IELTS Line Graphs

Line graphs are used to show a trend or pattern which usually takes place over a period of time. It is
important to look at the overall pattern on a line graph as well as the significant features within it.

IELTS Graph - Dramatic fall

Dramatic fall (adjective + noun) = a quick and large drop.

NOTE: Dramatic fall can also take a verb + adverb form.

E.g.. "The share price fell dramatically between 1995 and 1996












IELTS Graph - Gradual fall


Gradual fall (adjective + noun) = a slow decrease over a long period.

NOTE: Gradual fall can also take a verb + adverb form.

E.g.. "The share price fell gradually between 1990 and 1993"


IELTS Graph - Marked fall


Marked fall (adjective + noun) = a significant decrease; a larger and more important drop when compared to
a previous fall.

NOTE: Marked fall can also take a verb + adverb form.

E.g.. "The share price fell markedly between 1991 and 1992"
IELTS Graph - Rapid fall

Rapid fall (adjective + noun) = a quick and large drop.

NOTE: Rapid fall can also take a verb + adverb form.

E.g.. "The share price fell rapidly between 1995 and 1996"


IELTS Graph - Moderate fall

Moderate fall (adjective + noun) = a small or slight drop; not a bad fall.

NOTE:

Moderate fall can also take a verb + adverb form.

E.g.. "The share price fell moderately between 1993 and 1994"
IELTS Graph - Significant fall


Significant fall (adjective + noun) = a large and important drop. A fall that shows that there is reason for
concern.

NOTE: Significant fall can also take a verb + adverb form.

E.g.. "The share price fell significantly between 1994 and 1995"

IELTS Graph - Slight fall


Slight fall (adjective + noun) = a small or moderate drop; not a bad fall.

NOTE: Slight fall can also take a verb + adverb form.

E.g.. "The share price fell slightly between 1992 and 1993"
IELTS Graph - Sharp fall


Sharp fall (adjective + noun) = a quick and sudden drop.

NOTE: Sharp fall can also take a verb + adverb form.

E.g.. "The share price fell sharply between 1992 and 1993"

IELTS Graph - Sudden fall

Sudden fall (adjective + noun) = a quick and unexpected drop, especially after long period of increase.

NOTE: Sudden fall can also take a verb + adverb form.

E.g.. "The share price fell suddenly between 1997 and 1998"
IELTS Graph - Gradual increase


Gradual increase (adjective + noun) = a small, constant increase over a long period.

NOTE: Gradual increase can also take a verb + adverb form.

E.g.. "The share price increased gradually between 1992 and 1994"

IELTS Graph - Marked increase


Marked increase (adjective + noun) = a stronger and more important increase, especially when compared to
the previous increases.

NOTE: Marked increase can also take a verb + adverb form.

E.g.. "The share price increased markedly between 1991 and 1992"

IELTS Graph - Moderate increase

Moderate increase (adjective + noun) = a small increase or rise.

NOTE: Moderate increase can also take a verb + adverb form.

E.g.. "The share price increased moderately between 1992 and 1994"

IELTS Graph - Sharp increase


Sharp increase (adjective + noun) = a quick and steep increase or rise.

NOTE: Sharp increase can also take a verb + adverb form.

E.g.. "The share price increased sharply between 1991 and 1992"


IELTS Graph - Significant increase


Significant increase (adjective + noun) = a stronger and more important rise, especially when compared to
the previous increases.

NOTE: Significant increase can also take a verb + adverb form.

E.g.. "The share price increased significantly between 1991 and 1992"

IELTS Graph - Slight increase


Slight increase (adjective + noun) = a small increase or rise.

NOTE: Slight increase can also take a verb + adverb form.

E.g.. "The share price increased slightly between 1990 and 1993"

IELTS Graph - Steady increase


Steady increase (adjective + noun) = a consistent increase over a long period.

NOTE: Steady increase can also take a verb + adverb form.

E.g.. "The share price increased steadily between 1990 and 1993"

IELTS Graph - Steep increase


Steep increase (adjective + noun) = a quick and sharp increase or rise.

NOTE: Steep increase can also take a verb + adverb form.

E.g.. "The share price increased steeply between 1991 and 1992"

IELTS Graph - Highest level


Highest level = the top position; the highest point.

NOTE: Highest level often goes with for or in.

E.g.. "The share price reached its highest level for (in) three years."

IELTS Graph - Lowest level


Lowest level = the bottom position; the lowest point.

NOTE: Lowest level often goes with for or in.

E.g.. "The share price fell to its lowest level for (in) three years"

IELTS Graph - Peak


Peak (verb) = reach the highest position.

NOTE: It is possible to say "I think the price is now peaking"

E.g.. "I think the share is reaching the top price now, and will go down soon."

IELTS Graph - Reach a peak


Reach a peak (verb + noun) = achieve the highest position.

Reached a peak, reaching a peak.

