1. How to Effectively Describe a Graph
EFL SMARTblog

2. Warm up Videos:
Video 1: Comment on one striking piece of statistics from this video
Tutorial (describing charts and graphs)

3. Discuss the Following Questions:
Why are visuals used in scientific papers?
What visuals do researchers in your major commonly use to show data? Why?
Match the beginnings and endings of the following sentences about setting data in tables and charts:
1. Tables, graphs, charts, etc are necessary
a. Be consistent with them
2. Visual summaries allow
b. Reduced in size in a paper
3. Deciding how to present data visually makes you
c. Show trends; tables to show exact numbers.
4. Visuals need to be clear even when
d. The reader to check the data for themselves.
5. Graphs should be used to
e. Think carefully about what your results mean
6. Too much information in a visual
f. To avoid filling up the text with lists of numbers
7. Use standard symbols and
g. Will confuse the reader

6. Answer Keys

7. VERB + ADVERB ADJECTIVE + NOUN
What language to use in describing a graph?
VERB + ADVERB
ADJECTIVE + NOUN
EFL SMARTblog

8. VERB + ADVERB ADJECTIVE + NOUN
What language to use in describing a graph?
VERB + ADVERB
ADJECTIVE + NOUN
alter
decline
decrease
double
drop
exceed
fall
fluctuate
halve
hover
increase
level out
peak
plummet
reduce
rise
rocket
stabilize
triple
approximately
dramatically
gradually
rapidly
slightly
steadily A An
downward gradual
huge
sharp
slight
stable
subsequent
upward
decline
decrease
drop
fall
increase
peak
period
rise
trend
Look at the graphs on
the following pages
and use the vocabulary
to describe them.
EFL SMARTblog

9. VERB + ADVERB ADJECTIVE + NOUN
What language to use in describing a graph?
VERB + ADVERB
ADJECTIVE + NOUN
alter
decline
decrease
double
drop
exceed
fall
fluctuate
halve
hover
increase
level out
peak
plummet
reduce
rise
rocket
stabilize
triple
approximately
dramatically
gradually
rapidly
slightly
steadily A An
downward gradual
huge
sharp
slight
stable
subsequent
upward
decline
decrease
drop
fall
increase
peak
period
rise
trend
EFL SMARTblog

10. VERB + ADVERB ADJECTIVE + NOUN
What language to use in describing a graph?
VERB + ADVERB
ADJECTIVE + NOUN
alter
decline
decrease
double
drop
exceed
fall
fluctuate
halve
hover
increase
level out
peak
plummet
reduce
rise
rocket
stabilize
triple
approximately
dramatically
gradually
rapidly
slightly
steadily A An
downward gradual
huge
sharp
slight
stable
subsequent
upward
decline
decrease
drop
fall
increase
peak
period
rise
trend
EFL SMARTblog

11. Describe what you see on the graph below:
EFL SMARTblog

12. Describe what you see on the graph below:
EFL SMARTblog

13. IELTS Task 1 Language - Graphs
Describe what you see on the graph
EFL SMARTblog

14. Describe what you see on the graph
EFL SMARTblog

15. Attempt to answer the following questions based on the graphs shown:
1.What percentage of boys prefer to study reading online?
a. Eighty per cent
b. Approximately 80%
2.What percentage of boys prefer to study writing online?
a. Ten per cent
b. Slightly more than 10%
3.What percentage of girls prefer to study listening online?
a. Approximately 75%
b. Between 60% and 70%
4. What percentage of girls prefer to study speaking online?
a. slightly less than 60%
b. about 40%
5. What percentage of boys prefer to study vocabulary online?
a. Almost 90%
b. Slightly more than 80%

16. 1.How many computers and software items were sold to teenagers during the month?
b.1030
c. 903
2. What was the total number of items sold to teenagers during the month?
a.1030
b. 903
c. 369
3. What was the total number of digital cameras sold?
a.172
b. 628
c.1030
4. How many digital cameras were sold to adults aged 50 and over?
a.652
b.628
c.188
5. How many items were sold to adults aged 18–49?
1385
903
3067

17. 1.How many tusks were found in 1996?
b.43
c.30
2.How many skulls were found in 1996?
a.20
b.21
c.23
3.In what year was the smallest number of skulls found?
a.1996
b.1998
c.2000
4.In which two years did the number of mandibles found remain the same?
a.1996 and 1998
b.1998 and 2000
c.2000 and 2002
5.In which year was the largest number of scapulae found?
a.1996
b.1998
c.2000

18. 1:What does the information on this chart represent?
The pie chart below shows the leading causes of insomnia, in percentages, as reported by a group of people between the ages of 20 and 40. They were interviewed in April 2004.
Use the information in the pie chart to answer the questions. Select the best answer.
1:What does the information on this chart represent?
a. People and insomnia (sleeplessness)
b. Factors influencing insomnia
2:What is the most common cause of insomnia for this group?
a. Stress
b. Drinks with caffeine
3:What is the least common cause of insomnia for this group?
a. Ill health
b. Medication
4:Which two factors were reported as leading causes of insomnia by an identical percentage of people?
a. ill health and medication
b. depression and environmental factors
5:Which two factors were reported by almost the same percentage of people?
b. environmental factors and ill health