Hello, I’m Sarah Thompson, an IELTS tutor and former examiner with over twenty years of experience preparing students for Academic Writing.
In IELTS Task 1, your grammar determines how well you describe graphs, charts, and tables — not just what you say, but how clearly you express it.
This guide on Grammar for Graphs & Charts will show you how to choose the right tenses, use prepositions correctly, and write accurate comparative and trend-based sentences for Band 7–9 performance.
In Academic Task 1, examiners assess your grammar under Grammatical Range and Accuracy, which accounts for 25% of your total score.
You need to demonstrate:
Good grammar gives your report clarity and precision — even more than vocabulary.
The first rule of Task 1 grammar is to match your tense to the time frame shown in the question.
Type of Chart | Time Reference | Tense to Use | Example |
Historical data | Years in the past (e.g. 2000–2020) | Past Simple | Sales increased sharply between 2000 and 2020. |
Current / no time | Present situation or general fact | Present Simple | The chart shows that urban populations grow faster than rural ones. |
Future projection | Data includes predictions (e.g. “will reach”) | Future Tense / Modals | The figure is expected to rise to 70% by 2030. |
Band 8 Tip: Stay consistent — switching tenses mid-paragraph confuses examiners.
The passive form adds academic tone and objectivity, especially for process or production charts.
Active | Passive |
People build houses from wood. | Houses are built from wood. |
The factory produces bottles. | Bottles are produced in the factory. |
Use the passive voice when the agent (doer) is unknown or irrelevant — a common case in IELTS Task 1.
Example:
The data is collected annually by government agencies.
Trends usually involve verbs, nouns, and adverbs that describe changes in figures.
Function | Grammar Pattern | Example Sentence |
Trend verb | Subject + verb + adverb | Profits increased significantly in 2018. |
Trend noun | There + be + noun + of + number | There was an increase of 10% in sales. |
Rate of change | Subject + verb + by + number | Earnings rose by 15% over the decade. |
Final value | Subject + verb + to + number | Unemployment fell to 5% in 2020. |
Band 8 Tip: Combine verbs and adverbs for precise meaning — rose slightly, declined dramatically, remained relatively stable.
Prepositions often decide whether your sentence sounds natural or incorrect.
Meaning | Correct Preposition | Example |
Show final value | to | Prices dropped to £30. |
Show amount of change | by | Production increased by 20%. |
Indicate time period | between … and / from … to | Sales doubled between 2000 and 2010. |
Compare data | than / compared to | The rate was higher than in 2015. |
Describe proportion | of / in | A quarter of the population / an increase in exports. |
Common Mistake: Mixing by and to.
❌ Sales rose to 20%. (if you mean by 20%)
✅ Sales rose by 20%.
IELTS Writing often requires comparison between groups.
Form | Example |
Comparative | The unemployment rate in France was higher than in Germany. |
Superlative | Japan had the highest energy consumption among all countries. |
Equality | The figures for Italy were similar to those for Spain. |
Band 8 Tip: Vary your structure: alternate between “while,” “whereas,” and “in contrast” to create cohesion.
While urban employment rose, rural figures declined steadily.
You need to demonstrate a range of structures to move beyond Band 6.
Sentence Type | Example | Function |
Compound | Exports increased, and imports declined. | Connects two ideas equally |
Complex | Although exports increased, imports declined slightly. | Adds contrast or condition |
Relative clause | The country that recorded the highest GDP was Japan. | Adds detail |
Passive clause | Data were collected over a ten-year period. | Adds formality |
Band 8 Tip: Use one complex sentence per paragraph to show grammatical flexibility.
Process or diagram tasks require sequencing language and passive voice.
Key Phrases:
Example:
Initially, raw materials are collected. Then, they are processed and stored in large containers before being transported to factories.
Avoid using personal pronouns (we, you). The report must stay factual and impersonal.
Mistake | Error Example | Correction |
Wrong tense | Sales increase in 2000. | Sales increased in 2000. |
Missing article | The graph shows trend. | The graph shows a trend. |
Incorrect preposition | Rose at 5%. | Rose by 5%. |
No subject | Increased significantly. | Profits increased significantly. |
Singular/plural confusion | The data shows. | The data show. ✅ (plural noun) |
Rewrite the sentences correctly:
✅ Answers:
Before submitting your Task 1:
If yes, your grammar control is already within Band 7–8 range.
Mastering Grammar for Graphs & Charts ensures your Task 1 responses are clear, accurate, and examiner-friendly.
It’s not about perfection — it’s about precision, variety, and correctness.
Next, move to Writing an Effective Overview to learn how to summarise data trends concisely — a crucial skill for Band 7+.
You can also revisit the IELTS Writing Overview: Format, Scoring & Key Skills mother page or explore official guidance at IELTS.org.
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