Mechanics of IELTS Graph Writing: Lesson 1

How to Write an IELTS Graph Effectively-1?

Writing IELTS graph is an art, and people often complain that they are unable to complete this task to their satisfaction. 

Step 1. Understand the task. This is where most students and trainers err. What the task asks you to achieve is to "summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant". The key words you need to pick from the rubric are:

Summarise,

Select and report main features, and

Make comparisons where relevant. 

Step 2. What time period does the task represent. Graphs, especially line graphs, represent a period of time, while some graphs just provide a general trend without representing a specific time period. If the former is the case, you need to ensure that the time period is indicated in the introduction and that you write the report in the right tense. 

Step 3. Summarise. This is what the examiners expect from you. Instead of reporting everything in the picture, you need to show your ability to present the complex data in limited number of words. 

Step 4. Select and report main features. This obviously helps you summarise the info but identifying the main features can be tricky. There is no single rule on what is the main feature in an IELTS graph because it changes according to the given data. It is common for students and trainers to claim that the "highest" and "lowest" figures represent the main features. These figures can be significant but they are not always the most important. 

Step 5. Compare where relevant. Here you need to ensure that the comparison makes sense. In other words, the comparison you make should be useful in understanding the main trend. Other accidental similarities which do not contribute to understanding the main trend are irrelevant. They deserve no attention though they might quickly catch your attention. That means, in simple words, two figures, though similar, do not always deserve reporting. 

At this point, it is important for people to understand the difference between "compare" and "contrast". While comparison focuses on similarities, contrast is about differences. The rubric requires you to compare, not contrast. Therefore, "While A has this, B does not have this", and "C has this whereas D does not have this" kind of writing represents "contradiction", not "comparison". Instead, "A and C exhibit similar trends in these areas" will be more welcome. 

We intend to go deep into summarising, identifying and reporting main trends, and comparing meaningfully, in the next post on IELTS graph writing.