Step 1- Read The Question Carefully
Task instructions always contain a short sentence summarising the information. Read these things first, because they give a pretty good overview of what the images contain They are usually in bold. This summary information will be very helpful in writing the first paragraph of your answer where you need to “present” the images.
Step 2 – Analyse the pictures
Before you begin describing the charts, consider and analyse them carefully: look for general trends, changes, and key features to understand how you will structure your information You will also need to choose which information to omit and which to include in the response Make a note of it.
Try to find an interesting angle to look at a table or graph. You can just start Can you see if the time is showing on the graph? If so, the time is shown in hours, days, weeks, months, etc. Does the graph show any trends: rise, fall, fluctuations, etc.? The line can go up or down, or the pie chart sections are different sizes Do you notice a sequence of events or steps in the process?
For example, in the flow chart Do the visual elements classify different types of things? This is done in tables or pie charts Are the numbers written in hundreds, thousands, millions, percentages, decimals And so Another way to approach the images is to imagine that you need to write a report at a meeting or speak at a university seminar about what information would be most relevant to your audience
Step 3 – Structure your answer
After you have considered all the possible trends shown in the graph or chart, start writing your answer We recommend structuring it as follows: If you find that you do not have enough information to write 150 words, describe in detail everything that has changed in trends and add data from a graph or table On the other hand, if you have too much information to fit into 150-200 words, try to pick only the most important trends
Step 4 – Check what you have written
Be sure to check your answer for spelling and grammar errors. Also, check the graphs to verify that the information you are using is correct Don’t forget to use coordinating and subordinate conjunctions and other linking devices so that the text you write looks coherent Remember the verb tenses in sentences. Use synonyms and appropriate vocabulary (academic)
Step 5 – Allocate your time correctly
Proper timing is a guarantee that on the day of the exam you will not worry and have time to do everything Therefore, as you prepare for the exam, keep track of how long it takes you to complete the task. Get a mock test closer to the exam date It would be nice if you fit into the following time frame: Read the instructions and plan your answer: 3 – 5 minutes Write the text: 10-15 minutes Proofreading and editing: 3-5 minutes