IELTS Writing Task 1 Price Changes
IELTS Writing Task 1 Price Changes
?Instructions:
? Visual Data: Noun
!["data]("https://www.lelb.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/data.jpg")
/ˈdeɪ.tə/ US /-ţə/
group noun [U]
information, especially facts or numbers, collected for examination and consideration and used to help decision-making, or information in an electronic form that can be stored and processed by a computer:
The data was/were collected by various researchers.“>data adopted from https://www.ielts-exam.net/
The line graph below shows some relative price changes for fresh fruits and vegetables, sugars and sweets, and carbonated drinks among urban consumers in the United States between 1978 and 2009.
Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
? LELB Society’s Student: Sasan
The line graph demonstrates how the prices of some products namely, Fresh((Do not capitalize it in the middle of the sentence.)) fruits and vegetables, Carbonated((Do not capitalize this word in the middle of the sentence.)) drinks((drinks, –> it’s better to use a comma after “drink” to separate the items.)) and sugar and sweets changed in the United States from 1978 to 2009 and also((Also is generally used to link 2 sentences of the same length, and not a long and a short sentence to each other, as you have.)) the trend for((trend in)) CPI (Consumer Price Index) has been clarified.
It can be seen the prices of all products experienced increases((this part is not collocationally common. We usually say: prices go up, rise, soar, etc.)) during this time span per capita. To be more elaborate, in 1979, the prices of all products were almost the same, standing at 70 approximately.((It’s better to use a conjunction here to show some transition between the 2 sentences. It is felt that the 2 sentences are rather detached. For example: “however” or even better conjunctions or adverbs.)) The prices rose moderately with the same speed((at the same speed / rate)) until 1981. Afterwards, all the prices perpetuated rising((Prices cannot perpetuate a rise by themselves, it’s neither collocationally nor semantically acceptable. By the way, it must be a “rise” and not “rising”)) but the price of sugar and sweets overtook that of other products and commenced decreasing in 1982 and ultimately all the prices reached 100, in 1983. In the rest of this period, on average, all the prices grew with various speeds((at various speeds)) and as a result, in 2009, the prices of Fresh fruits and vegetables, Sugar and sweets and carbonated drinks ranked first, second and third((were ranked first, second and third)) respectively. In addition, the increases of((an increase in)) all prices were((was)) almost smooth except for the price of Fresh fruits and vegetables which witnessed some fluctuations((It’s better to use this word in a singular format)). Last but not least, CPI((the CPI, because it is known to us and we know which CPI you are writing about)) which elucidates the average changes of((It’s better to say: changes in)) all products was increasing during this period of time.
✅ Examiner’s Notes:
- Visual Data: Noun
Analysis
/ˈdeɪ.tə/ US /-ţə/
group noun [U]
information, especially facts or numbers, collected for examination and consideration and used to help decision-making, or information in an electronic form that can be stored and processed by a computer:
The data was/were collected by various researchers.“>Data- There was a marked increase in the price of fresh fruits and vegetables, especially toward the end of the specified time period in comparison to the prices of the other two items.
- Choice of Words (Diction): Good
- Coherence: Above average
- Cohesion: Above average
- Grammar: Good
- Reasoning: Good
- Word Count: “203” Great!
General Information
- You have 20 minutes for this task.
- Your summary should consist of at least 150 words.
- The
!["IELTS"]("https://www.lelb.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/IELTS.jpg")
IELTS
The International English Language Testing System or IELTS /ˈaɪ.ɛlts/, is an international standardized test of English language proficiency for non-native English language speakers. It is jointly managed by the British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia and Cambridge English Language Assessment, and was established in 1989. IELTS is one of the major English-language tests in the world, others being the TOEFL, TOEIC and OPI/OPIc.
IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training are designed to cover the full range of ability from non-user to expert user. The Academic version is for test takers who want to study at tertiary level in an English-speaking country or seek professional registration. The General Training version is for test takers who want to work, train, study at a secondary school or migrate to an English-speaking country.
“>IELTS Writing Task 1 is an information transfer task, which requires you to write an accurate account of some information presented in graphic form, for example, a graph, table, or some form of a pictorial representation of Data: Noun
!["data"]("https://www.lelb.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/data.jpg")
/ˈdeɪ.tə/ US /-ţə/group noun [U]
information, especially facts or numbers, collected for examination and consideration and used to help decision-making, or information in an electronic form that can be stored and processed by a computer:
The data was/were collected by various researchers.
“>data.
- Your addressee is a university lecturer.
- It is important to read the instructions closely to specify the main focus of your report.
Planning Your Task
- Make sure to spend around 2 to 3 minutes planning and organizing your answer. That is to say, do NOT start writing immediately. During this pre-writing time, try to analyze the delineated Data: Noun/ˈdeɪ.tə/ US /-ţə/
group noun [U]
information, especially facts or numbers, collected for examination and consideration and used to help decision-making, or information in an electronic form that can be stored and processed by a computer:
The data was/were collected by various researchers.
