Bar Charts: Body Paragraphs (British Council Academic IELTS: Writing): Study Material

Bar charts: body paragraphs

• The body paragraph is where you give more details by giving figures and making comparisons based on the data shown in the chart

Selecting data

• If the bars represent different points in time, you can select the main trends and changes, much like in a line graph

• If the bars represent categories rather than time, select important data for all categories

• When studying the chart, ask yourself:

  • Which figures best show the main differences?

  • Which categories are easiest to compare?

  • Which numbers make the contrast clear?

Ordering data

• There is no single best way to order data, as long as the grouping makes sense

• One way is to group the strongest or most important categories together in one paragraph

• Then describe the remaining categories in the next paragraph

• Avoid writing a separate paragraph for each category

Writing the body paragraphs

• Support every point and comparison  by including specific figures and numbers from the chart

• You can give approximate numbers if the exact figure is not shown

  • For example, if a bar stops just below 50, you could write “just under 50” or “approximately 50”

• In category-based bar charts, compare the bars rather than describe trends or changes over time

• You can compare the same category across different groups

  • Example: Spending on housing was higher in London than in Milan, at 1,100 USD and 900 USD respectively

• Or you can compare different categories within the same group

  • Example: In Milan, people spent much more on housing than on entertainment, at 900 USD compared with 250 USD

• Make each sentence focus on one clear comparison or point

• Do not give your opinions about the data

• Make sure your body paragraphs match what you stated in your overview

• Do not add reasons or explanations

• You do not need a conclusion, so do not write “in conclusion”