Introducing the graph

The graph/table/pie chart/bar chart/diagram

gives information about/on ...
provides information about/on ...
shows ...
illustrates ...
compares ...
explains why ...
describes ...
draws the conclusion of (a survey) ...

Example: The pie charts provide information on the proportion of males and females working in agricultural sector.

Did you know that the word 'number' can be used as a verb as well as a noun?

• to number - present verb
• numbered - past verb
• the number of - noun
• to outnumber - verb

Example sentences:

1. Cars produced in Japan number around 9 million units at present
2. Car production in Japan numbered around 9 million units last year
3. Coal exports in The USA outnumbered steel exports throughout the whole period.
4. In September 2017, the total number of EU migrants to the UK was just under 100,000.
5. The number of cars produced in Japan last year stood at around 9 million, outnumbering the USA (7 million).

For 'people' we also use the word 'number of' as 'people' is a countable noun.

• The number of + countable noun

The number of people living in London has risen to around 10 million since 1970.

• When comparing things or people you can also use the word outnumber

The number of users on Facebook last year reached around 2 billion, outnumbering Twitter which stood at 1.5 billion users'

Note: A good way of paraphrasing 'the number of' is to use 'the proportion of..' so I can also write:

The proportion of users on Facebook last year reached around 2 billion, outnumbering Twitter which stood at 1.5 billion users.

Percentages:

• 10% increase
• 25 percent decrease
• increased by 15%
• dropped by 10 per cent
• fall at 50%
• reached to 75%
• tripled
• doubled
• one-fourth
• three-quarters
• half
• double fold
• treble
• 5 times higher
• 3 timers lower
• declined to about 49%
• stood exactly at 43%

Fractions:
4% = A tiny fraction.
24% = Almost a quarter.
25% = Exactly a quarter.
26% = Roughly one quarter.
32% = Nearly one-third, nearly a third.
49% = Around a half, just under a half.
50% = Exactly a half.
51% = Just over a half.
73% = Nearly three quarters.
77% = Approximately three quarter, more than three-quarter.
79% = Well over three quarters.

Proportions:
2% = A tiny portion, a very small proportion.
4% = An insignificant minority, an insignificant proportion.
16% = A small minority, a small portion.
70% = A large proportion.
72% = A significant majority, A significant proportion.
89% = A very large proportion.
89% = A very large proportion.

❗️TIP
Be careful of the following common errors when describing changes in numbers.

There was an increase of 20% between 1955 and 2015. NOT an increase in 20%
There was an increase in obesity between 1955 and 2015. NOT increase of obesity

Being able to compare and contrast data is an essential skill for IELTS writing, especially in Task 1. Comparatives and superlatives are one common way to do this.

Comparatives are used to compare two things:

Leopards are faster than tigers.

Superlatives are used to compare one thing against a group of others:

The leopard is the largest of the four big cats.

Here are the basics of how they are formed:

Comparatives and superlatives are useful to compare and contrast, but they won't be enough.

Here are some other useful words and structures:

Transitions

1. The Middle East produces high levels of oil; however, Japan produces none.
2. The USA produces large amounts of natural gas. In contrast, South Korea produces none.
3. European countries make great use of solar power. On the other hand, most Asian countries us this method of power generation very little.

Subordinating Conjunctions

1. The Middle East produces high levels of oil, whereas / while Japan produces none.
2. Whereas / While the Middle East produces high levels of oil, Japan produces none.
3. Although the Middle East produced 100 tons oil, Japan produced none.

Other Structures

1. Developing countries are more reliant on alternative energy production than developed countries.
2. Solar power accounts for far less of the total energy production than gas or coal does.
3. Hydropower is not as efficient as wind power.
4. Like Japan, South Korea does not produce any natural gas.
5. The Middle East produces twice as much oil as Europe.
6. Western countries consume three times more oil than the Middle East.
7. Russia consumes slightly more oil than Germany.
8. The UAE produced the same amount of oil as Saudi Arabia.

Sentences containing verb phrases such as fell steadily can often be rewritten using the correct form of there is/are and a related noun.

Examples:

The consumption of chocolate fell steadily. (verb + adverb)
There was a steady fall in the consumption of chocolate. (there was a + adjective + noun)

There has been a dramatic rise in the production of films. (there has been a + adiective + noun)
The production of films has risen dramatically. (verb + adverb)