Change in graphs, tables and charts

Posted by Pak Guru on June 10th, 2016 | 4 responses | change, charts, graphs, GTC, IELTS, numbers, tables, Task 1, writing

In 2015 sales of all 3 types of fast food increased dramatically.

This is a common error. Unfortunately there is no information about change in 2015, only from 2005 to 2015:

• Between 2005 and 2015 sales of all 3 types of fast food increased dramatically.

If you are not specific about the time frame then your reporting of data will be inaccurate and you will receive a low score in IELTS for Task Achievement.
Before you write, decide exactly when the change happened and design a suitable time expression. These are the most commonly used:

1. from time 1 to time 2
2. between time 1 and time 2

4 responses to “Change in graphs, tables and charts”

1. Yunita says:

   June 11, 2016 at 10:02 am

   If the time in the graph was in the past, what tenses should I use? past tense or present perpect?

   Reply
   • PG says:

     June 11, 2016 at 10:08 am

     If the timeframe is past and finished, then you need past simple tense 😄

     Reply
     • Yunita says:

       June 11, 2016 at 10:25 am

       then, when we use present perfect? Is it ok if I write like this : The number of AAS awardees has declined between 2014 and 2015.

       Reply
       • PG says:

         June 11, 2016 at 10:31 am

         In the context of a chart like this, use present perfect to describe a change that started in the past and is still happening. If there was a third set of columns on the chart relating to 2016 (the present), then you could use present perfect to describe a change that began in the past and is included in the present.

         Reply