The key idea
Choose the main features of a chart and describe them with accurate numbers and clear comparisons.
What is it for?
Learn to describe a chart clearly. Identify the highest and lowest numbers. Explain changes and compare figures using accurate words.
What you need to know
- Introduce the chart by naming its subject, place, or time period.
- Identify the highest and lowest figures.
- Describe the biggest increase or decrease.
- Use exact numbers and simple expressions for approximate amounts.
- Finish with a short summary of the main pattern.
1. Introduce the chart
Start by saying what the chart shows. Include its subject and time period when available. You can also mention the place or group.
- Use The chart shows ... to introduce the data.
- Name the subject and the years.
- Do not describe every number in your first sentence.
The chart shows monthly bus ticket sales in Greenford from 2020 to 2023.
Name the subject, place, and years.
The figures show how many meals the school served each month.
Explain what the numbers measure.
2. Select the main features
Look at all the numbers before you start writing. Find the highest figure and the lowest figure. Then check where the largest change happened.
- Use the highest number and the lowest number.
- Compare the first and last figures when useful.
- Choose two or three important details.
- Do not list every number without explaining its importance.
The highest figure was 500 in 2023.
Identify the largest number and its year.
Sales reached their lowest point in 2021.
Identify the time with the smallest figure.
3. Describe changes and compare numbers
Use change words to explain what happened over time. Use from and to with two numbers. Use by to show the size of a change.
- Increased means the number went up.
- Decreased means the number went down.
- Stayed the same means the number did not change.
- Compared with helps you show a difference.
- Use about, nearly, and just over for approximate amounts.
Sales increased from 200 to 350 between 2020 and 2021.
Use from and to to show the starting and ending figures.
Sales then decreased by 50.
Use by to show the size of the decrease.
The figure was about 30 percent of the total.
Use about when the number is approximate.
4. Finish with a clear summary
End by stating the main pattern. Mention a clear rise, fall, or difference. Only describe what the chart shows. Do not guess why the numbers changed.
- Use Overall, ... to begin a short summary.
- Mention the most important change or final result.
- Do not add personal opinions.
- Do not invent reasons that the chart does not provide.
Overall, ticket sales rose despite a small fall in 2022.
Summarise the main pattern and mention the exception.
Overall, the final figure was twice the first figure.
Compare the beginning and the end.
How to do it, step by step
- Read the chart title, labels, and time period.
- Write one sentence explaining what the chart shows.
- Select the highest figure, the lowest figure, and the biggest change.
- Describe these features with numbers and comparison words.
- Finish with a short summary of the main pattern.
Formulas and key language
| Use it for | Example | Another example |
|---|---|---|
| The chart shows + subject + time period. | The chart shows ticket sales from 2020 to 2023. | The chart shows school meals sold each month. |
| The highest figure was + number + time. | The highest figure was 500 in 2023. | The highest figure was 80 in July. |
| The lowest figure was + number + time. | The lowest figure was 200 in 2020. | The lowest figure was 15 in February. |
| The figure increased from + number + to + number. | The figure increased from 200 to 350. | Sales increased from 40 to 60 in June. |
| The figure decreased from + number + to + number. | The figure decreased from 350 to 300. | Sales decreased from 90 to 70 in August. |
| The figure stayed the same at + number. | The figure stayed the same at 300. | Sales stayed the same at 50 in May. |
| Compared with + time or figure, + subject + verb. | Compared with 2020, sales were higher in 2023. | Compared with June, July sales were lower. |
| About / nearly / just over + number or amount. | About 30 percent of tickets were sold online. | Nearly half of the meals were vegetarian. |
| Overall, + main pattern. | Overall, ticket sales increased during the period. | Overall, the figures changed very little. |
UK / US: Both British and American English use increased, decreased, and stayed the same. Number formats can differ, so follow the chart's format.
Level up: Replace basic words (good, very, nice) with stronger ones. See our A2 to B1 upgrades page.
Model text
A Description of Library Visits
Introduction
The bar chart shows the number of visits to a local library from 2020 to 2023. The figures are given in hundreds.
The opening names the subject, place, period, and unit.
Main features
In 2020, the library had 200 visits. This figure increased to 350 in 2021, which was a rise of 150. In 2022, visits decreased slightly to 300. The highest figure was 500 in 2023. Compared with 2020, the final figure was more than twice as high. The only fall happened between 2021 and 2022, while the other changes were increases.
The main section uses numbers, comparisons, and change words.
