25+ IELTS Mixed Charts Vocabulary Words to Boost Writing Band 7+

Written By

Bablu Shofi

Published On

July 28, 2025

Double the charts, double the confusion?
If you’ve ever faced a Task 1 question with two different chart types — like a bar and line graph, or a pie chart and table — you’re not alone.

Many students feel stuck when they don’t know the right IELTS mixed charts vocabulary to describe two data sets clearly. They often repeat simple words like increase, decrease, or more — and miss the chance to show range and precision.

The truth is, describing two types of charts together requires a mix of skills: spotting key trends, comparing numbers, and showing proportions — all using strong, varied language.

That’s why learning the right IELTS mixed charts vocabulary is so important.

In this blog, you’ll learn:

What examiners expect in mixed chart questions
25+ grouped phrases to describe trends, comparisons, and proportions
A real student’s journey from Band 6.0 to 7.5
Tips for using IELTS mixed charts vocabulary naturally and effectively

👉 Ready to handle mixed charts like a Band 9 candidate? Let’s start with the basics.

Understand What Mixed Charts Require

Mixed charts may look scary at first, but they follow the same IELTS principles — clarity, accuracy, and vocabulary range. What makes them tricky is that you’re dealing with two data types at once, often with different formats.

🧩 What Are Mixed Charts?

Mixed charts combine two or more visuals in one question — such as:

A bar chart and line graph
A pie chart and table
A column graph and pie chart

Each part shows different data, often for the same topic or time period. You’re expected to describe both parts clearly and make logical comparisons between them.

🧠 What Do Examiners Want?

Here’s what the IELTS examiner looks for when marking your Task 1 response:

Overview: A summary of key features from both charts
Comparisons: How one data set relates to the other
Accuracy: Correct numbers, trends, and categories
Language Range: Strong use of IELTS mixed charts vocabulary to describe trends and comparisons without repetition

If your writing lacks variety or mixes up time periods, it lowers your Task Achievement and Lexical Resource scores.

🚫 Common Mistakes with Mixed Charts

Students often:

Describe the charts separately with no comparisons
Use only basic words like rise, fall, increase, more, and less
Repeat sentence structures (“In 2005, X was…”) without variation
Mix up tenses (especially when one chart is past and one is present)

👉 These mistakes happen not because students don’t understand the chart — but because they don’t know how to describe it using proper IELTS mixed charts vocabulary.

📌 Key Tip:

Think of mixed charts as a chance to show off your language flexibility. If you can describe one chart and connect it to the second using clear comparisons, you’re already performing at Band 7+.

👉 Now let’s dive into the most useful IELTS mixed charts vocabulary, grouped into three categories: trends, comparisons, and proportions.

Must-Know IELTS Mixed Charts Vocabulary (Grouped)

Now that you understand what mixed charts demand, let’s look at the vocabulary you need to tackle them confidently.
Good vocabulary isn’t about using long words — it’s about choosing precise, varied, and task-appropriate phrases.

Below, we’ve grouped the most important IELTS mixed charts vocabulary into 3 simple categories: Trends, Comparisons, and Proportions.

📊 Group 1: Vocabulary for Describing Trends

These phrases are useful for line graphs, bar charts, or any data that moves over time.

Verbs

increased steadily
decreased sharply
fluctuated slightly
peaked at
dropped to
rose gradually

Adverbs + Verbs

significantly increased
slightly declined
rapidly grew
slowly fell

✅ Example:
“The number of car users increased significantly from 2000 to 2005, while bus usage declined sharply.”

⚖️ Group 2: Vocabulary for Making Comparisons

Mixed charts often require cross-chart comparisons, especially when one chart shows numbers and the other shows percentages.

Linking Words / Phrases

in contrast
whereas
while
compared to
similarly
more/less than
as opposed to
followed a similar trend

✅ Example:
“While online sales rose in 2020, in contrast, in-store sales dropped by 30%.”

🧮 Group 3: Vocabulary for Showing Proportions

You’ll need this language especially for pie charts, tables, and grouped data sets.

Proportion Phrases

the majority of
a small fraction
one-third of
almost half
exactly 25%
a significant minority
the same proportion

✅ Example:
“One-third of users preferred mobile apps, the same proportion as those using desktop platforms.”

💡 Pro Tip:

Use a mix of these vocabulary groups when writing about mixed charts.
A strong response includes trend verbs, comparison phrases, and proportion expressions in both the overview and the details.

🎯 Up Next: See how one student struggled with mixed charts and how poor vocabulary held her back — even though her ideas were correct.

Student Scenario – What Went Wrong for Aisha (Band 6.0)

Meet Aisha — a motivated student from Pakistan who was confident in her IELTS Writing skills.
She could understand the data. She could explain what she saw.
But she kept getting Band 6.0 in Writing Task 1. And she didn’t know why.

So we looked at one of her mixed chart responses together.

