other types of mental disorder.


Note that I never use the same Verb over and over again, and instead, paraphrase it with other verbs whose meaning is similar (or close).



    Vocabulary for Overview
Opening
Type of Presentation
Verb
Description
The…

The presented…

The given…
Graph

Bar graph

Line graph

Pie chart

Map

Diagram

Table

Data

Illustration

Presentation

Figure
Presents

Illustrates

Indicates

Shows

Provides information

Gives information

Compares

Summarizes
The number of…

The amount of…

Information…

The proportion of…

The percentages of…

How a…

The changes…

The comparison of…




Examples for IELTS Writing Task 1 Typical Overview
  • The line graph provides information about the number of citizens who got food coupons in the year of 1980

  • The pie chart compares the number of people who have alcohol problem at an age of 20 in a period of ten years starting from 1998


Tips
  • The first paragraph of your writing is a good way to create first impression, so you may want to make the most out of it.

  • Do not copy words in the original title, since you will get a penalty for this

  • Be careful with the Subject-Verb agreement in your overview. Look at the data very carefully. Sometimes there are two graphs given at one time, which means that you should use Simple Present Tense that contains no 's' inflection. Look at some examples below:

a. The line graph illustrates the number of people being arrested in the year of 2000 (one graph, therefore you need 's' inflection)


b. The line graph and the pie chart give information about the number of people being arrested in the year of 2000 along with some of the main factors why they were arrested (there are two graphs, which means that you won't need 's' inflection).


This kind of detail will determine the score for Grammatical Accuracy, so make sure that you give it serious attention.



Vocabulary for Key Features
In this part, you want to give a very clear information regarding the what [what types of mental disorder], when [what year is depicted in the data] and how [how many people having that sort of mental problem]. However, this will entirely depend on the data. Sometimes we need to explain the where as well [for example, this data refers to the number of people with mental problem in New York City].


It is very important that we include all key features of the data. This is because the key features will determine how the next paragraph should be written. Year, for example, will determine what tenses you should use in your writing. In the case of bar graph and line graph, the features are usually presented in Cartesian diagram. Take a look at an example below:


IELTS Writing Task 1 Main Features



The line graph gives illustration of the percentage [take a look at the ordinate] of people dying from attack [see the abscissa] in the year of 2000, 2005, and 2010 [see the box].



Remember that the word percentage is usually replaced by ‘proportion’ and ‘a number of’.


Tips

  • Be careful of the use of tense when explaining working on your IETS Writing Task 1. Please be advised that there are many possibilities of Tenses used in the writing, whether it is Past Tense, Present Tense, or even Future Tense. Sometimes it’s a bit difficult to decide which Tense should be used that you probably mix them up incorrectly or end up using Present Tense only. There are two things that you need to pay attention to when using certain Tense.

  •  First, remember that the data which is given to you should be explained by using Present Tense all the time. Every time you refer to the data, use the Present Tense.

  • When you refer to the phenomenon explained in the data, then you have to pay attention to the year

To make everything clear, take a look at another example below:
The line graph gives illustration of the percentage of students studying abroad in the year of 2000, 2005, and 2010. There were more and more students who studied overseas, and it is indicated by the trend which constantly increases over years.

Look at an excerpt taken from the first paragraph of IELTS Writing Task 1 above. You see that there is a combination of Past and Present Tense there. Notice that the Present Tense is always used to refer to the data, such as:
  • The line graph gives illustration of the…

  • …it is indicated by the trend which constantly…

You may also realize that the Past Tense is always used to refer to the increase of the number of students studying overseas (the phenomenon):
  • There were more and more students who studied overseas…

Vocabulary for General Trend
General trend gives a very broad explanation of what is being presented in the graph. It is (also) used to further organize ideas in the second and third paragraph. A good organization of ideas will make it easier for the reader to get your point, and it will give you higher point in a criterion called Coherence and Cohesion. To explain the general trend, these typical expressions are commonly used:

In general, …

Overall, …

As a general trend, …

At the first glance, ….

It is clear that…

It is clearly indicated that …

A quick look at the graph reveals that…


Etc.


Example
It is clearly depicted in graph that the consumption of milk had significantly increased in the last two decades, while the daily consumption of coffee and tea experienced ups and downs.



Tips

  • Do not include any specific information in this part. Things like percentage, increase, decrease, highest point, lowest point, etc. are not supposed to be explained here. They should be explained in the second and the third paragraph. If there is a leak of information from the second and the third paragraph to your first paragraph, then the arrangement of ideas is no longer good. Readers may have to read your writing back and forth and back again and again since the information is randomly put across paragraphs.



Author’s Note
I actually want to finish this writing but it’s too long, this article. It is not convenient to read long and tedious explanation, so I will split the article into two. The last part of the IELTS Writing Task 1 (which is the detailed information) will be explained in the next post. Make sure that you follow along with my explanation on IELTS Writing Task 1 Vocabulary.

Update
The next article about IELTS Writing Task 1 vocabulary can be read here