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REFERENCE STRUCTURES FOR

DESCRIBE IMAGE

USE “ REFERENCE” STRUCTURES

When referring to a diagram , chart, table etc. use “ reference” structures such as those given below.
This will assist to know where your information comes from, and will effectively lead in to what
you have to say.

table/chart,
table/chart shows (that) According to the diagram,
diagram As (is ) shown in the graph, ...
graph As can be seen from the figures,

figures show (that) ... It can be seen from the table/chart

The statistics We can see from the diagram
graph ( that) ...
diagram shows how... It is clear from the
figures
describes apparent
illustrates

Be careful not to use these “ reference” structures too frequently to avoid unnecessary repetition .

PLAN A SHORT INTRODUCTION, EXPLANATION & OVERVIEW

All Task items require an introduction , which should begin with a topic sentence. The
topic sentence of the introduction is a general statement that explains what it is that is being described
in the task.
This should be followed by the basic information given in the task.
The last sentence should be the overview of the task explaining the distinct feature/s of the
image.

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 Describe Statistical Data
As you can see, the statistical data can be presented in a variety of ways:
... as numbers functioning as adjectives inside or outside brackets
... as numbers expressed in word form ( " twice the profit ” , “ three - fold” etc.)
,

... as numbers listed in the order mentioned using the word “ respectively
Statistics are often expressed in percentages:
The EEC and the USA both had 10%. The profit remained steady at 10% .

The profit rose to 10%. The profit peaked at just over 10%. >

The monthly profit increased by 10% from 10% to 20%.

fell from . 20% to 10%.

Of students 45
'

Slovakia had
10% of the students.
10% of the students were from the Federation of Russia.
France accounted for 10% of the students.
They made twice the profit percentage in May than in March.
three times percentage of profit
four times

The profit percentage doubled from March to Mav .

percentage of profit increased three-fold
four-fold
Companv A ’ s profit percentage rose steadily, whereas that of Company B fell slightly .

There were more males than females ( 10% and 5% respectively ).

Note also the following structures for presenting numbers and statistical data:
'

a quarter of
almost one
nearly
a third of
approximately one the ( total) number of students.
about
(a ) half of •

just over
•

one i
School A has
over
three quarters of

almost a quarter
nearly half as many students
approximately three quarters as School B.
about
just over twice as much space
over three times
almost / nearly as many (students) as
about / approximately as much (space) as
School A
has School B.
about / approximately the same ( number of students) as
exactly / precisely (proportion
( amount

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 EXPRESS CHANGES IN DATA EFFECTIVELY
In a graph, table or chart, you should notice first if the information is fixed in time
or changes over time. If the information changes over time, you need to express those changes by
using words and phrases which describe how it has changed.
The figures given can either increase or decrease, fluctuate, or remain stable (stay the same).
Increases, decreases and fluctuations can be expressed in either of two grammatical ways:
• verb + adverb form
• adjective + noun form.

Look at the following table:

The number of ( cars ) increased suddenly from (June) to (December).

jumped * rapidly
rose dramatically between (June ) and ( December ) .
significantly
decreased sharply ^ .

- -,
dropped steeply ^
’

VERB +
ADVERB fell steadily *
FORM gradually *
fluctuated *^ slowly *
: slightly

There was a (very) sudden increase in the number from ... to ... .
.
rapid jump * of (cars ) between ... and ...
/ dramatic rise
ADJECTIVE significant
+ NOUN sharp ^ decrease
v FORM steep ^ drop
steady * fall
* ^
Note that not all of the word
gradual *
slow * fluctuation * ^ combinations are possible:
slight i.e, “ slow jump” X
and “ sharp fluctuation” X

Look at the following examples:

(i ) Acme Sports Cars’ monthly profit fell dramatically ...
(ii ) Acme Sports Cars’ monthly profit decreased slightly ... but rose sharply ...
(iii) The monthly profit of both Acme Sports Cars and Branson Motors gradually
increased ...
(iv) There was a three-fold increase in the latter’s monthly profit ...

Rewrite them using the alternative method to the one used above:
( i) . in. the. mon.
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)

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Little or no change can be expressed in the following way:
The number remained steady
stable from ( June ) to ( December ) ,
of ( cars sold)
^ stayed the same
little change
between ( June ) and ( December ).
in the number from ... to ... .
There was
hardly any of ( cars sold ) between ... and ... .
no

Notice how the words and phrases for expressing data changing with time apply to a graph:
Look at the following graphical details:
- (for Acme Sports
Cars )

peak
•
sharp rise •
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• • . • • • dramatic fall /
steady drop *
. •sharp drop
•
•
• ( to) reach a plateau / • •

__
--
. trough
•
(to) remain steady
.. -
I •
•
gradual
• • increase
( to) bottom out ( to) reach the bottom
—1 t t 1 1 1 1 h — i 1

The situation at the highest and lowest points of a graph can be expressed in the following way:
peaked in ( December ).
The monthly profit
The figures reached a peak
a high (point) at ( 20% ).
The situation
V
bottomed out
the
reached rock

a low ( point)
hit a trough

USE THE CORRECT TENSE/VOICE

It is important to use the correct grammatical tense or voice each time you use a verb. If the Task is
a process or procedure, use the present tense and the passive voice to describe the steps or stages.
You can also use the gerund form of a verb (the “ -ing” form used as a noun), and the infinitive
with “ to” construction after " it is necessary” and " it is important” etc.
Look at the following examples:
The second stage involves conducting suitable research.
Notes are taken from available literature at the library , and data (are) collected from
questionnaires ...
Writing the first draft is the third stage.
First, it is necessary to organise the content of the essay, and (to) produce a brief outline.
Use similar constructions with the present tense and the passive voice, the gerund form, and the
infinitive with “ to” , when you are describing how something works .
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