Academic IELTS Task 1 – Useful Vocabulary for Graphs and Diagrams

To get a high score in Task 1 writing of the academic IELTS you need to give accurate and strong description and analyses for the provided graph(s) or diagram. In this minimum 150 word essay it is easy to keep repeating words and numbers. However, this is not good to achieve a high score. In order to get a great band level on this section of the IELTS, you must use a variety of vocabulary that not only describes but also emphasizes the changes, similarities and differences in the data. You should review and practice the vocabulary below. For lots more help with IELTS visit and join today, click here: AEHelp IELTS full course

Verbs

These verbs are alternatives to the basic rise and fall vocabulary. One benefit of using them is that sometimes they help you avoid repeating too many numbers. If you have a strong verb, you don’t always have to give the exact figure.

Up Verbs

Verbs Example
soar the use of water soared in March
leap the prices leapt to 90% in one year
Climb populations climbed to over one million by 1980
Rocket use of cars rocketed in the first decade
Surge a surge of migration is seen in November

 

Notes:

  • “Soar “and “rocket” are both very strong words that describe large rises. “Rocket” is more sudden. You probably do not need to qualify these verbs with adverbs.
  • “Leap” shows a large and sudden rise. Again, you probably do not need to qualify it with an adverb.
  • “Climb” is a relatively neutral verb that can be used with the adverbs below.

Down verbs

Verbs Example
Sink The cost of housing sunk after 2008
Slip back Use of electricity slipped back to 50 in May
Dip Divorce rate dipped in the 60s
Drop A drop in crime can be seen last year
Plummet Tourists to the city plummets after September

 

Notes:

  • “Plummet” is the strongest word here. It means to fall very quickly and a long way.
  • “Drop”  and “drop” are normally used for fairly small decreases
  • “Slip back” is used for falls that come after rises
  • “Drop” and “Dip” are also frequently used as nouns: “a slight dip” “a sudden drop”

Adjectives and adverbs

This is a selection of some of the most common adjectives and adverbs used for trend language. Please be careful. This is an area where it is possible to make low-level mistakes. Make sure that you use adjectives with nouns and adverbs with verbs:

  • a significant rise – correct (adjective/noun)
  • rose significantly – correct (adverb/verb)
  • a significantly rise – wrong

Please also note the spelling of the adverbs. There is a particular problem with the word “dramatically:

  • dramatically – correct
  • dramaticly – wrong
  • dramaticaly – wrong

Adjectives of Degree

Adjective Example Adverb Example
Significant A significant change Significantly Changed significantly
Dramatic A dramatic shift Dramatically Sifts dramatically
Sudden A sudden rise Suddenly Has risen suddenly
Substantial A substantial gain Substantially Gained substantially
Sharp A sharp decrease Sharply Had decreased sharply

 

Notes:

  • “sudden” and “sharp” can be used for relatively minor changes that happen quickly
  • “spectacular” and “dramatic” are very strong words only used for big changes

Steady Adjectives

Adjective Example Adverb Example
Consistent A consistent flow Consistently Flowed consistently
Steady A steady movement Steadily Moved steadily
Constant Constant shift Constantly Sifted constantly

 

Small adjectives

Adjective Example Adverb Example
Slight A slight rise Slightly Rose slightly
Gradual A gradual fall Gradually Has fallen gradually
Marginal A marginal change Marginally Had changed marginally
Modest A modest increase Modestly Increases modestly

 

Notes:

  • “marginal” is a particularly useful word for describing very small changes

Other useful adjectives

These adjectives can be used to describes more general trends

Adjective Example
Upward By looking at the five data points, there appears to be a clear upward pattern in prices
Downward Over the past quarter century there is a downward trend in use of pesticides
Overall The overall shift in the market seems to favour the use of nuclear power

 

Notes:

  • “overall” can be used to describe changes in trend over the whole period: very useful in introductions and conclusions
  • “upward” and “downward” are adjectives: the adverbs are “upwards” and “downwards”

For lots more help with IELTS visit and join today,
click here: AEHelp IELTS full course

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41 Responses to “Academic IELTS Task 1 – Useful Vocabulary for Graphs and Diagrams”

  1. Carl Fountainville

    Using correct verbs and adjectives in describing changes is a great help in making good mark in academic writing task 1.

