IETLS A | WRITING | UNIT 3 – Page 29

WRITING
UNIT 3
SECTION 1
Introduction
Bar Graphs
A bar graph is a visual display used to compare the amounts or frequency of occurrence of
different characteristics of data. This type of display allows us to:
 compare groups of data.
 to make generalizations about the data quickly.
This unit will introduce basic bar graphs, how to read bar graphs. An example of a bar graph
is given on the right.

When reading a bar graph there are several things we must pay attention to: the Graph
Tittle, two Axes, including axes Labels and Scale, and the Bars. Since bar graphs are used
to graph frequencies or amounts of data in Discrete groups, we will need to determine which
axis is the Grouped Data Axis, as well as what the specific groups are, and which is the
Frequency Axis.

Price of Corn versus Quantity Demanded

SECTION 2
Presentation
Structure of Description
1. Structure
a. The introducing paragraph: Use two standard opening sentences to introduce the graph
and your report.
+ Sentence one: define what the graph is about, that is, the date, location, what is being
described in the graph etc. For example:
Example: The graphs compare the number of deaths caused by six diseases in
Someland in 1990 with the amount of research funding allocated to each of those
diseases.

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Notice:
✔ two bar graphs: we can more accurately say ‘the graphs compare … ’.
✔ the sample opening sentence does not simply copy the words used on the graphic
material. Copied sentences will not be assessed by the examiner and so you waste
your time including them.

+ Sentence two: sum up the overall trend.

Example: It can be clearly seen that the amount of research funding in many cases did
not correlate with the seriousness of the disease in terms of numbers of deaths.
b. The body: will describe the graph or graphs in detail.
c. The concluding paragraph: Ideally your report should end with one or two sentences
which summarise your report or draw a relevant conclusion.

2. Grammar and vocabulary

When describing some bar graphs you will sometimes use the same language as the line
graphs. This will be the case if one axis of the bar graph gives a time scale. In that case, your
report will generally describe the information in terms of time from the earliest event to the
latest.
Example:
In 1990 X fell.
In 1990 there was a rise in X.
Look at the graph and the sample answer:
In this graph of Electro Inc’s television sales between 1996 and 1999, we can see that
purchases of televisions went up in 1996 and continued to rise steadily until 1998 when
they dropped slightly.

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SECTION 3
Practice
Practice 1
Fill in the sample answer of the graph below with the suitable information:

The graph shows how age and gender influence the frequency of heart attacks in the US.

Less than 6% of all heart attacks occur in the 29-44 age group. The number of women
who suffer heart attacks in this group is negligible - only ________ per year, compared
_______________ men. However the proportion of men and women with heart attacks
______________ between 45 and 64, with over half a million per year. Over 420,000 men a
year in this age group have heart attacks. The incidence amongst women increases -
women have one heart attack for every three men in this age group. Over the age of 65,
the number of men suffering heart attacks only _________ slightly. However, there is a huge
increase in the number of women with heart attacks - they comprise over 40% of all
victims.
In conclusion, men are more likely to be the victims of heart attacks at all ages, but
women are increasingly likely over the age of 65.

Practice 2
Look at the beside graph, answer the
following questions on the next page.

Enrollment in Introductory Courses at

Union University

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1. Which course has the most students enrolled in it?

 …......................................................................................................
2. Order the courses by enrollment from lowest to highest.

 ….......................................................................................................
3. The enrollment in Econ is approximately how many times bigger than the enrollment in
Chemistry?

 ….......................................................................................................
4. Approximately how many students were enrolled in the course with the most students?

 ….......................................................................................................
5. Approximately how many more students are in Econ than in Physics?

 ….......................................................................................................

Practice 3
Again, look at the chart then write your own description.

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SECTION 4
Vocabulary Practice
Vocabulary Practice 1
The bar chart below shows the results of a questionnaire to find why native and non-
native speakers of English at a university in Australia learn languages. The
questionnaire was given to 1,000 students.

Remember to write the information accurately.

Now answer the questions.

1. What does the bar chart show? __________________

2. How many students participated in the survey? __________________

3. Where were the students from? __________________

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4. Which of the two groups was more positive about language learning?________________

5. Which reason comes top among non-native speakers of English? __________________

6. What is the percentage? __________________

7. What percentage of native speakers found language learning useful for work?__________

8. What percentage of second language speakers found language acquisition useful for
work? _______________

9. Which reason comes in top among native speakers? __________________

10. What is the percentage? __________________

11. Which reason comes in bottom among native speakers? __________________

12. What is the percentage?__________________

Vocabulary Practice 2
Fill in the blank
The bar chart shows the results of a survey on the reasons behind learning
languages among 1,000 native and non-native speakers of English at a university
in Australia.
The 1.___________________ is that those students 2.___________________ had a more positive
attitude to language learning than native speakers. 3.___________________ by just over 90%
of non-native speakers as an incentive to acquiring languages, 4.___________________ travel
and work and importance for studying at 90, and just below 90 respectively. In this group,
personal development improvement 5.___________________.

This 6.___________________ of native speakers, whose approval was lower than non-native
speakers on all accounts. While improvement in job prospects, for example,
7.___________________ as a reason, this was considerably less than for non-native speakers.
Usefulness for work and improvement in personal development 8.___________________. Only
20% of native speakers, however, 9.___________________ with only 25% considering it
important for studying.

So it is clear that native speakers of English are more negative about learning
languages than non-native speakers.

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Vocabulary Practice 3
Look at the chart and fill in the gaps with suitable information:

WRITING
In Maine in 2003, 70 infants died before reaching their first birthday, an infant mortality rate of
________ per 1,000 live births.
Between 1993 and 2003, the infant mortality rate in Maine ______________ by 25%.

SECTION 5
Grammar Practice
Grammar Practice 1
Write sentences for each piece of information from the chart in Vocabulary Pratice 1:
Reasons for learning languages

Examples:

1. The bar chart shows the results of a survey.

2. One thousand students took part in the survey.

3. The students were from a university in Australia.

Write 5 sentences with the information you see here:

1..............................................................................................................................................

2...............................................................................................................................................

3...............................................................................................................................................

4...............................................................................................................................................

5...............................................................................................................................................

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Grammar Practice 2
Use the sentences to help you make a continuous text.

Example: The bar chart shows the results of a survey on the reasons behind learning
languages among 1,000 native and non-native speakers of English at a university in Australia.
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Grammar Practice 2

Now write sentences about the changes in fruit sales from July to November. Use the
words from the box.

Example: Orange sales doubled.

Lemon sales… a quarter
Bananas sales… a third
Plums sales… doubled
Apricot sales… fell by half
Pineapple sales… rose by triple

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 IETLS A | WRITING | UNIT 3 – Page 37

Write your sentences here:

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SECTION 6
Homework

The chart shows spending in pounds per week by age on public transport (rail, bus and
taxi) in the UK in 2002.

Questions:

1. Which group spends least on taxis?

2. Which group spends most on taxis?

3. Which group has the highest total expenditure (all means of transport)?

4. Which group has the lowest total expenditure (all means of transport)?

5. Bus transport is in second place for which two groups?

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Write your description here:

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