NOTE: It is possible to say "I think the price is now reaching a peak"

E.g.. "I think the share price is reaching a peak right now, and will go down soon."
IELTS Graph - Stand at


Stand at (phrasal verb) = the position something is at a certain time.

Stands at, stood at, standing at.

NOTE: Standing at can be used with currently.

E.g.. "The share price is currently standing at $3."

IELTS Graph - Decline


Decline (noun) = a down movement, a decrease or fall.
NOTE: Decline can also be written as a verb. E.g.. "After 1993 the share price declined"
In is often used with decline. E.g.. "The share price is in decline."

IELTS Graph - Decrease


Decrease (noun) = a down movement, a drop or a fall.

NOTE: Decrease can also be written as a verb.

E.g.. "After 1993 the share price decreased"

IELTS Graph - Drop


Drop (noun) = a down movement, a decrease or fall.

NOTE: Drop can also be written as a verb.

E.g.. "After 1993 the share price dropped"

IELTS Graph - Fall


Fall (noun) = a down movement, a decrease or drop.

NOTE: Fall can also be written as a verb.

E.g.. "After 1993 the share price fell"

IELTS Graph Fluctuation

Fluctuation (noun) = a repeated up and down movement over a period of time.

NOTE: Fluctuation has a verb form. See above link.


IELTS Graph - Improvement


Improvement (noun) = a recovery; the state of getting better.

NOTE: Generally, an improvement is not as strong or as permanent as a recovery.

Improvement has a verb form.

E.g.. "After 1993 the share price improved"

IELTS Graph - Increase


Increase (noun) = a higher movement.

NOTE: Increase has a verb form.

E.g.. "After 1993 the share price increased"
IELTS Graph - Plateau


Plateau (noun) = the state of staying at the same level over a period of time, especially after a period of
increase.

NOTE: Plateau has a verb form. See link above.

IELTS Graph - Recovery


Recovery (noun) = an improvement; the state of getting better.

NOTE: Generally, a recovery is stronger and more permanent than an improvement.

Recovery has a verb form.

E.g.."After 1993 the share price recovered".

IELTS Graph - Reduction


Reduction (noun) = a down movement, a decrease or fall.

NOTE: Reduction is often used with in.

E.g.."There was a reduction in the share price because of the poor profit forecast".

IELTS Graph - Rise


Rise (noun) = a higher movement; an increase.

NOTE: Rise has a verb form.

E.g.."After 1993 the share price rose".

IELTS Graph - Recover slightly


Recover slightly (verb + adverb) = to improve a small amount. Recovered slightly, recovering slightly.

NOTE: Recover slightly can also be written as adjective + noun.

E.g.."There was a slight recovery in the share price after 1995.".
IELTS Graph - Recover strongly


Recover strongly (verb + adverb) = to improve by a large amount after having fallen previously.

Recovered strongly, recovering strongly.

NOTE: Recover strongly can also be written as adjective + noun.

E.g.."There was a strong recovery in the share price after 1995.".

IELTS Graph - Downward trend


Downward trend (adjective + noun) = the overall up and down movement of something over a long period of
time in a down direction.

NOTE:

E.g.."Although the share price increased in four years of the decade there was still an overall downward
trend.".

IELTS Graph - Upward trend


Upward trend (adjective + noun) = the overall up and down movement of something over a long period of
time in an up direction.

NOTE:
E.g.."Although the share price fell in two years of the decade there was still an overall upward trend.".
IELTS Graph - Bottom out


Bottom out (phrasal verb) = to remain at the lowest level for a period of time.

NOTE: Bottoming out can also be written as a noun.

E.g.."There was a bottoming out of the share price between 1995 and 1997."

IELTS Graph - Double to


Double to (verb) = to increase by two times over a period.

NOTE: Doubled from is used when looking backward.

E.g.."The 1997 share price, $6, had double from its 1993 price, $3."
IELTS Graph - Fluctuate


Fluctuate (verb) = to move up and down repeatedly over a period of time.

Fluctuated, fluctuating, fluctuates.

NOTE: Fluctuate has a noun form. See above link.

IELTS Graph - Level off


Level off (phrasal verb) = to stay the same over a time, especially after a period of increase.

Levels off, leveling off, leveled off.

NOTE: Level off has a noun form. See above link.

IELTS Graph - Plateau


Plateau (verb) = to stay at the same level over a period of time, especially after increasing significantly.

Plateaued.

NOTE: Plateau off has a noun form. See above link.

IELTS Graph - Plummet


Plummet (verb) = to fall a long way in a short time.

Plummeting, plummeted, plummets.

NOTE: Plummet (and plunge) is only used when there is an extreme fall.
IELTS Graph - Plunge


Plunge (verb) = to fall a long way in a short time.

Plunged, plunging, plunges.

NOTE: Plunge(and plummet) is only used when there is an extreme fall.

IELTS Graph - Soar


Soar (verb) = to increase to a high level in a very short time

Soared, soaring, soars.

NOTE: Soar is probably a more extreme term than rapid increase or steep increase.