  2. Carl Fountainville

    Using correct verbs and adjectives in describing changes is a great help in making good mark in academic writing task 1.

  3. Asfand Yar

    Hi mate
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  4. Asfand Yar

    Hi mate
    I’ve brought only test material because I didn’t know on first place how to buy full course if I knew it I would have brought full course preparation However, I’ve got no time left have exam after 5days All I need to know can I pay rest of my remaining amount and get full course preparation instead of paying full course preparation fee. I will be grateful for early reply.cheers

  5. Asfand Yar

    Thanks I’ve brought full course now what I need to know if I would submit my writing task essay 2 how long do u take time for respond

  6. Asfand Yar

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  7. Asfand Yar

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  8. Asfand Yar

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  9. Dior Solieff

    Hello, AE team. Could you help me please? I have made my first attempt on IELTS writing task 1. Could you please assess the probable score of it. The line graph represents information about the yearly profits of three bakeries in London during a 10-year period. Overall, the biggest earnings were received by Robbie’s Bakery in 2010, while Lovely Loaves experienced a significant decline in the end.
    In 2000, the most lucrative bakery was Lovely Loaves, earning a bit more than 80,000 pounds a year. This was far higher than Robbie’ Bakery, which yielded about 55,000 pounds, and Bernie’s Buns, which made the annual profit of 20,000 pounds. However, the yearly income of Lovely Loaves fluctuated from 2000 to 2004 and finally it experienced a dramaric fall in 2010. In sharp contrast to this, the two other bakery’s earnings trended upwards. The annual receipt of Robbie’s Bakery remained constant from 2000 to 2005, a period of 5 years. Then, they started to rise in 2006 and reached the highest point of more than 100,000 pounds in 2010. Bernie’s Buns income was at the level of 20,000 pounds in 2000. Then, there was a 6-year period of fluctuation until 2007, when the yearly profit began to increase, exceeding that of Lovely Loaves in the same year and reaching the rate of around 65,000 £ in 2010.

  10. Dior Solieff

    Hello, AE team. Could you help me please? I have made my first attempt on IELTS writing task 1. Could you please assess the probable score of it. The line graph represents information about the yearly profits of three bakeries in London during a 10-year period. Overall, the biggest earnings were received by Robbie’s Bakery in 2010, while Lovely Loaves experienced a significant decline in the end.
    In 2000, the most lucrative bakery was Lovely Loaves, earning a bit more than 80,000 pounds a year. This was far higher than Robbie’ Bakery, which yielded about 55,000 pounds, and Bernie’s Buns, which made the annual profit of 20,000 pounds. However, the yearly income of Lovely Loaves fluctuated from 2000 to 2004 and finally it experienced a dramaric fall in 2010. In sharp contrast to this, the two other bakery’s earnings trended upwards. The annual receipt of Robbie’s Bakery remained constant from 2000 to 2005, a period of 5 years. Then, they started to rise in 2006 and reached the highest point of more than 100,000 pounds in 2010. Bernie’s Buns income was at the level of 20,000 pounds in 2000. Then, there was a 6-year period of fluctuation until 2007, when the yearly profit began to increase, exceeding that of Lovely Loaves in the same year and reaching the rate of around 65,000 £ in 2010.

  11. Aysha Almazrouai

    Hello,
    I use some of this words in my writing but unfortunately I did not get more than 5.5 so would to know if it has a Strategy to use the world effectively to improve my soured??

  12. Aysha Almazrouai

    Hello,
    I use some of this words in my writing but unfortunately I did not get more than 5.5 so would to know if it has a Strategy to use the world effectively to improve my soured??

  13. rajendra shrestha

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  14. rajendra shrestha

    after paying through western union for full online course how to activate account to get access to full online course

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