Multiple Graphs

1) Main Features Identification:

2) Structure:

1. Paragraph 1 (Introduction)

   • There will normally be two question sentences and you should combine them into one sentence by using ‘and’ or ‘while’. 

   • This will allow you to produce a complex sentence and gain points for grammatical range and accuracy.

2. Paragraph 2 (Overview)

   • Sentence 2- Overview of two of the main features from graph number 1.

   • Sentence 3- Overview of two of the main features from graph number 2.

   • Sentence 4- Overview of any comparisons if necessary (optional).

3. Paragraph 3:

   • Sentence 5- Details of first main feature of graph number 1,

   • Sentence 6- Details of second main feature of graph number 1.

4. Paragraph 4:

   • Sentence 7- Details of first main feature of graph number 2.

   • Sentence 8- Details of second main feature of graph number 2.

   • Sentence 9- Details of any comparisons (if any).

3) Tips:

1. Don't write too much: 

   • • Pick 2 of the most obvious features from each graph and limit yourself to writing about these things and these things only.

2. Finding the main features: 

   • • Try to identify them without looking at the data; just by looking at the graphs. 

     • Also, look for extremes (highs and lows), major trends, major changes (from beginning to end) and any obvious comparisons that can be made between either the two graphs or within the same graph.

3. Grouping information into paragraphs:

   • • Paragraphs should be logical and have one main idea.

     • Don’t write about both graphs in one paragraph. Group ideas for each paragraph separately i.e. 1 paragraph for 1 graph.

4. Making comparisons:

   • • The question states ‘make comparisons where relevant‘. Sometimes there will be a relevant comparison to make, but in some questions there will not.

     • If you don’t notice a very obvious comparison between the two sources of data, then stop looking for one and don’t write about one. It should also be noted that there may also be comparisons to be made between the data in the same graph.

4) Sample Answer:

• The pie graph displays the principal causes why farming land deteriorates while the table illustrates how three regions of the planet were affected by these factors in the 1990s.

• We can clearly see from the pie chart that there are three primary causes of farmland degradation, and over-grazing is the major one. The table shows that Europe had a far higher percentage of unproductive land compared to the other two regions in this time period.

• The pie chart represents four causes, with over-grazing representing the biggest proportion at just over a third. Widespread clearing of trees and the over-use of crops constitute nearly one third and just over a quarter respectively.

• The table shows that nearly one quarter of Europe’s entire surface had fallen victim to degeneration. Only a small proportion of North America’s total land became less productive at 5% and Oceania was marginally higher with a value of 13%.

1. Paraphrase: As you can see all I have done is change the words in the questions using synonyms and then connected them using the word ‘while’. 

2. Overview: For this paragraph I have picked out the main features from each graph and wrote them in a general way. Notice that I have not included any numbers. 

3. Detail: 

   • We will support our ideas with number in the next two paragraphs. 

   • Also, notice that I am using the present simple for the pie chart because there is no date and the past tense for the table because it was in the 1990s. 

   • I have varied my language by using synonyms for the causes and proportions and fractions for the data.

References:

• https://www.ieltsadvantage.com/2015/05/12/ielts-task-1-multiple-graphs/