The Ultimate Cheat Sheet:

How to use the top 7

Band 7+ Comparisons for
Task 1

By Philip Leonard

© 2018 Philip Leonard. All rights reserved

 Introduction
Hi, I’m teacher Phil, from IELTS test master.com

We all know that the key to a Band 7+ for grammar on task 1 is using a variety complex grammar
structures.

But how do we do this?

Well, read this guide where I’ll show you 7 useful comparisons which you can use for any task 1
‘trend’ question. Using these structures will help you get a band 7+ today.

Ok, let’s go!

Line Graph
The graph below shows the average number of UK commuters travelling each day by car,
bus or train between 1970 and 2030.

Ultimate Cheat Sheet: How to use the top 7 Band 7+ Comparisons for Task 1 2
 Compare at 1 point
1. Compare Car and train users in 1970

Subject + Verb + Number + Year, Verb-ing + Subject, which + Verb + Number.

For example:
The number of car users began at 5 million in 1970, exceeding the train users, which were only
2.5million.

2. Compare Car and train users in 1970

X verb, which verb + Number + higher/lower than + Y.

For example:
The number of car users began at 5 million in 1970, which was 2.5 million higher than train
users.

Compare Similar trends (same time period)

3. Compare Car and train users from 1970 to 2030 (future trend)

X verb, following the same trend as Y, which verb (at the same time).

For example:
The figure for the car users are predicted to increase dramatically to 9 million in 2030,
following the same trend as train users, which finished at 5 million at the same time.

Compare Different trends (same time period)

4. Compare Car and Bus users from 1970 to 2030 (future trend)

In comparison to/with X, which + verb, Y verb (at the same time).

For example:
In comparison with the figure for the car users, which are predicted to increase dramatically to
9 million in 2030, the quantity of bus users are expected to decrease moderately to around 3
million at the same time.

Ultimate Cheat Sheet: How to use the top 7 Band 7+ Comparisons for Task 1 3
 Compare trends (different time periods)
5. Compare Bus users from 1970 to 1980 (past trend) AND 1980-2030 (future trend)

Clause (1970-1980), followed by + Noun Phrase (1980-2030)

For example:
The number of bus users remained relatively stable at 4 million from 1970 to 1980,
followed by a predicted fall to around 3 million in 2030.

6. Compare Bus users from 1970 to 1980 (past trend) AND 1980-2030 (future trend)

Clause (1970-1980), prior to/before + Verb-ing (1980- 2030)

For example:
The number of bus users remained relatively stable at 4 million from 1970 to 1980, prior to
being predicted to fall steadily to 3 million in 2030.

7. Compare Bus users 1980-2030 (future trend) AND 1970-1980 (past trend)

Clause (1980-2030), after Verb–ing (1970-1980)

For example:

The figure for the number of bus users are predicted to fall steadily to 3 million in 2030,
after remaining relatively stable at 3 million from 1970 t0 1980.

How to plan a Band 7+ answer

1.What is the graph showing?

Average number of UK commuters travelling each day by car, bus or train
2.What measurements are used?
Number of commuters in millions
3.Is there a period of time?
From 1970 to 2030

Ultimate Cheat Sheet: How to use the top 7 Band 7+ Comparisons for Task 1 4
 4.What is/are the main trends?
Car and Train: predicted to increased significantly
Bus: expected to fall slightly
5. How can you group the information?
Car and Train: 1970, 1970-2030
Bus: 1970-1980, 1980-2030
6. How many detail paragraphs should you have?
2

Use these sentences to get a Band 7+

Paragraph 1:
Sentence 1 (S1): Paraphrased question
S2: Overview statement

Paragraph 2:
S3: Comparison 1: 1970 -Start number - Compare Car and Train
S4: 1970-2030: Comparison 4: Car - increased significantly vs. Train - increased moderately

Paragraph 3:
S5: Comparison 5: Bus - 1970-1980 - remain relatively stable Vs. Bus - 1980-2030 - a predicted
fall

Band 7+ Answer
The triple-line graph depicts how many people use 3 different types of transport, namely the car,
train and bus from 1970 to a future projection in 2030. Overall, although both the number of car
and train users are predicted to increase significantly, the figure for people who use the bus are
expected to fall slightly from 1970 to 2030.

