Using tenses in academic task 1 writing

This is an introductory lesson on how to use tenses in academic part 1 writing is in response to a query I was sent. The question was which tense should be used to describe a chart or graph in task 1. There is no one answer to this question. Rather you need to learn to look at the charts and graphs and think about what language best describes that particular graph rather than blindly following a rule.

In this lesson you will find:

a brief quiz to test what you know some tips on how to analyse the different types of charts and graphs some examples on how to improve your writing

Test what you know

[QUIZZIN 2]

Different types of chart/graph

Think about what type of graph or chart you are looking at The first step is to recognise that different types of chart and graph may require different approaches. In each case the key question is to ask is whether there is a time element to the chart/graph. The general advice is that you should choose one tense and stick to it is normally true. There are, however, sometimes ways for more advanced candidates to vary their tenses in some kinds of graphs.

The pie chart

You normally only need the simple tenses to describe charts and graphs Perhaps the simplest place is to start is with the pie chart. Lets look at this sample pie chart. The question to ask is what time is represented in the chart. Is it the past, the present or the future? Then the basic options you have for describing it are the present, past or future simple tenses depending on what time is indicated by the question. You wont need a continuous tense here.

Dont forget to look at the title of chart to see what time it relates to. At first sight it may appear that there is no time element to this pie chart. If, however, you read the title, you see favourite leisure activities in 2009, so naturally well use the past tense to describe it. Another point to note is you should not try to use trend language to describe a pie chart as we only have one fixed point of time.

Bar charts
Bar charts are slightly more complex as there are 2 different types of bar chart. Some show changes over a period of time and some show a position for one period of time.

Static bar charts

This first bar chart shows a situation for one period in time and so can be labelled static. In many ways it is very similar to a pie chart. Which tense would you use for it?

Clearly the answer here is the present simple tense because the title to the chart shows we are looking at the present: use most frequently.

Dynamic bar charts and line graphs

This bar graph is dynamic because we can see that each bar (or column) shows a position for a different period of time. Typically, we also use just the one tense to describe this type of chart. Which one would you choose for this one? The logical answer here is to use the past simple as we can see the years 1999-2007 on the x axis.

Varying your tenses an example

In dynamic charts you can sometimes vary your tenses

As I say, it is normal to stick to one tense and it is good advice not to try too many variations as you are likely to make mistakes that way. In dynamic charts it is sometimes possible, however, to vary your tenses. Look at this example:

The average price reached a peak of 127,000 in 2005 and then dropped slightly in 2006 and finished at 117,000 in 2007.
There is nothing wrong with this but for more advanced candidates it is possible to find a neater variation using the past perfect (had) tense. The benefit of this is that it avoids the and then and then and then problem.

The average price finished the period at 117,000 after it had reached a peak of 127,000 in 2005 and fallen slightly the following year.

Varying your verb forms

In this type of chart, it is also possible to vary the form of the verb and so avoid the and then and then and then problem. Look at this example:

The average price reached a peak of 127,000 in 2005 and then dropped slightly in 2006 and finished at 117,000 in 2007.
Again, it is possible to rewrite this in a slightly more stylish way using a participle (ing) form:

After reaching a peak of 127,000 in 2005, the average price then dropped slightly in 2006 before finishing the period at 117,000 in 2007
You should note that this type of variation is only possible in dynamic charts and graphs where you have different times to compare.