“>data
carefully. - In the exam, you can write notes on the illustration and in a clearly defined space on the front of your answer paper.
- Your notes could be in abbreviated forms in order to save time. Remember that your notes are personal and won’t be assessed.
- During planning, decide which significant details will be discussed to reflect the task requirements. For example:
- The apex (high points) or base (low points)
- Steady pace or rate of changes
- Fluctuation in the rate of changes
- While planning your task, you should determine the time period So that (Conjunction)
With the intention of, in order to:
I studied so hard so that I could pass the exam.“>so that the correct tense is used.
How to Start Writing?
- It is recommended that you start your
IELTS
The International English Language Testing System or IELTS /ˈaɪ.ɛlts/, is an international standardized test of English language proficiency for non-native English language speakers. It is jointly managed by the British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia and Cambridge English Language Assessment, and was established in 1989. IELTS is one of the major English-language tests in the world, others being the TOEFL, TOEIC and OPI/OPIc.
IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training are designed to cover the full range of ability from non-user to expert user. The Academic version is for test takers who want to study at tertiary level in an English-speaking country or seek professional registration. The General Training version is for test takers who want to work, train, study at a secondary school or migrate to an English-speaking country.
“>IELTS Writing Task 1 with a restatement of the keywords in the instructions. In so doing, you will give a brief description of the details in the pictorial form.
- You should write one clear sentence to introduce the illustration.
- After your general description, you should write one or two sentences to indicate the relationships between the Data: Noun/ˈdeɪ.tə/ US /-ţə/
group noun [U]
information, especially facts or numbers, collected for examination and consideration and used to help decision-making, or information in an electronic form that can be stored and processed by a computer:
The data was/were collected by various researchers.
“>data
or demonstrate a trend. - Write more sentences to Provide: Verb
!["provide"]("https://www.lelb.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/provide.jpg")
/prəˈvaɪd/verb [T]
to give someone something that they need:
This booklet provides useful information about local services.
All meals are provided throughout the course.
The author provides no documentary references to support her assertions.
“>provide
a more in-depth account of the Data: Noun/ˈdeɪ.tə/ US /-ţə/group noun [U]
information, especially facts or numbers, collected for examination and consideration and used to help decision-making, or information in an electronic form that can be stored and processed by a computer:
The data was/were collected by various researchers.
“>data
that transcends your general statement.
How to Analyze the Graph?
- In your second paragraph, you should give a detailed account of the visual Data: Noun
reflected in the graph or chart./ˈdeɪ.tə/ US /-ţə/
group noun [U]
information, especially facts or numbers, collected for examination and consideration and used to help decision-making, or information in an electronic form that can be stored and processed by a computer:
The data was/were collected by various researchers.“>data - Do not try to describe the graph in a linear or sequential order. Instead, you must develop a nonlinear and profound understanding of the Data: Noun/ˈdeɪ.tə/ US /-ţə/
group noun [U]
information, especially facts or numbers, collected for examination and consideration and used to help decision-making, or information in an electronic form that can be stored and processed by a computer:
The data was/were collected by various researchers.
“>data
.
Providing an Overview
- Since the Data: Noun/ˈdeɪ.tə/ US /-ţə/
group noun [U]
information, especially facts or numbers, collected for examination and consideration and used to help decision-making, or information in an electronic form that can be stored and processed by a computer:
The data was/were collected by various researchers.
“>data
with a pictorial form are not accessible to your addressee, who is a university lecturer, you Ought to: Modal Verb
/ɔːt/ US /ɑːt/ used to express something that you expect will happen: They ought to have arrived at lunchtime but the flight was delayed.“>ought to Provide: Verb
a brief overview of the general trends and patterns to make sense of the whole Data: Noun!["provide]("https://www.lelb.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/provide.jpg")
/prəˈvaɪd/
verb [T]
to give someone something that they need:
This booklet provides useful information about local services.
All meals are provided throughout the course.
The author provides no documentary references to support her assertions.“>provide/ˈdeɪ.tə/ US /-ţə/group noun [U]
information, especially facts or numbers, collected for examination and consideration and used to help decision-making, or information in an electronic form that can be stored and processed by a computer:
The data was/were collected by various researchers.
