How to Describe a Bar Chart in IELTS: Bar Graph For IELTS

In the writing task section of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), test-takers are asked to explain a bar graph. It is the graphical representation of data between two axes with the use of horizontal or vertical bars. The size of the bar is used to show the volume of the variables. In the IELTS bar graph task, you have to interpret and describe the information presented in a given bar graph.

Sample: IELTS Writing Task 1 Bar Graph

Source: https://www.english-exam.org/IELTS/academic_writing_samples_task_1/1054/

The graph illustrates car journeys in the city centre taken by both residents and non-residents in ten years. In 1996, the residents took an average of around 10,000 car journeys each day. The non-residents took about half the number, which is 5000 journeys per day. It was almost the same for the residents in the subsequent three years. However, the journeys for the non-residents increased over the years and went to more than 8000 per day in 1999.

The graph shows that between 1999 and 2000, parking meters were introduced in the city centre. The result was resident traffic reducing to half with only a slight decrease in non-resident traffic. Towards the end of 2002, the number of the resident journey was steady, but the non-resident journeys rose to 8000, the same as in 1999. Westgate Street and Park Lane were closed to traffic at this point. It had its consequence of the decline in the non-resident traffic and slightly in the resident traffic too. After this point, the resident traffic more or less remained at the same level. The non-resident traffic showed an increase in level and reached around 5000 journeys each day in 2005.

Tips for Bar Graph

• Read the question and identify key information.
• Paraphrase the question and the title of the chart to give an overview.
• Describe the numeric data from left to the right referring to the change in variable
• Note key events and their effect on the variables
• Include the numbers in your paragraph
• Link sentences with words such as; while, compared to, along with, whereas, etc.

These tips and examples will aid you in preparing for the bar chart interpretation task. To score well in this exercise, you can go through some vocabulary words that accurately describe the data. With these steps, you will be able to get a high score on this task.

Important Resources to Read About IELTS:

IELTS Bar Graph Vocabulary

Test-takers should have a solid vocabulary to describe bar graph IELTS task 1 to score well in the IELTS.  The IELTS bar graph vocabulary to describe the bar graph must stress the similarities, changes, and differences in the data presented in the bar graph. 

Here are examples of bar graph vocabulary: 

Verbs and nouns

• Verbs used to describe upward trends: rise, increase, climb, grow, rocket, surge, soar
• Verbs used to describe downward trends: decrease, drop, decline, fall, plummet, dip
• Other vocabularies: fluctuate, peak, hit a low, remain stable, unchanged

Adjectives and Adverbs

• Adverbs: steadily, gradually, steeply, slightly, significantly, considerably

Eg: The number of COVID cases in India is increasing steadily.

• Adjectives: gradual, sharp, rapid, significant, slight, considerable 

Eg: Her rapid progress in learning English is amazing

Expressing Time

• the final year
• over the period
• in the following three days
• between... and ...
• at the beginning

Read More:

Bar Graph IELTS Task 1 Sample Questions

Here are some bar graph IELTS task 1 sample questions:

• This bar chart presents the percentage of people who consumed five portions of fruit & vegetables per day in the UK from 2001 to 2008
• The bar chart here shows the hours per week that teenagers spend doing activities in Manchester from 2005-2010
• The chart shows the global sales of different kinds of smartphones from 2000 to 2006
• The bar graph below shows the population figures of tigers in India from 1990 to 2010
• The graph below shows the number of goods imported to India from the UK from 1990 to 2022

(Disclaimer: Sample questions are hypothetically structured and are for reference only. They are subject to change as per IELTS guidelines and structure)

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