Tips for Describing Pie Charts
- You have to read the heading and the data labels of the chart carefully so that you get to know what the main details include and get an idea of how to write the explanation for the same.
- While writing the introduction, you need to refer to the chart which you are going to explain.
- In the subsequent paragraphs, you can show a comparison between the two pie charts. It may be either differences or similarities.
- When describing a pie chart, you must make use of appropriate vocabulary. For example, when relating information, use words like ‘related to’, ‘connected to’ and so on.
- Usually, the largest section in the pie chart will be important. You can skip the sections that will have “other” if you do not have much time, and if the word count is already more than 150 words.
- You can use different words while describing proportions and percentages.
- Do not mention anything which is not included in the pie chart data. There must be no deviations from the data that is given.
- You must read the question carefully so that you know in what tense it is set.
- Your answer should also be in the same tense. Usually, the chart given will be in the past tense. So your explanation should obviously be in the past tense.
For Example:
In the Academic module, there is a dedicated vocabulary for the pie chart. IELTS pie chart description must be done accordingly. Here is some sample vocabulary
When describing fractions, use the words given below:
- 73%- nearly three quarters
- 51%- just over a half
- 49%- just under a half
When describing increases/decreases, use the words given below:
Noun phrase + verb + adverb
Eg: The price of tomatoes fell sharply.
There + be + noun + in + noun phrase
Eg: There has been a sharp decrease in the price of leather goods.