IELTS Writing Task 1: comparing line graphs?

We'll look at the following line graphs in more detail next week, but today I'd like to ask you just one question:

Can we compare the two graphs, or should we describe them separately?

Comments

[Jasper]

Hi Simon:
My view is that we can compare the two graph.Firstly we should count the main trend of graph one and then point the node as well as year of graph two.

[Shiling]

I think it is better to separate them .what is your advice please?Simon

[Mohamed Hany]

My view is that we can compare these two graphs as they have a direct realationship between number of children participating in different sports and the money spend on them

[Michun He]

I think it is better to compare the two graphes when describe the figures

[Ja]

I have a question

When I wrote this sentence:

17,735 graduates worked part-time, and this was over 5 times as high as the figures for working voluntaryly, at 3500.

In this sentence, Can I use "this" to refer to the number 17,735 of prior clause.
do i use "this" truely in this example?

[AYSHE]

In my opinion, it is better to describe them separately,but make a summary conclusion for both graphs like Despite spending much more money,the number of children going in for sports increased not proportionally.

[H. A. Kader]

From my view, we can compare the number of children with spending on them.

It is clear that average monthly spending increases as the number of children.

[MSRT]

We can describe them together as they have in common ( sports). However, the amount monthly average money spent on sorts increase gradually and yet football and athletics shows sudden increase over time. Therefore, First graph can be related to swimming mostly. Consequently, swimming can be anticipated to be the most expensive sports among the others. Since it shows pretty much similar trend with the average amount of money spent per month. The other sports activities can, therefore, be considered as cheap activities and hence not significant effects of them can be observed upon graph 1.

[Hero7]

We can compare expenditure trend with each game separately per year.

Overall, the progress of children's participation in swimming is almost having a similar trend with monthly expense on them from 2008 to 2014. By contrast, Football and athletics had seen an uneven fluctuation in juvenile's interest comparing with the money spend per month during the same period of time.

[pachu]

If there are two charts and show the different information.we can't compare the charts.we can describe each chart separately.
OR,
If one unit is expenditure in pounds and the other unit is the number of students in millions.we can write each chart separately.

[Lucy]

Agree what you said above.

[Bindu]

We can compare them in over all as both graph shows an upward trend.
In detailed paragraph explain them separately.
Compare the information about spending in one paragraph .
Second paragraph should compare the participation.

[Tibor]

Hi Simon Could you please include some guidance on when to use passive in sentences like:
1) Spending increased vs Spending was increased.
2) The race started vs The race was started
2a) I started vs *"I was started"
3) The weather changed vs *"The weather was changed"
4) The tires were changed cs *"The tires changed"
Is there some simple rule as to when it is okay to use the passive?

[Ridha Ali Ben Saleh]

Hi Simon
It is better to compare them together

[Peyman]

Dear Simon,
I want to know that how much grammar usage in the speaking section is significant? I want 7 in Speaking. you said there is no need to use complex structures or grammars in speaking ! you should talk fluently and naturally. but all of mine teachers or mock examiners are saying that you should use complex grammars and vocabularies. whats your idea? do you just by talking naturally and fluently i can get even 7 or higher ?!
Best regards,
Peyman Parvand

[B.B.]

Simon,
I think we should describe the two graphs separately. Although they are both related to children's sports, we cannot compare the money spent on sports with the numbers of children who play three different types of sports. I think the comparison makes no sense.

By the way, may I ask you a question about comparison of two numbers?
For example, in 'Fairtrade coffee and bananas' table essay, sales of coffee in the UK was 20 million euros, and sales of coffee in Switzerland was 6 million euros.

When comparing these two sales figures(20 and 6 million euros), I would say:
Sales of Fairtrade coffee in the UK was over three times as high as Switzerland's sales figure for Fairtrade coffee.
or, Sales of Fairtrade coffee in the UK was twice higher than Switzerland's sales figure for Fairtrade coffee.

While in your essay, you said:
'this(20 million euros) was over three times higher than Switzerland’s sales figure for Fairtrade coffee.'

I was wondering if my way of comparison will lose mark? Also, do you think which way is better to use in the real IELTS writing test?
Thank you.

[B.B.]

Sorry, I missed a word 'over' in my second way of comparison. It should be:

or, Sales of Fairtrade coffee in the UK was over twice higher than Switzerland's sales figure for Fairtrade coffee.

[Elsa.hvn]

In my opinion,we should describe them separately.

[Pat]

Hello Simon,
I think we can compare two graphs in the summary because they both are about children's sport.
Then describe them separately in the details.

cheers!

[sjm]

Peyman

The grammar score in speaking is almost completely based on how many grammatical errors you make, not how many 'complex' sentences you use.

[Tay Nhu]

In my opinion, we cannot compare the two charts.

[Sakib]

I would argue that we should describe separately because first graph provides spending monthly, whereas the later graphs gives total number of children participated in various sports.

My intro and overview:

The graphs illustrate the average spending on children's sports monthly which is given in pound over six year period from 2008 to 2014 and the variation of number of children who participated in football, athletics and swimming during the period shown.

Overall, average per month expenditure increased sharply in the recent years. The figure also clears that football was the most popular among the children's, and while the figures for athletics fluctuated, interest in swimming increased over the years among kids.

[Ivy0101]

I think it is good to compare them.

[Simon]

FROM SIMON:

Personally, I would mention both graphs in my 'overview' paragraph. Normally I would then describe each graph separately, because they show very different information.

