Ielts Writing Task 1 More Tips (Prepositions and Other Expressions)

MORE TIPS AND EXPRESSIONS
There are 2 major types of charts or graphs:

ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO
1. Static bar charts (no time element)
IO
D
U
ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO ST ANGLO STUDIO
2. Dynamic bar charts and line graphs (change over a period of time)

LO

G

AN

Prepositions and Other Expressions
ANGLO
1. To STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO
We use this preposition to describe the end point.
ui 50
Sub+ Verb+ Adv
0
4--0
Sales increased sharply (from 5) to- 50
-million dollars in 2003.
a 30
!t
ANGLO STUDIO
The number ANGLO
of Internet subscribersSTUDIO
dropped ANGLO
,!j
20 STUDIO
Ill ANGLO STUDIO
slightly to 50,000 people. 10
IO
UJ
There was a slight drop in the number of 0 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
Internet subscribers to 50,000 people.
2. In
ANGLOWe STUDIO ANGLO
use this preposition STUDIO
to describe the subjectANGLO
/ topic. STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO
D
A rise in sales, a fall in profits, ...
There was a steady growth in the company's profit in 2010.
A considerable decine in our profits was recorded in 2006.
U
3. From to
to describe ANGLO
the movement between STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO
one point and another.
Sub + Verb + Adv
million dollars in 2003.

ST
Sales increased sharply from 5 to 50
ui 50
40
30
-
!t
ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO
�
20
to $60 million last year.
STUDIO
The share price fell sharply from $100 million
Ill ANGLO STUDIO
al
UJ
10
There was a sharp fall in the share price from
$100 million to $60 million last year. 0 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
LO
4. At
for a certain point. ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO
Sub+ Verb+ Adv
Sales peaked at 50 million dollars in 2003. 0
a
Sales are at last year's level.
G
-
!t
�
20 STUDIO
The price is at £2.5 per litre.
The company's income remained constant at Ill ANGLO STUDIO
€ 100 million from 1990 to 1997. al 10
The number of internet users peaked at
AN
0 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

15,000 in 1993.
The number of customers bottomed out at
1,200 in 1994.

5. To stand at/ To start at/Verb to be
We use this expression to focus on a particular point before we mention the changes.
Sub +- Verb+ Achr

iii 50
c:I
Sales stood at$ 30 million 2000.
40
Sales stood at $125 million in January. Then, a 30
in February they rose slightly to$ 127
"' 20
million.
(/J
Profits were$ 29,000 in 1999 and continued
up to$ 40,000 in 2000. 0 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
6. Between and
IO
We use this preposition to describe the movement along a scale from one point to another.
The market share fluctuated between 10 and 50 percent in the first quarter.
ANGLO STUDIO
7. To and by ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO
D
Sub+ Verb+ Adv
iii 50
Sales increased sharply by 45 million 40
dollars in 2003
U
30
!t
ANGLO
The rate STUDIO
To and by
ANGLO
of unemployment STUDIO
rose to 12% in ANGLO
20 STUDIOIll
-41
ANGLO STUDIO
2010. 10
The rate of unemployment rose by 7% in
ST (/J
0 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

2010.
In and of Rate of unemployment in the UK
There was a rise in the rate of unemployment 12.00
ANGLO
of7%. STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO 9.00
ANGLO STUDIO
There was a rise of7% in the rate of
unemployment. u 6.CC
3.00
LO
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Yc:v
8. By Of ___
We use this pi:eposition to describe the difference.
Examples:
to rise from $Im to $2m to fall from $2m to $ lm
Verb + by to increase by 100% Verb + by to decrease by 50%
G
Noun+ of an increase of 100% Noun+ of a decrease of50%

ANGLO My
STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO
salary increased from 300,000 baht to 400,000 baht a year.
ANGLO STUDIO
Verb+ by It increased by 100,000 baht.
a
Noun+ of There was an increase of 100,000 baht.
AN
ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO

2 at/ ANGLO
\at STUDIO
0
'll6 '\�1
0
:1
ANGLO STUDIO
It decreased from 10 to 2. It started at 2. There was a drop of 8.
It peaked at 10. It dropped by 8.
It finished at 2