The number of car users began at 5 million in 1970, exceeding the train users, which were only
2.5million. In comparison with the figure for the car users, which are predicted to increase
dramatically to 9 million in 2030, the quantity of train users are expected to rise moderately to 5
million at this time.

The number of bus users remained relatively stable at 4 million from 1970 to 1980, followed by a
predicted fall to around 3 million in 2030.

Ultimate Cheat Sheet: How to use the top 7 Band 7+ Comparisons for Task 1 5
 Table
The table shows the proportion of men and women with different levels of wealth in
the UK from 1980 to 2000.

Men Women

Poor 22% 28% 33% 28% 23% 18%

Middle 50% 50% 50% 60% 59% 61%

-Class
Rich 28% 22% 17% 12% 18% 21%

Poor 22% 28% 33% 28% 23% 18%

Compare at 1 point

1. Compare Rich Men and Women in 1980

Subject + Verb + Number + Year, Verb-ing + Subject, which + Verb + Number.

For example:
The amount of rich men began at 28% in 1980, exceeding the rich women, which was only
12%.

2. Poor men and women in 1980

X verb, which verb + Number + higher/lower than + Y.

For example:
The percentage of poor men began at 22%, which was 6% lower than the same type of woman.

Compare Similar trends (same time period)

3. Compare Middle-class men and women (1980-2000)

X verb, following the same trend as Y, which verb (at the same time).

For example:
Between 1980 and 2000, the proportion of middle-class men remained stable at 50%, following
the same trend as women with the same status, which stayed at around 60% at the same time.

Ultimate Cheat Sheet: How to use the top 7 Band 7+ Comparisons for Task 1 6
 Compare Different trends (same time period)
4. Compare Rich Men and Women (1980-2000)

In comparison to/with X, which + verb, Y verb (at the same time).

For example:
In the next 20 years, in comparison with rich men, which decreased significantly to 17%, rich
women increased considerably by 11%.

Compare trends (different time periods)

5. Compare Middle-class Women (1980-1990) AND (1990-2000)

Clause (1980-1990), followed by + Noun Phrase (1990-2000)

For example:
In the first 10 years, the amount of middle-class women decreased gradually from 60% to 59%,
followed by a slight growth of 2% in 2000.

6. Compare Middle-class Women (1980-1990) AND (1990-2000)

Clause (1980-1990), prior to/before + Verb-ing (1990- 2000)

For example:
In the first 10 years, the amount of middle-class women decreased gradually from 60% to 59%,
prior to growing slightly by 2% in 2000.

7. Compare Middle-class Women (1980-1990) AND (1990-2000)

Clause (1990-2000), after Verb–ing (1980-1990)

For example:
The amount of middle-class women grew slightly by 2% in 2000 after decreasing slight from 60%
to 59% in the first 10 years.

Ultimate Cheat Sheet: How to use the top 7 Band 7+ Comparisons for Task 1 7
 Bar Chart and Table

The graphs give information about the birth rates in 5 countries from 1980 to 1981.

Change in birth rates

Country (%) from 1980-1981

South Korea 24%

USA 56%

Japan 176%

Germany 67%

Compare 1 point Britain 231%

1. Compare the birth rates in USA and Germany in 1980

X verb, Verb-ing, (which verb).

For example:
● The birth rate in the USA began at 5 per 1000 people in 1980, exceeding the birth rate in
Germany, which was around only 3 per 1000.

2. Compare the birth rates in Britain and Japan in 1980

X verb, which verb + Number + higher/lower than + Y.

For example:
● The birth rate in the Britain began at around 1 per 1000 people in 1980, which was 1 lower
than Japan’s.