The only problem in this case is that the first graph is so 'easy' - it doesn't show very much, and so I don't think we have enough information for a full paragraph. Therefore I might, for example, include some description of the figures about football (from the second graph) in my paragraph about the spending.

[Manpreet]

I think it should be explained separately as both these are not related to each other..

[Nguyen]

Two graphs show information about taking part of children on sports in terms of money spending and number of kids between 2008 and 2014.
It is clear that number of children went swimming and total of money spent increase continuously, while the figures for football and athletics showed the fluctuation
Looking at first graph, in 2008, the total of money used for children's sports was 20 pounds per month. This figure reached to 25 and about 27 pounds per month in 2010 and 2012 respectively. By 2014, there were 32 pounds (per month) spent on child's sports.
Regard to second lie graph, in 2008, football was most popular, with about 8 million of children played it, while the figures for athletics and swimming were lower, at 2 and 1 million respectively. The number of children played football remained stable to 2011 and then rose slightly to round 9 million in 2014. The figure for athletics peaked at 5 million in 2012 and then fell to 4 million in 2014, while for swimming after rising gradually had reached 4 millions in 2014.

[Julia Sh]

Hi Simon,
I would agree with these who describe both graphs - not their comparison, but their relationship adding more explanation about the second one.
"Overall, the monthly sports expenditures had been growing steadily over the given period. While football was the most popular sport,and swimming was the most steadily growing, athletics was the most changeable among three listed sports activities. "

[tian]

I would like to describe them separately.

[Afroz]

I would do seperately, beacause the contents of both graphs are opposite, both shows different information.

[pomelo]

hey guys and Simon!

I would like to recommend this website that I found through a friend who once shared it on Facebook.I posted the link down below. It regularly posts various articles about graphs related to economy and other topics.
Disclaimer: I am in no anyway related to the people who run this site.

https://www.weforum.org/reports/

[Hannah]

I think we should compare seperately! But in conclusion, we should say that the money spent om sports is soaring but the number of children participating in three kinds of sports are not proportional

[doena]

We should describe them separetely since the first graph is made based on the datas that we got from the second graph.

[icecream2401]

Hola! after eons of hybernation, I can finally accept your T2s for checking. I am no Simon but I love what he does and I do this for fun. feel free to send them @ icecream2401@gmail.com TY^^

[prince]

I'D LOVE READING ALL THE COMMENTS BUT WHERE IS SIMON'S RESPONSE. HOW CAN WE KNOW WHICH ONE IS CORRECT.

[Hina]

Hi, Simon
In my last ielts attempt i got question in task 1 four pie charts displayed on map of the USA i dnot know how to attempt that question ?. Whether i have to explain map and pie charts or only pie charts .Plz reply me
Thanx

[Julia Sh]

Hi, Simon
This is my full answer:

Overall, the monthly sports expenditures had been increasing steadily over the given period. While football was the most popular sport, swimming was the most steadily growing, but athletics was the most changeable among all the three listed sports activities.
Indeed, while in 2008 only 20 million pounds were spent monthly on children's sports, in 2014 this amount was greater by 12 million to 32 million pounds. Regarding the sports participants, football was dominant throughout the given years. Namely, from 2008 to 2010 there were about 8 million participants whose number reached its pick of 8.5 million by 2012 and by 2014 remained unchanged. At this time, the number of the swimmers doubled from 2 million in 2008 to 4 million in 2014.
However, the most noticeable changes showed in athletics. From being the least popular in 2008 with only 1 million participants, but after the exponential growth to 5 million in 2012, it became the second most common after football.

[Faisal]

Hey guys
Anyone planning to take exam on 3rd Sep.2016 (Academic)

[Elyor]

Why don't you write your own essay for this ? and also how can I find proccesses on your website????

[heba gaber]

Hi,simon
i think that we should take every one separatly cause that first one compare the monthly payment which got increased but the second one compare which sports got the highest average in choosen between children which although it increase it doesn't mean that payment too got increase cause that's not all sports that can children achieve it only choose that children got only interested on that sports

i hope to know your opinian too
thanks

[norelyn]

hi sir Simon,

thank you for your e-book, its very simple and easy to understand. you valuable tips and lessons are priceless..

my answer would be describe each chart separately.write a short paragraph about each chart.choosing the most important information from each one.

[nok]

I think,we should describe them separately.

[Erise]

The charts compare the rate of British parents spent money for their children's sports between 2008 and 2014, and the level of three kinds of sports were taken by children in the same period. It can be clearly seen that the highest amount of money which was spent by British parents on the children's sports were in 2014 about 33 pounds, and football was the most popular sport in all of over period than other sports.

According to the first graph, the rates of money were spent by British parents in 2008 which started about 20 pounds, and climbed up dramatically for the next period about 25 pounds. In 2012, it rose gradually be 28 pounds, and increased steadily around 33 pounds in 2014.

On the other hand, the number of children took sports in 2008 which athletics, swimming, and football were 1, 2.5, and 8 millions respectively. Athletics maintained stability, swimming increased slowly and football plunged slightly in 2010. In 2012, athletics shot up rapidly about 5 millions, swimming grew up gradually be 3 millions and football rose slowly around 9 millions. In the last period, athletics, swimming and football reached 4.5, 4 and 9.5 repectively.

To sum up, the highest amount of money that spent by British parents on their children's sports was in 2014 around 33 pounds, and from three kinds of sports, football is more preferred by children than athletics and swimming in all of periods.

[janey]

I think it would be better if we create a seperate paragraph for the two graphs. Since the first graph talks about the amount of money spend on sports while the second graph pertains to number of participants in different sports.