Incorporating more data - Expressing Approximation
1. We use words to express approximation when the poi.11.t we are trying to describe is between
ANGLO milestones
STUDIO ANGLO
on the graph. STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO
Approximately
Around The problem-with comp1:1ter viruses rocketed to approximately
About 1,1o_o cases.
Roughly
IO
More or less
Almost
Nearly
D
2. When the graph does not show precise data, use words to express approximation.
U
Just) roughly
ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO
under STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO
nearly
Well ST
approximately '--�
)
Just
around
over
Well about
LO

G

AN

Language for describing how data have changed

Increasing or decreasing trends
1/1
Verbs fto)- .... Nouns
Movement: Up
increase(d) ·slightly/ raoidlv an increase
rise/ rose a sudden rise/ a steady rise
a small rise/ a rise (in)
grow I grew aANGLO
growth STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO
peak(ed) a peak
IO
reach(ed) a peak
soar a rapid leap
climb
lift
ANGLO STUDIO
reach(ed) its/their highestANGLO
level STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO
I I
D
1
Strong Words
(Use Carefully!)
shot up a market increase
U
rocket(ted) a huge growth
a dramatic rise
ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO aANGLO
boom STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO
ST Tops
peak(ed) a peak
plateau(ed) a plateau
(reached) a maximum / a highpoint
1� I
Movement: Down STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO
to decline / declined gradually a decline/ a gradual decline

to decrease/ decreased slightly/ slowly a decrease/ a small decrease
LO
decreased / to decrease dramatically / sharply a dramatic / sharp -decrease

ANGLO STUDIO
· g-0 (went) down slightly ANGLO STUDIO
to fall I fell slowly/ fell gradually
a fall/ a slfo:ht fall/ falling off
to drop/ dropped steadily a steady drop
to reduce a reduction (of)
tailing off
to dip a dip (of)
I
G
ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO

to drop/ droooed suddenly / sharply
11
a sudden/ sharp drop
ANGLO STUDIO
AN
to fall/ fell sharply/ steeply/ suddenly/ a dramatic/ sharp/ sudden/ steep fall
dramatically
to crash
to collapse
to sink / sank
ANGLO
tojump(ed)STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO
to decline steeply a steep decline
a downward trend (in) I

Verbs (tol .... Nouns

Bottoms
to fall /fell to a low a low point
to sink/sank to a tr.oue:h
to reach ed a bottom
to rock bottom/ to·bottom(ed) out
a minimum
Strong Words Use Carefully!)
to surge(d)
to crash down a crash
to plunge/ plunged dramatically
STUDIO
a rapid plunge
ANGLO STUDIO
IO
to plummet(ted) a slump
No Movement
to flatten out a flattering out
ANGLO�
STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO
D
B
Little Movement
to remain steady
.... were unchanged/ ....did
U
not change -
to remain constant/ stable

ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO
to stay STUDIO
the same ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO
to hold steady (at) a steady hold
EJ
to flatten out (at)
ST
to remain solid/ steady (at)
to level out (at) a levelling out
to stabilise(d) a stabilisation
ANGLOIv-
to fluctuate/ fluctuated a fluctuation
� sharply a small fluctuation
hardly any change
LO
Other-movements
ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO aSTUDIO
to level off (at) levelling off ANGLO STUDIO
/L_
B
to plateau (ed) (at) a plateau (at)
G
J
to recover a recovery
to bounce back
AN
There was a downward trend over the period. There was an upward trend over the period.
I
5,, 511
'" "'
/
'\..__.
"'
\
:11
ANGLO STUDIO
:u
:u
'"
"
� "'�
,,, i,J "
"'
'.!,1J -llh
�r.J =rJ •Ith

