Describing charts

The most common types

(DOUBLE/VERTICAL/HORIZONTAL) BAR
CHART PIE CHART

Key/
legend

sectors/slices/
segments
Describing bar chart Four steps:
1. Introduce the bar chart.
2. Describe the overall
tendency – do not indicate any
numbers in this step.
3. Group information: find and
describe the lengthiest, the
next and the shortest bars,
include numerical information.
4. Conclude by summarizing
the main trends in the bar.
Describing a
bar chart
 Vocabulary bank for describing bar charts
To introduce a bar chart To describe the overall trend To group information
The given/provided bar chart shows/ In general The largest number of ... are in
represents/depicts/illustrates/ compares/gives data Generally speaking The next/ second largest
on ... The supplied bar charts compares different ... As is observed (from the graph)
At a glance
To name parts of the bar chart To signal comparison and contrast To signal comparison and contrast
within a sentence between sentences.
The dotted column, the coloured segment, the red as ....... as, not as ......... as, not so ......,. However, By contrast, On the other
bar... as, whereas, but, while, although hand, In comparison, On
the contrary
To compare two sets of data in double bar charts To indicate difference in amount To indicate difference in numbers
The survey was done on (two population groups) Considerably greater amount/ number of more/less/fewer ... (students prefer...
The survey was conducted among X and X groups .. (students prefer ...) )
compared to almost ... (X per cent) of ...
the same percentage of both groups
affected almost equal proportion of X (students) in
both age groups
A similar trend is true for the other group.
Describing pie charts Four steps
Step 1: Introduce the pie chart.
Step 2: Describe the overall
trend.
Step 3: Group segments, which
have broad similarities or
marked differences. Describe
the segments.
Step 4: Conclude by
summarizing the main trends
in the pie chart.
Describing pie charts
Vocabulary bank (pie charts)
Introducing a pie chart
The pie chart gives
information on..'
This pie chart tells us about
The chart compares ...
The given/provided pie
chart shows/represents/
depicts/illustrates/
compares/gives data on ...
Describing data
X has the highest
percentage.
The lowest percentage is
for X.
The biggest percentage
of ..
Describing elements of a pie chart Referring to different segments in a
pie chart
There are X sections/ Top segment/
segments/slices in the Next segment
pie chart illustrating Middle segment
different kinds of X illustrates/refers to
Next segment
Bottom segment
Indicating percentage Using fractions or ratios
7 per cent + verb (7% like, buy, etc.) One-fifth, half, a quarter
+ verb
Expressing percentages
Number
Other words to talk about quantities
• a small fraction, a small number, a small minority

• a large portion, a significant majority

• nearly a fifth, almost 10%, in region of 40%, more than a half, over a quarter, around
two thirds, more or less three quarters, exactly one in ten, approximately a third

• more than, higher than, much less than, less than, lower than, not as much as, far
greater than about the same as