In IELTS Writing Task 1, the task is to “Describe the key information in a graph”. It is dreadfully boring to review. The main reason for this is that the ESL student doesn’t vary their language or use a variety of synonyms. As 25% of your marks are for the range of vocabulary that you use, this is a very important component to review as you prepare for the Writing Task 1.
Here, we are going to provide you with a range of words and phrases to incorporate into your writing now, so that you can get top marks on at least the lexical resource category.
Here, we are going to provide you with a range of words and phrases to incorporate into your writing now, so that you can get top marks on at least the lexical resource category.
Introduction Phrases
Often ESL students start their essay with ‘The graph shows…’. While this is fine, the verb ‘shows’ could be replaced by a more exciting and high-level vocabulary word. Here are some different prompts to start your essay:
- The graph illustrates the trends in…
- The graph reveals information about the changes in…
- The graph provides the differences between…
- The graph presents how X has changed over a period of…
Tips: DO NOT write the word below or above in your introduction. i.e. The graph above/below shows…
Add Suitable Adverbs
Adverbs help express a relation of place, time, circumstance, manner, cause, and degree, and can greatly add some color and interest to your writing as well as show off your range of vocabulary. Some great ones to use in the IELTS writing include:
- approximately
- dramatically
- erratically
- gradually
- markedly
- significantly
- slightly
- slowly
- steadily
Use Appropriate Synonyms
Again, using a variety of nouns and verbs for words like rise and fall will help increase your overall score. Here are some suggestions:
Add Time Phrases
Where appropriate, add time phrases such as:
- between… and…
- from… to… (inclusive)
- in the year (2000)
- during/over the period….
- over the latter half of the year/century/decade/period…..
- over the next/past/previous….
- days/weeks/months/years/decades….
