WRITING UNIT 4

Exercise 1
When a graph or chart appears in IELTS Writing Task 1, it will either compare data at the
same point in time or show trends over a period of time. A trend is a general development
or a change in a situation.
Look at the graphs and charts. Then choose the correct descriptions.

1.
o This chart compares the number of
visitors to five different holiday
destinations in Mexico at the same
point in time.
o This chart shows the number of
visitors to five different holiday
destinations in Mexico over a
period of time.

2.
o This graph compares the
populations of five different cities
in the world at the same time.
o This graph compares the
populations of five different cities
in the world over a period of time.

3.
o This chart shows the numbers of
different types of animal in the
Maasai Mara National Reserve in
Kenya at the same point in time.
o This chart shows the numbers of
different types of animal in the
Maasai Mara National Reserve in
Kenya over a period of time.
 4.
o This chart compares the ages of the
population of Ireland at the same
point in time.
o This chart compares the ages of the
population of Ireland over a period
of time.

Exercise 2
Look at the graph. Then choose the correct answers to complete the statements.

1. The population of Lagos increased by just under 4 million between 1970 and 1980.
/decreased by just over 8 million between 1970 and 1980. /stayed about the same
between 1970 and 1980.
2. The population of New York City increased by just over 2 million between 1970
and 1980. /decreased by about 1 million between 1970 and 1980./ stayed about the
same between 1970 and 1980.
3. The population of Moscow increased by about 2 million between 1990 and 2000.
/decreased by about 2 million between 1990 and 2000. /stayed about the same
between 1990 and 2000.
4. The population of New York City increased by about 6 million between 1990 and
2010./ decreased by about 2 million between 1990 and 2010. /stayed about the
same between 1990 and 2010.
5. The population of Tehran has increased by about 5 million between 1970 and now./
has decreased by about 2 million between 1970 and now. /has stayed about the
same between 1970 and now.
Exercise 3
Look at the graph. Choose the correct verb forms to complete the sentences.

1. The population of Moscow increased/has increased by about 2 million between

1990 and 2000.
2. The population of Tehran increased/has increased by approximately 5 million
between 1970 and the present time.
3. Between 1975 and 1980 the number of people living in Lagos rose/has risen by
nearly 3 million.
4. The population of Beijing at the present time is/has been about 22 million.

Exercise 4
Put the words in the correct columns to complete the table.

Decrease drop remain rise grown increase stay the same fall

go up go down no change

Exercise 5
Complete the table below with the correct verb forms.
Verb Past simple Present perfect
Fall ____________ Has/have fallen
drop dropped Has/have ________
____________ decreased Has/have decreased
Go down ___________ down Has gone down
Rise rose Has/have ____________
grow ____________ Has/have grown
____________ increased Has/have increased
Exercise 6
Look at the graph and read the student’s report. Then complete the report with the correct
form of the verbs in brackets.

The line graph compares the number of people living in five cities in the world between
1970 and the present.
On the whole, the population of these cities ______________ (grow) a lot since 1970. The
number of residents in Lagos and Beijing _____________ (rise) the most, while the
number in Moscow and Tehran ______________ (increase) too.
In Lagos, the number of residents ______________ (rise) from about 1 million in 1970 to
2 million in 1975, but since then the population _______________ (grow) quickly from 2
million in 1975 to 18 million at the present time. Similarly, the number of people living in
Beijing also ______________ (increase) from 8 million in 1970 to just under 20 million in
2010.
By contrast, the population of New York City ______________ (stay) the same since
1970. During the 1970s it ______________ (fall) from 8 million to about 6.5 million. The
number of residents then ______________ (remain) at about 7.5 million between 2000
and 2010, and since then it _______________ (grow) slowly to around 8 million people at
the present time.

Exercise 7
Choose the correct prepositions to complete the student’s report.
The bar chart compares the different ages of people living in Ireland between 1980 and
2010.
All in all, the size of the 25–54 age group increased the most about/over the period while
the size of the two younger age groups decreased a little bit. The number of people in/to the
two older age groups stayed about the same.
The 25–54 age group grew from/over approximately a third of the population in 1980 to
nearly half of the population in 2010. By contrast, the 0–14 age group fell from/in just over
25% in 1980 from/to just under 20% in 2010. Similarly, the 15–24 age group dropped from
just over 20% of the population in 1980 to just over/under 10% of the population in 2010.
The older two age groups did not increase or decrease much. The size of the 65 and over
age group remained at/in about 12%, whereas the size of the 55–64 age group only fell
from/under about 12% at/to about 10% of the population.

Exercise 8
Read the information. Then look at the graph. Put the paragraphs in the correct order to
complete the report.
The report should have:
 an introduction that includes 2 or 3 main features of the chart.
 two paragraphs that provide details of the main features mentioned in the
introduction. (The main features are the most important pieces of information
on the chart.)

a. The older two age groups did not increase or decrease much. The size of the 65 and
over age group remained at about 12%, whereas the size of the 55 -64 age group
only fell from about 12% to about 10% of the population.
b. The bar chart compares the different ages of people living in Ireland between 1980
and 2010.
c. All in all, the size of the 25-54 age group increased the most over the period while
the size of the two younger age groups decreased a little bit. The number of people
in the two older age groups stayed about the same.
d. By contrast, the 0-14 age group fell from just over 25% in 1980 to just under 20% in
2010. Similarly, the 15-24 age group dropped from just over 20% of the population
in 1980 to just under 10% of the population in 2010.
e. The 25-54 age group grew from approximately a third of the population in 1980 to
nearly half of the population in 2010.
Unit 4: Exercise 9
Look at the line graph. Then complete the statements with the phrases in the box.

a. between 1980 and 1985.

b. each had more than 9 million visitors in 2015.
c. from just over 4 million in 1980 to around 2 million in 2015.
d. from just under 4 million in 1980 to just over 3 million in 2000.
e. from just under 5 million in 1980 to around 9 million in 2015.
f. over the thirty-five year period.
g. with between approximately 8 and 9 million visitors each year.
h. with no more than 4 million visitors each year.

1. The Egyptian Museum was the most popular,

______________________________________________
2. The number of visitors to the Hermitage stayed about the same
______________________________________________
3. The Egyptian Museum and the Tokyo National Museum
______________________________________________
4. The number of visitors to the Hermitage fell
______________________________________________
5. The number of visitors to the National Museum of Anthropology stayed the same
______________________________________________
6. The number of visitors to the Tokyo National Museum increased
______________________________________________
7. The least popular were the Hermitage and the National Museum of Anthropology,
______________________________________________
8. The visitors to the National Museum of Anthropology decreased slowly
______________________________________________