Summary
Overall, library visits rose across the four years despite a small fall in 2022. The strongest result came in 2023, which had the highest number of visits. The library was busiest in 2023, so the chart suggests a clear upward pattern.
The final sentences summarise the overall pattern and key result.
Common mistakes
✗ Sales increased from 200 by 350.
✓ Sales increased from 200 to 350.
Use from and to for the starting and ending numbers.
✗ The number decreased by 300 to 350.
✓ The number increased by 50 to 350.
The number rose from 300 to 350, so increased is correct.
✗ The highest number were 500.
✓ The highest number was 500.
Use was with the singular noun number.
✗ Sales stayed the same from 200 to 300.
✓ Sales increased from 200 to 300.
The number rose, so stayed the same is incorrect.
✗ Sales increased because more people needed tickets.
✓ Sales increased during the period.
The chart shows the change, but it does not explain the reason.
Plan it, then check it
Plan
- Write down the chart's subject, place, and years.
- Circle the highest and lowest figures.
- Find the largest increase or decrease.
- Choose the numbers that best explain the main pattern.
Check
- Does my first sentence explain what the chart shows?
- Have I described the highest and lowest figures?
- Are my numbers and years correct?
- Have I used increase, decrease, or stay the same correctly?
- Does my ending summarise the data without guessing reasons?
Practice
Choose the correct description
Read the data and choose the correct sentence.
1.Ticket sales were 200 in 2020 and 350 in 2021. Which sentence is correct?
The number rose from 200 to 350, so sales increased.
2.Sales were 400 in June and 250 in July. Which sentence is correct?
The number fell from 400 to 250, a decrease of 150.
3.The figures were 30, 50, and 80. Which number was the highest?
Eighty is greater than both 50 and 30.
4.Sales were 60 in May and 60 in June. Which sentence is correct?
Both months have the same figure, so there was no change.
5.A chart shows 20, 45, 35, and 70 from Monday to Thursday. When were sales lowest?
Monday had 20 sales, the smallest figure in the chart.
6.A chart shows sales of 100 in 2020 and 300 in 2023. Which sentence is correct?
The final figure of 300 is three times the first figure of 100.
Complete the chart descriptions
Write one suitable chart word in each gap.
1.The highest figure was 900, while the figure was 100.
Lowest describes the smallest figure.
2.Sales (increase) from 200 to 400 between 2020 and 2021.
Increased is the past form used for a rise.
3.The number fell from 500 to 300, so it .
Decreased describes a fall in the number.
4.The figure was 70 in May and 70 in June, so it stayed the .
Stayed the same means there was no change.
5.The final figure was 450, the number in the chart.
Highest describes the largest number.
6.Sales rose from 100 to 150, an of 50.
An increase is a rise in a number.
Build chart sentences
Put the words in the correct order. Add punctuation.
1.Put the words in order:
toincreased350fromsales200
Use from and to to show the starting and ending figures.
2.Put the words in order:
highestfigurewas500the
Use highest to identify the largest number.
3.Put the words in order:
decreasedthenumber20by
Use by to show the size of a decrease.
4.Put the words in order:
stayedsame100theatsales
Use stayed the same when the number did not change.
5.Put the words in order:
thesalesincreasedoverallperiodduring
Overall introduces a short summary of the main pattern.
Correct one small mistake
Correct the one wrong word or word form in each sentence.
1.Sales increase from 200 to 350 last year.
Use the past form increased for a finished time.
2.The highest figure were 800 in June.
The singular subject figure needs was.
3.Sales decreased from 500 by 400.
Use to for the ending figure after from.
4.Sales were 80, 120 and 90. The lowest figure was 120.
The lowest number is 80.
5.Sales were 60 in May and 90 in June, so sales decreased.
60 to 90 is a rise.
Now write
Your task
Write an 80-110 word description of this data: Ticket sales were 200 in 2020, 350 in 2021, 300 in 2022, and 500 in 2023. Start by explaining what the data shows. Identify the highest and lowest figures. Describe the rise from 2020 to 2021, the fall in 2022, and the rise in 2023. Compare the first and final figures. End with a short summary. Do not invent reasons for the changes. You may use this sample opening: The chart shows ticket sales from 2020 to 2023.
Word bank
the chart showsticket salesthe highest figurethe lowest figureincreased fromdecreased torose byfell bystayed the samecompared withaboutnearlyduring the periodoverallthe final figure
Sentence starters
- The chart shows ...
- In 2020, ticket sales ...
- The highest figure was ...
- In 2022, sales ...
- Compared with 2020, ...
- Overall, ticket sales ...