🧾 The Task:

The bar chart shows the number of international students in three countries in 2010 and 2020. The pie chart illustrates the percentage of funding sources for international students in 2020.

🔍 Aisha’s Sample Sentences:

“In 2010, the number was high, and in 2020, it increased a lot.”
“The pie chart shows different sources like scholarships and personal money.”
“More students went to the UK than to Canada.”

At first glance, her ideas were fine — she noticed the trends and comparisons. But the problem was clear:

❌ Her vocabulary was too basic, vague, and repetitive.

Let’s break it down:

“Increased a lot” → too general
“Different sources” → not descriptive
“Went to” → too informal for academic writing
Missing linking words like “while,” “in contrast,” or “compared to”

Most importantly, Aisha didn’t use IELTS mixed charts vocabulary. She was explaining the charts — but not using the language IELTS examiners expect for a high score.

🧠 Examiner Feedback Summary:

Task Achievement: “She covered the main points, but lacked precision and clarity.”
Lexical Resource: “Repetitive and basic vocabulary; needs more academic and varied expressions.”

Her score remained at Band 6.0 — not because she didn’t understand the data, but because she didn’t express it using strong, varied vocabulary.

👉 In the next section, you’ll see exactly how Aisha rewrote her answer using smart, grouped vocabulary — and how that helped her jump to Band 7.5.

Ready to see how she turned things around?

Fix It – How Aisha Improved with Strategic Vocabulary Use

After reviewing Aisha’s weak response, we focused on one goal:
➡️ Replace basic language with targeted IELTS mixed charts vocabulary.

We didn’t change her ideas — just the way she described them.

🔁 Original Sentence vs. Improved Version

❌ Before (Band 6.0):
“In 2010, the number was high, and in 2020, it increased a lot.”

✅ After (Band 7.5):
“The number of international students in the UK rose significantly from just over 20,000 in 2010 to nearly 35,000 in 2020.”

❌ Before:
“The pie chart shows different sources like scholarships and personal money.”

✅ After:
“In 2020, almost half of the funding came from personal savings, while a small fraction was provided by government scholarships.”

❌ Before:
“More students went to the UK than to Canada.”

✅ After:
“The UK attracted a higher proportion of international students compared to Canada, accounting for nearly double the number.”

🎯 What Changed?

We applied 3 strategies:

Trend Verbs
- replaced “increased a lot” with rose significantly
Proportion Phrases
- used almost half, a small fraction, accounting for
Comparative Connectors
- added while, compared to, double the number

These changes showed the examiner that Aisha could accurately describe changes, compare data, and show proportions — all key elements in a Band 7+ response.

🧪 Practice Exercise:

Take a mixed chart from a Cambridge book and try this:

Step 1: Write a 150-word response using your current vocabulary
Step 2: Underline every vague or basic word
Step 3: Replace them using grouped IELTS mixed charts vocabulary (from Section 2)
Step 4: Read aloud and refine for clarity and flow

Result: Aisha consistently applied this technique, and in her next exam, she scored Band 7.5 in Writing.

👉 You can do the same — but only if you review your work and use the right vocabulary groups together.

Next, let’s wrap up with some quick tips and a free vocabulary planner to make sure you’re fully prepared for any mixed chart question.

Final Tips + Downloadable Resource

You’ve seen how the right words can turn a Band 6.0 into a Band 7.5.
Now it’s your turn.

Here are some final tips to help you master IELTS mixed charts vocabulary and apply it confidently in your next Writing Task 1:

✅ Final Tips for Mixed Chart Success

Don’t describe the charts separately — compare them where possible using phrases like “in contrast” or “while.”
Use all three vocabulary types:
- Trend language (e.g., rose significantly)
- Comparison words (e.g., compared to)
- Proportions (e.g., a small fraction)
Avoid vague words like “a lot” or “many” — be specific and measurable.
Review your response with a checklist:
➤ Did you describe both charts clearly?
➤ Did you make logical comparisons?
➤ Did you use at least 3–5 varied vocabulary items?

🔗 More Vocabulary Resources You’ll Love (Internal Links):

To truly boost your score, explore these related vocabulary guides:

Bookmark them or explore one each day to sharpen your skills.

🌍 Official IELTS Websites (External Links):

Stay updated with exam details and official samples from these trusted sources:

🎁 FREE Download: IELTS Mixed Charts Vocabulary Planner

Want to keep these words and tips at your fingertips?

Download our free PDF, which includes:

Grouped vocabulary lists
Sample sentence templates
A mini writing planner
A quick checklist for reviewing your mixed chart answers

👉 Click here to download now and start using smarter vocabulary today!

✅ Final Thought:

IELTS mixed charts vocabulary isn’t about memorising long words — it’s about choosing smart, clear phrases that show control and confidence.

With consistent practice, vocabulary awareness, and review, you’ll write like a Band 7+ student — even when faced with the trickiest data.

🟢 Need help with other IELTS topics? Explore the rest of IELTS ZONE for more lessons, tips, and practice tests.