In writing academic task one for the IELTS test, you need to maintain a wide range of vocabulary especially since some trends in the charts are similar, and you can’t keep repeating the same words. You will need to have studied lots of synonyms describing the same pattern. 

First of all, words to paraphrase the prompt.

The question from Cambridge 18, Test 1, Academic Task One reads as the following:

The graph below gives information about the percentage of the population in four Asian countries living in cities from 1970 to 2020, with predictions for 2030 and 2040.

Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

the graph below = the provided/given graph

give information about = show,  represent, account for, comprise, depict,  illustrate, explain why, compare, give reasons why, display, examine, demonstrate, portray, characterize, provide information on

Mind the subject-verb agreement, meaning that when it is one graph, we say the graph shows while we say the graphs show when it is multiple charts.

• How to describe round-up numbers

average – about – approximately – below – above – roughly – around

• How to describe time
  • in 2000 and 2010
  • in two different/ distinct/separate years
  • from 2000 to 2010
  • in a span of ten years
  • in a 10-year period
  • with a 10-year interval (a period between two events)
  • in the extended years/periods between 
  • with a 10-year gap
  • over/during a 50-year period
  • across all time periods

So, here is a possible paraphrase of the prompt.

The provided graph depicts data on the number of residents in four Asian metropolitan cities in the 70-year span between 1970 to 2040.

And, here is a long list of words describing the different trends.

• How to describe an upward trend: verbs

escalate, grow, rise, increase, gain, double, triple, tenfold, elevate, spring, improve, develop, outrace, outnumber (when comparing two trends)

Ex. The numbers increased throughout the recorded period.

• How to describe an upward trend that moved dramatically without the need to neither adjectives nor adverbs: verbs

leap, surge, jump, climb, soar, peak/reach a peak, rocket, spring up (develop quickly), enlarge

Ex. In 2015, the numbers peaked.

• How to describe a recovering trajectory: verbs

bounce back, recuperate, recover, regain, rebound, return to its original state

Ex. After falling gradually throughout the year, the numbers rebounded in 2019.

• How to describe a downward trend: verbs

decline, decrease, fall, drop, taper off (to become gradually less), sink back, halve, diminish, go down, lose

Ex. The numbers tapered off.

• How to describe an downward trend that moved dramatically without the need to neither adjectives nor adverbs: verbs

dive, nosedive, plunge, dip, plummet, sink

Ex. The numbers increased gradually before they took an abrupt nosedive in 2019, settling at the initial number of 10. 

Ex. The numbers increased gradually before they took an abrupt nosedive in 2019, hitting the lowest point at 10.

Accuracy is pivotal in describing the trends of the academic task one. So, we will start by some adjectives and adverbs to describe different trajectories in minute precision. 

Remember that adjectives come before the noun while adverbs are located after the verb.

• How to describe dramatic movements: adverbs

dramatically, drastically, substantially, significantly, markedly, rapidly, quickly, noticeably, relatively, exponentially, immensely, quintessentially, sharply, suddenly, considerably, steeply, abruptly, distinctly

• How to describe dramatic movements: adjectives

dramatic, rapid, drastic, substantial, significant, marked, rapid, quick, noticeable, exponential, quintessential, sudden, steep, considerable, abrupt, distinct, immense, relative

Ex. The given data increased dramatically.

Ex. The given data experienced a dramatic increase. 

• How to describe slight movements: adverbs

gradually, marginally, slightly, modestly, virtually, steadily, slowly, constantly, consistently, subtly

• How to describe slight movements: adjectives

gradual, modest, marginal, slight, modest, steady, constant, subtle, moderate, virtual

Ex. The given data rose slightly before it decreased once more.

Ex. The given data experienced a slight rise before it decreased once more. 

Ex. The given data declined slightly before it climbed up once more.

Ex. The given data experienced a slight decline before it rose once more. 

Ex. The gap between the figures of 2011 and 2015 widened. 

• How to describe steady trends: verbs

stay the same, remain the same, stay constant, remain constant, stay steady, remain steady, stay unchanged, remain unchanged, stay stable, remain unstable, level, stabilize, render/make something stable, sustain a stable level/pattern, plateau, hit a plateau

Ex. The figures plateaued at a little above twenty.

• how to describe fluctuations

Ex. The trajectory witnessed fluctuations throughout the recorded timeframe. 

• How to describe percentages

per cent (Br.) = percent (Am.)

20% = one fifth = every fifth country = one country out of five

over half/one-third/two-thirds of 

proportions = segment

a quarter of

….increased three times/tripled/tenfold

percentage-wise = in terms of percentage

Ex. Between 2007 and 2011, the numbers increased by 5%.

Ex. In 2011, the numbers were 5% higher than those figures of 2007.

Ex. In 2011, the numbers increased by 5% compared with the previous year.

Ex. By the end of the period, the numbers more than doubled.

Ex. In 2007 and 2011, the percentages were 22.2% and 27.8% respectively.

Ex. In 2015, the percentage was an aggregate of the previous years. 

• How to describe maps

You need to decide on the tenses based on whether it is an old, current or proposed scheme. I here provide the past participle from the most commonly used verbs for map descriptions because we mainly use the passive voice to describe those changes.

• How to describe changes to buildings, parks, residential areas, accommodation units, playground, farmlands, sports fields, areas, neighborhoods, ports, 

demolished, built, constructed, removed, knocked down, flattened, expanded, extended, replaced with, reconstructed, renovated, refurbished, renewed, widened, enlarged, restored, repaired, improved, developed, repainted, redesigned, add, modernized, opened, paved over, relocated, reoccupied, reused, reduced, shrank, 

Ex. The building was renovated and became in a like-new condition.

Ex. A twenty-story co-working space replaced the old watch factory. 

Ex. A luxury hotel was built on the previous location of the old community center.

Ex. The park has undergone some renovations.

Ex. The parking garage was redesigned to improve functionality.

Ex. The office building was refurbished to repair defects, and replace worn-out components. 

• How to describe processes

You need first to decide on whether it is a natural or a man-made process, and you have to state this in the introduction paragraph. Additionally, you need to check whether it is a cyclical or a linear process, meaning the output is the input to the same process or to a different one.

• How to describe the flow of stages

first, second, third, start with, ends with, the following stage, proceeded/followed by, preceded by

• Extra vocabulary that can be helpful

outcome, stages, phases, procedures, steps, making of, undergo, go through, experience, input, output, end product, final product

Some useful phrases extracted from well-written pieces

• Data = information =  amount(s)
• change= variation
• the number of people = how many people
• number of = quantity of
• the largest/least
• rate = proportion(s) = portion
• changes = how much changed
• as opposed to
• in terms of
• as compared to
• in regard to/regarding
• fall to/hit its lowest point
• appear to be 
• collectively
• out of all
• the total of
• at which point
• varied = to vary = to differ
• after which
• counterparts
• even/equal distribution among(st)
• ….increased three times/tripled/tenfold