IELTS Tips: Vocabulary for Describing Graphs

In IELTS Academic Writing Task 1, you're often asked to describe visual data—such as line graphs, bar charts, pie charts, or tables. To do this effectively, you need a strong command of vocabulary that helps you describe trends, comparisons, and changes clearly and accurately.

Here’s a guide to the most useful vocabulary categories and examples to boost your score.

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🔼 Describing Increases

Use these verbs and phrases when data goes up:

  • Verbs: rise, increase, grow, climb, surge, soar, jump

  • Nouns: a rise, an increase, growth, a climb, a surge

  • Adverbs/Adjectives: sharply, significantly, steadily, gradually, slightly

“The number of users rose sharply between 2010 and 2015.”
“There was a significant increase in sales in Q2.”

🔽 Describing Decreases

Use these when data goes down:

  • Verbs: fall, decrease, drop, decline, dip, plummet, shrink

  • Nouns: a fall, a decrease, a drop, a decline

  • Adverbs/Adjectives: dramatically, steadily, slightly, rapidly, marginally

“Profits dropped dramatically after the new policy was introduced.”
“There was a slight decline in attendance over the year.”

🔁 Describing Stability or No Change

When data stays the same:

  • Verbs: remain steady, stay constant, stabilize, level off

  • Nouns: stability, plateau

  • Adverbs/Adjectives: steadily, consistently, unchanged

“The unemployment rate remained stable throughout the decade.”
“Production leveled off after a period of growth.”

🔄 Describing Fluctuations

For data that goes up and down:

  • Verbs: fluctuate, vary

  • Nouns: a fluctuation, a variation

  • Adverbs/Adjectives: wildly, slightly, unpredictably

“The price of oil fluctuated throughout the year.”
“There were slight variations in temperature during the week.”

📏 Describing Degree and Speed of Change

To show how big or fast a change is:

  • Adverbs: dramatically, significantly, considerably, rapidly, gradually, slightly

  • Adjectives: dramatic, significant, considerable, rapid, gradual, slight

“There was a considerable increase in internet usage.”
“The figures gradually declined over the period.”

🔗 Making Comparisons

Useful for comparing data points:

  • Phrases: compared to, in contrast to, whereas, while, as opposed to, more than, less than, the highest, the lowest

“In 2020, Company A earned more than Company B.”
“While exports rose, imports declined.”

🧠 Final Tips

  • Vary your vocabulary to avoid repetition.

  • Use the correct tense—usually past or present, depending on the graph.

  • Group similar data logically in your paragraphs.

Zach J