Time. expressions
On (day) - On Tuesday At (time; hours/minutes) -At 2:15
On the (date) - On l-51h October From (time 1) to (time 2) - From 1995 to 2.000
Since 1999 Between (time 1) and (tune 2) - Between 1994 and 2004
Just over - Just over 6 months
More than - More than 5 years
In (month or year) - In (about) 2000; In November
During (month or year) - During the period 1994 to 2004
ANGLO STUDIO
For (nearly)- For (nearlv) 8 weeks
Examples
Time Verb In
Adjective Noun Time · Quantity of Item Time
the
dramatic ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO
gradual
From (time 1) to (time
2) large decline
IO
marked decrease
Between (time 1) and amount of
(time 2) minimal drop
number of
rapid fall
During (month or percentage
There was sharp fluctuation
year) in the of noun
In (month or year)
a(n) (very) significant growth
price of ANGLO STUDIO
slight increase
D
On (day) value of
slow jump
On the (date) etc.
At (time; small plunge
hours/minutes) steady rise
steep
U
sudden
Time Quantity Time Verb in past tense Adverb nme
ST declined dramatically
decreased gradually
dropped markedly
The number of fell minimally
moths fluctuated rapidly
ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIOThe price of grew sharply ANGLO STUDIO
The value of increased significantly
jumped slightly
plunged slowly
reduced steadily
rose suddenly
LO

Verbs
These verbs are alternatives to the basic rise and fall vocabulary. One benefit of using them is that
sometimes they help you avoid repeating too many numbers. If you have a strong verb, you don't
always have to give the exact figure.
G

Up verbs ANGLO STUDIO
•. ,{' ,., verbs ,
··.'••••• ·-� ,••, < ,··: /•,,;.,.
., �.;.,-.1, _.: '
. ;' '·
.•��le
,. 'i·.t.' .. ,., ,. -
·.f��-- .t ,:..-. ·i
AN
- .� ' .
soar the price soared in November

rocket it then rocketed to a high of 75%
climb the number of televisions sold in 2010 climbed
ANGLO
Notes: STUDIO
•
"Soar "and "rocket" are both very strong words that describe large rises. "Rocket" is more sudden.
You probably do not need to qualify these verbs with adverbs.
• "Climb" is a relatively neutral verb that can be used with the adverbs below.

Down verbs
verbs example
ANGLO STUDIO
plummet
ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO
it then plummeted to a low ofSTUDIO
20% ANGLO STUDIO
sink after that it sank to 75
drop this amount dropped by 30% in the third quarter of the -year
dip the number of female doctors dipped-in the last decade.
ANGLO Notes:
• "Plummet" is the strongest word here. It means to fall very quickly and a long way.
•
IO
"Drop" and "drop" are normally used for fairly small decreases
• "Drop" and "Dip" are also frequently used as nouns: eg "a slight dip" "a sudden drop"
ANGLO IMPORTANT
STUDIO
Not ANGLO
all words for describing riseSTUDIO ANGLO
and fall will take STUDIO
a preposition. ANGLO STUDIO
D
Verbs that take a Verbs that don't Nouns that
preposition take take a
a preposition preposition
U
rise to/by reach a rise of
increase to/by ANGLO STUDIO
an increase of
fall to/by a fall of
drop to/by a decrease of
shoot up to/by
ST
plunge to/by
stay at
remain at
fluctuate between/around ANGLO STUDIO
Examples of words used to describe graphs

LO
Moving up & down repeating over a period of time

ANGLO 1.STUDIO
Fluctuate (v) ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO
The number of internet users fluctuated between 1990 and 1995.
2. Reaching the top position

G
Peak (v) + peak (n)

The number of internet users peaked in 1993. ANGLO STUDIO
The number of internet users reached a peak in 1993.
AN
Highest level (n)

The number of internet users was at its highest level in 1993.
The number of internet users rose to its highest level in 1993.
3. Reaching the lowest position

Bottom off (v)
The number of internet users bottomed out in 1994.
ANGLO STUDIO
Lowest level (n)
The number of internet was at its lowest level in 1994.
The number of internet fell to its lowest level in 1994.