Compare Similar trends (same time period)

3. Compare Birth rates in the USA and Germany 1980-1981

X verb, following the same trend as/in the same way as Y, which verb (at the same
time).

For example:
● The figure for birth rates in USA increased moderately by 56% from 1980 to 1981, following
the same trend as Germany’s birth rates, which rose by 67% at the same time.

Ultimate Cheat Sheet: How to use the top 7 Band 7+ Comparisons for Task 1 8
 Compare Different trends (same time period)
4. Compare Birth rates in the Britain and Japan 1980-1981

In comparison to/with X, which + verb, Y verb (at the same time).

For example:
● In comparison with the figure for birth rates in Britain, which increased tremendously by
231% from 1980 to 1981, Japan’s birth rates rose significantly by 176% at the same time.

Compare trends (different time periods)

Compare South Korea’s birth rates in 1980 AND 1981

5. Clause (1980), followed by + Noun Phrase (1981)

For example:
● The number for South Korea’s birth rate began at 17 per 1000 people in 1980, followed by a
dramatic rise to 21 in 1981.

6. Clause (1980), prior to/before + Verb-ing (1980-1981)

For example:
● The number for South Korea’s birth rate began at 17 per 1000 people in 1980, prior to rising
slightly to 21 in 1981.

7. Clause (1980), after Verb–ing (1980-1981)

For example:
● The figure for the South Korea’s birth rate rose dramatically to 21 in 1981, after beginning at
17 in 1980.

Ultimate Cheat Sheet: How to use the top 7 Band 7+ Comparisons for Task 1 9
 Pie Charts
The pie charts below show the comparison of different kinds of energy consumption of France in 2
years.

Compare 1 point

Compare Nuclear and other in 1995

1. X verb, Verb-ing, (which verb).

For example:
● Nuclear energy production began at 6.4% in 1995, exceeding the other energy production,
which was only 4.9%.

2. X verb, which verb + Number + higher/lower than + Y.

● Nuclear energy production began at 6.4% in 1995, which was 1.5% higher than other.

Compare Similar trends (same time period)

Compare Energy Consumption for Gas and Coal in 1995 and 2005

3. X verb, following the same trend as/in the same way as Y, which verb (at the same
time).

For example:
● In terms of the most used energy sources, the figure for gas consumption increased slightly
by 1% from 29.63%, following the same trend as Coal usage, which rose from 29.8% to
30.93% at the same time between 1995 and 2005.

Ultimate Cheat Sheet: How to use the top 7 Band 7+ Comparisons for Task 1 10
 4. In comparison to/with X, which + verb, Y verb (at the same time).

For example:
● In terms of the most used energy sources, in comparison with the figure for gas
consumption, which increased slightly by 1% from 29.63%, Coal usage rose from 29.8% to
30.93% at the same time between 1995 and 2005.

Compare trends (different time periods)

Compare Petrol in 1995 AND 2005

5. Clause (1995), followed by + Noun Phrase (2005)

For example:
● The third most used energy source, Petrol, began at 29.27% in 1995, followed by a dramatic
decrease to just under a fifth in 2005.

6. Clause (1995), prior to/before + Verb-ing (2005)

For example:
The third most used energy source, Petrol, began at 29.27% in 1995, prior to decreasing
dramatically to just under a fifth in 2005.

7. Clause (2005), after Verb – ing (1995)

For example:
● The third most used energy source, Petrol, finished at 19.55% in 2005, after decreasing
dramatically from 29.27% in 1995.

How to start improving today

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Ultimate Cheat Sheet: How to use the top 7 Band 7+ Comparisons for Task 1 11
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If you have read this far….Congratulations. You’re one step closer to getting the score you
want.

Also, I want to say thank-you for watching my videos and reading my guide. I hope you
found them useful, please send any feedback to phil@ieltstestmaster.com!

Whatever your choice, good luck in your studies and the test.

Ultimate Cheat Sheet: How to use the top 7 Band 7+ Comparisons for Task 1 12