In the IELTS Academic Writing Task 1, describing striking features such as changes and trends in the given visual data is essential to demonstrate your analytical skills. It allows you to highlight significant shifts, increases, decreases, and patterns in the information provided. In this article, we will explore strategies to effectively describe these striking features, along with examples and answers to help you excel in this aspect of Task 1.

Why Describing Striking Features and Trends Matters

Describing striking features and trends is crucial in Task 1 because it showcases your ability to analyze and interpret data accurately. You demonstrate a deeper understanding of the information presented by identifying and discussing notable changes, increases, decreases, or patterns. This helps the examiner assess your analytical skills and ability to convey information coherently and effectively.

Strategies for Describing Striking Features and Trends

1. Identify Significant Changes:

Carefully examine the visual data and identify any noteworthy changes, increases, or decreases. Look for data points that deviate from the overall pattern or show significant shifts over time or between categories.

2. Use Appropriate Vocabulary:

Use a wide range of vocabulary to accurately describe changes and trends. Here are some useful terms and phrases to describe increases, decreases, and patterns:

• Increase: rise, surge, grow, climb, jump, spike, soar, upward trend

• Decrease: decline, drop, fall, plummet, reduce, dip, downward trend

• Patterns: steady, consistent, fluctuating, stable, gradual, significant, dramatic

Vocabulary for Describing Striking Features and Trends (Link to a webpage)

3. Support with Specific Data:

Back up your descriptions with specific data or figures from the visual information. Mention actual percentages, numbers, or units to provide evidence and credibility to your statements. This adds clarity and precision to your analysis.

4. Use Comparative Language:

Comparisons can help emphasize the striking features or trends in the data. Compare different categories, time periods, or groups to highlight notable differences or similarities. This enhances the clarity and impact of your description.

Examples and Answers

To illustrate these strategies, let’s consider a sample question and a model answer that effectively describes the striking features and trends in the visual data.

Question:

The line graph below shows the average monthly temperatures in a city from January to December over a five-year period.

[Insert Line Graph]

Model Answer:

The line graph illustrates the average monthly temperatures in a city from January to December over a five-year period.

Overall, the graph reveals a clear pattern of seasonal variation in the city’s temperature, with notable increases and decreases throughout the year.

One striking feature is the significant increase in temperatures from January to July. In January, the average temperature stands at around 5 degrees Celsius, but it steadily rises to approximately 25 degrees Celsius in July, indicating a substantial increase of 20 degrees over the six-month period.

Following the peak in July, the graph shows a gradual decline in temperatures until December. From July to December, there is a noticeable decrease of around 15 degrees Celsius. This demonstrates the city’s transition from the warm summer season to the colder winter months.

Moreover, the graph also displays a consistent pattern of fluctuation in temperatures during the rest of the year. Although there are minor increases and decreases, the overall trend remains stable, with temperatures ranging between 10 to 20 degrees Celsius.

In conclusion, the line graph depicts the city’s average monthly temperatures over a five-year period. The data showcases a distinct pattern of seasonal variation, with a significant increase in temperatures from January to July, followed by a gradual decrease from July to December. Understanding these striking features and trends provides valuable insights into the climate patterns of the city.

By following the strategies outlined above, this model answer effectively describes the striking features and trends in the given visual data. It highlights the significant increases and decreases in temperatures over specific time periods and provides supporting data to reinforce the descriptions. The answer also utilizes comparative language and a range of vocabulary to convey the observations accurately and coherently.

Mastering the skill of describing striking features and trends in IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 will significantly enhance the coherence and effectiveness of your response. Practice identifying and analyzing changes and patterns in various types of visual data, and use appropriate vocabulary to describe them accurately. Remember to support your descriptions with specific data and use comparative language effectively. With consistent practice, you will confidently describe striking features and trends, thereby achieving success in the IELTS exam.