4. Focusing on particular point before. we mention the movement

Stand at (v)
The number of internet users stood at 2,000 in 1990, and then it_
increased gradually in the following years. �
5. Stops rising or falling and stays at the same level
Level off / out (v)
House prices now seem to be levelling offafter the steep rises of --------
the last few years. �
Unemployment rose to ten percent and then levelled off.
6. A relatively stable level, period or state.
Plateau (n) ,,.,,,.
.�"";_.,,,---'
IO
Sales reached a plateau in June. 80
There was a plateau in sales from June to September.

. .•
60
Sales leveled off in June.
Sales generally rose in 2006, climbing from 40 to 100 units, 40

although there was a plateau in the summer months at 80 units.
20 ANGLO STUDIO
D
u J F M A M .J J A S 0 N O
Sales UI 2012
U
Language of Change - Describing the speed or degree of a change
Adjectives Adverbs
Rapid
ST rapidly
Quick quickly
Sudden suddenly
Steady steadily
Gradual gradually
ANGLO STUDIO
Slow slowly
Sharp sharply
slight slightly
LO
significant significantly
Dramatic dramatically ANGLO STUDIO
Considerable considerably
Steep steeply
Moderate moderately
a minimal minimally
G
Marked markedly
AN

Acijective Example adverb exaniple

dramatic a dramatic rise dramatically rose dramatically
ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO
significant STUDIO
a significant fall ANGLO STUDIO
significantly ANGLO STUDIO
fell significantly
sudden a sudden fall .suddenly fell suddenly
sharp a sharp decrease sharply sharply decreased
Notes:
• "sudden" and "sharp" can be used of relatively minor changes that happen quickly
ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO
• "spectacular" STUDIO
and "dramatic" ANGLO
are very STUDIO
strong words only to used toANGLO
big, big, big STUDIO
changes
IO
Steady adjectives
Adjective Example adverb example
ANGLO STUDIO
steady ANGLO STUDIO
a steady increaseANGLO STUDIOincreased
steadily ANGLO STUDIO
steadily
D
consistent a consistent decrease consistently decreased consistently
gradual a gradual increase gradually increased gradually
U
Small adjectives
Adjective Example adverb example
moderate
ST
a moderate increase moderately increased moderately
slight a slight rise consistently rose slightly
marginal a gradual fall marginally fell marginally
Notes:
• "marginal" is a particularly useful word for describing very small changes
LO
Other useful adjectives
ANGLO These
STUDIO
adjectives ANGLO STUDIO
can he used to ANGLO
describes more STUDIO
general trends ANGLO STUDIO
adjective example
overall It is evident that the overall trend was consistently upwards.
downward It showed a downward trend throught the period.
G
upward This upward trend finished in 1998.

AN
Source: Focus on IELTS New Edition

Ielts Writing Task 1 More Tips (Prepositions and Other Expressions)

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Ielts Writing Task 1 More Tips (Prepositions and Other Expressions)

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MORE TIPS AND EXPRESSIONS

There are 2 major types of charts or graphs:

ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO

ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO

ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO

ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO

ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO

ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO

Prepositions and Other Expressions

Sub + Verb + Adv

million dollars in 2003.

Sales peaked at 50 million dollars in 2003. 0

0 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO

ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO

ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO

Sub +- Verb+ Achr

0 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

There was a rise in the rate of unemployment 12.00

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO

Noun+ of an increase of 100% Noun+ of a decrease of50%

ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO

ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO

ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO

Incorporating more data - Expressing Approximation

ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO

ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO

ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO

ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO

ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO

ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO

Language for describing how data have changed

shot up a market increase

to decline / declined gradually a decline/ a gradual decline

decreased / to decrease dramatically / sharply a dramatic / sharp -decrease

ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO

ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO

ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO

Verbs (tol .... Nouns

to remain constant/ stable

ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO

ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO

ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO

ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO

ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO

soar the price soared in November

climb the number of televisions sold in 2010 climbed

ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO

ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO

Examples of words used to describe graphs

Moving up & down repeating over a period of time

2. Reaching the top position

Peak (v) + peak (n)

Highest level (n)

3. Reaching the lowest position

ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO

4. Focusing on particular point before. we mention the movement

There was a plateau in sales from June to September.

ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO

ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO

ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO

ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO ANGLO STUDIO