Useful language: The introduction 1 1 This answer is largely copied from the question –
you must use your own words.
2 This doesn’t present the purpose or essential points
of the charts – it is too detailed for an introduction.
3 This is a clear and straightforward overview of
what the charts show.
4 This includes too much detail and also an element
of interpretation, which is marked down in Task
1s. It is inaccurate – the charts don’t show that
spending has changed, only that the proportion of
spending has changed.
5 This gives too much superficial detail – it is also
inaccurate because it states that the charts show
how much money was spent rather than the
percentage of spending.
6 This is too short and does not convey to the
reader the purpose of the two charts.
2 The best introduction is option 3.
Useful strategy: discussing change and similarity 1 1 higher 2 same 3 lower 4 same 5 lower 6 higher
2 1 By far the biggest decline...
2 The percentage...increased
3 The most noteworthy change was...
4 Although starting from the lowest base...
5 The biggest increase was...
3 Suggested answers
1 By far the biggest decline was in the number of
applicants for engineering jobs.
2 The percentage of elderly people using public
transport declined significantly.
3 The most noteworthy figure is the growth in the
consumption of calories in developed countries.
4 Although starting from a high base in 2002, CD
sales halved by 2010.
5 The most remarkable increase was in spending
on heating and IT provision, by 20% and 25%
respectively.