“>data
. Remember that IELTS Writing Task 1 is NOT an essay. Instead, it’s just a summary of some visual Data: Noun
. Accordingly, the existence of a conclusion is not necessary; However (Adv & Conjunction)/ˈdeɪ.tə/ US /-ţə/
group noun [U]
information, especially facts or numbers, collected for examination and consideration and used to help decision-making, or information in an electronic form that can be stored and processed by a computer:
The data was/were collected by various researchers.“>data
/ˌhaʊˈev.əʳ/ US /-ɚ/ (Conjunction) despite this: This is one possible solution to the problem. However, there are others. (adverb) in whatever way: However you look at it, it’s still a mess.“>however, it is strongly recommended to give an overall overview of the Data: Noun
./ˈdeɪ.tə/ US /-ţə/
group noun [U]
information, especially facts or numbers, collected for examination and consideration and used to help decision-making, or information in an electronic form that can be stored and processed by a computer:
The data was/were collected by various researchers.“>data
Important Tips
- You can write your summary Either: Determiner / Conjunction
!["neither]("https://www.lelb.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Neither-nor.jpg")
/ˈaɪ.ðəʳ/ /ˈiː-/ US /-ðɚ/
determiner
both:
Unfortunately I was sitting at the table with smokers on either side of me.
either (CHOICE) /ˈaɪ.ðəʳ/ /ˈiː-/ US /-ðɚ/
determiner, pronoun, conjunction
used when referring to a choice between two possibilities:
Either candidate would be ideal for the job.
"Do you prefer pork or beef?" "I don’t like either."
"Would you like the metal or plastic one?" "Either will do."
You can get there by train or bus – either way/in either case it’ll take an hour.
We can either eat now or after the show – it’s up to you.
Either you leave now or I call the police!either (ALSO) /ˈaɪ.ðəʳ/ /ˈiː-/ US /-ðɚ/
in British or American English style, but you need to be consistent throughout your summary.
adverb
used in negative sentences instead of ‘also’ or ‘too’:
I don’t eat meat and my husband doesn’t either.
"I’ve never been to the States." "I haven’t either."
They do really good food at that restaurant and it’s not very expensive either.“>either - As it is Typical: Adjective
!["typical"]("https://www.lelb.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/typical.jpg")
/ˈtɪp.ɪ.kəl/ adjective1. showing all the characteristics that you would usually expect from a particular group of things:
I must look like the typical tourist with my shorts and my camera.
2. DISAPPROVING showing all the bad characteristics that you expect from someone or something, often in a way that is annoying:
It’s just typical of Ian to spend all that money on the equipment and then lose interest half way through the course.
“>typical
of any writing task, it is strongly recommended that you proofread your own report for Possible: Adjective
mistakes.!["possible"]("https://www.lelb.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/possible.jpg")
/ˈpɒs.ə.bļ/ US /ˈpɑː.sə-/
adjective [+ (that)]
that might or might not happen:
It’s possible (that) Mira might turn up tonight.
"Do you think he’ll end up in prison?" "It’s very possible."
That’s one possible solution to the problem.“>possible
Recognizing Similarities and Differences
- Mention the actual Data: Noun
(numbers, percentages, dates, units, etc.) in your comparison as long as the statistics are in line with the point you are trying to make./ˈdeɪ.tə/ US /-ţə/
group noun [U]
information, especially facts or numbers, collected for examination and consideration and used to help decision-making, or information in an electronic form that can be stored and processed by a computer:
The data was/were collected by various researchers.“>data
Verbs to Describe the Data
- Decline ⬇️
- Decrease: Verb
⬇️!["decrease"]("https://www.lelb.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/decrease.jpg")
/dɪˈkriːs/ US /ˈdiː.kriːs/
verb [I or T]
to become less, or to make something become less:
Our share of the market has decreased sharply this year.
We have decreased our involvement in children’s books.
decrease /ˈdiː.kriːs/
noun [C or U]
There has been a steady decrease in the number of visitors.
I haven’t noticed much decrease in interest.“>Decrease - Fall ⬇️
- Grow ⬆️
- Increase ⬆️
- Plummet ⬇️
- Rise ⬆️
Intensifiers to Describe the Data
- Considerably
- Dramatically
- Gradually
- In the same way (making comparisons)
- Moderately
- Noticeably
- Rapidly
- Similarly (making comparisons)
- Sharply
- Slightly
- Slowly
- Steadily
Another Dominant Structure
| There | Article | Adjective | Descriptive Noun | Prepositional Phrase (in what) |
| a(n) |
|
| in something |
!["rapid"]("https://www.lelb.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/rapid.jpg")
The line graph demonstrates how the prices of some products namely, Fresh fruits and vegetables, Carbonated drinks and sugar and sweets changed in the United States from 1978 to 2009 and also the trend for CPI (Consumer Price Index) has been clarified.
It can be seen the prices of all products experienced increases during this time span per capita. To be more elaborate, in 1979, the prices of all products were almost the same, standing at 70 approximately. The prices rose moderately with the same speed until 1981. Afterwards, all the prices perpetuated rising but the price of sugar and sweets overtook that of other products and commenced decreasing in 1982 and ultimately all the prices reached 100, in 1983. In the rest of this period, on average, all the prices grew with various speeds and as a result, in 2009, the prices of Fresh fruits and vegetables, Sugar and sweets and carbonated drinks ranked first, second and third respectively. In addition, the increases of all prices were almost smooth except for the price of Fresh fruits and vegetables which witnessed some fluctuations. Last but not least, CPI which elucidates the average changes of all products was increasing during this period of time.