🧠 KEY LESSON TAKEAWAYS
✅ Purpose of the Introduction
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Accurately introduce the type of visual (chart, table, diagram, etc.)
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Mention the main subject/topic (e.g., sales, imports, population)
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Include key details: time period, location, units of measurement, and categories (briefly)
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No data, details, or trends—those go in the overview/body.
🛑 COMMON MISTAKES TO AVOID
❌ Grammar Errors
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Incorrect verb forms (e.g., give instead of gives)
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Incorrect prepositions (e.g., for instead of about)
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Misuse of passive voice or capital letters (e.g., Measure in vs. are measured in)
❌ Vocabulary Errors
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Incorrect word choice (e.g., diagram instead of bar chart)
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Using synonyms that are not accurate (e.g., cafe vs. coffee shop)
❌ Information Errors
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Missing key details (e.g., average, typical, monetary units)
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Misleading or vague phrasing
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Using “for example” – not appropriate in Task 1
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Repetition of words or ideas (e.g., repeating what’s already stated unnecessarily)
✍️ HOW TO WRITE A GREAT INTRODUCTION (STEP-BY-STEP)
Step 1: Identify What Kind of Visual It Is
Use precise terminology:
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Bar chart
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Pie chart
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Line graph
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Table
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Diagram
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Map
Example: The bar chart illustrates…
Step 2: Choose a Suitable Verb
3 high-band verbs you can use in any task:
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shows
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gives information about
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illustrates
Step 3: Paraphrase the Topic Description
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Change sentence structure and word forms
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Don’t just replace every word with a synonym—think about clarity and precision
Example:
Original: The chart below shows the average monthly sales of a coffee shop in a UK town from 2000 to 2020.
Improved: The bar chart illustrates the typical monthly revenue from six food and drink items sold at Cuper Coffee Shop in a British town between 2000 and 2020.
Step 4: Include Key Details
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Time range: use between X and Y or in [years]
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Location: repeat country name exactly unless a better term is known
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Units: mention at the end if needed (measured in…)
🧪 Example: Poor vs. Good Introduction
❌ Poor:
The diagram below give the information for the sales of for example te coffee hot chocolate food in a cafe which locates in an English Village from 2000 to 2020. Units measure in Pounds Sterling.
Problems:
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Grammar: give → gives, measure → are measured
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Vocabulary: diagram → bar chart, English Village → British town
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Clarity: for example is inappropriate
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Incorrect or missing categories
✅ Good:
The bar chart illustrates the typical monthly sales of coffee, tea, hot chocolate, sandwiches, cakes, and soup at Cuper Coffee Shop, located in a British town, between 2000 and 2020. Units are measured in pounds sterling.
🧩 Multi-Source Task (e.g., Table + Pie Charts)
Strategy:
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One sentence for each visual
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Connect using "while" or other cohesive devices
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Include units and years
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Avoid repeating the same information twice
Example:
The table shows how much the US spent in total on imported fish in 1988, 1992, and 2000, while the pie charts illustrate the proportion of fish sourced from China, Canada, and other countries in the same three years. Units are measured in billions of dollars.
🐸 For Life Cycles & Processes
Life Cycle (e.g., frog):
The diagram illustrates the stages in the life of a frog.
Process (e.g., rainwater collection):
The diagram illustrates the steps involved in collecting and treating rainwater for drinking purposes in a town in Australia.
For higher bands, you can use more precise phrases like:
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harvests and recycles rainwater so that it can be safely consumed…
💡 BONUS: Useful Synonyms & Structures
| Original | Paraphrased |
|---|---|
| shows | illustrates, gives information about |
| how | the way, the method, the process of |
| use | consumption, purpose, to be used for |
| sales | revenue, expenditure, income |
| average | typical, general |
| from... to... | between... and... |
🎯 FINAL TIPS
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Use simple, clear grammar unless you're confident with complex structures.
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Focus on accuracy and information, not just "fancier words."
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Practice with real charts and get feedback when possible.
