Mastering Graphs and Statistics Vocabulary in English
Graphs and statistics form an integral part of various fields including business, science, finance, and even daily life. Being equipped with the appropriate English vocabulary to describe and interpret graphs, charts, and statistics allows learners to effectively communicate complex data and information. This not only enhances their academic and professional prospects but also strengthens their overall language competence. Moreover, it is essential practice for students attempting to pass English language tests such as IELTS, TOEFL and TOEIC.
30th June 2024
1 Brainstorming graphs and trends
This brainstorming exercise is useful for engaging students with the topic: describing trends and graphs. It provides a simple framework for categorizing different types of changes (going up, going down, fluctuating, staying steady, and peaking) along with relatable, everyday examples.
Brainstorming graphs and trends
2 Numbers and statistics for work
This is a listening/speaking lesson to help English as a Second Language students understand numbers and statistics in a variety of contexts.
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3 Prepositions for graphs, trends and statistics (with audio and answers)
I’ve always been familiar with prepositions for location, time and movement. But for years I have been teaching English for graphs and statistics to pharmacy and medical technology students. And I’ve noticed a recurring problem with prepositions when they try to use statistics to describe graphs and trends. So, finally I’ve done something about it.
Prepositions for graphs and statistics (PDF)
4 Describing your own graph worksheet
This is a fun “describing graphs” vocabulary worksheet for English language learners. Students think of a topic in their lives and draw a graph illustrating how it affects them on a daily, weekly or monthly etc. basis. An example is included on the worksheet and there are also some suggested topics. After they draw the graph, students write sentences to describe and explain their graph. It is also a great online teaching exercise. Students have to create a graph about a topic of their own choice, Then they have to create a video and describe their graph. See the video below as an example.
5 Introductory activity for describing graphs
This is an easy way to introduce some commonly used vocabulary for describing graphs.
6 Describing graphs and sentence writing worksheet (with audio and answers)
This is a follow-up “describing graphs” vocabulary worksheet for English language learners. Students match the words to the graphs then write sentences using their own ideas. Or students can listen to the audio and fill in the missing words
Describing graphs vocabulary and sentence writing (PDF)
(see the video version on Youtube)
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7 Describing business trends
This is a slightly more challenging comprehension gap fill exercise for language used to talk about trends.
8 Describing graphs and trends: making sentences worksheet (with answers)
This is a worksheet to help English language learners write and talk about graphs and trends. Students try to write appropriate sentences for the pictures using the vocabulary at the bottom of the page.
Describing graphs sentence writing (PDF)
9 Describing graphs worksheet (with answers)
This is an introductory “describing graphs” vocabulary worksheet for English language learners. First, students sort the words into the appropriate columns. In the second exercise they match the phrases to the correct lines on the graph. Finally, they unscramble the words in the third activity to make sentences and match these sentences to the 5 lines on the graphs at the bottom of the page.
Describing graphs vocabulary worksheet (PDF)
10 Describing graphs parts of speech sorting (with answers)
A parts of speech sorting exercise to help students understand the difficult vocabulary and grammar of language used for describing graphs. Many of the words can be used as either a verb or a noun.
Describing graphs parts of speech sorting (PDF)
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11 Presentations and describing graphs worksheet
This is a speaking activity to help English language learners think about and practice “describing graphs” for presentations .
Presentations and describing graphs lesson (PDF)
Thanks for sharing the material on graph description. I am teaching a B1 class and it suits one of my course goals. I love the way you start from understanding the expressions and specific vocabulary used and then work on observation and simple tasks to make students get familiar with the topic.
Just fantastic. Thankyou so much!
Thanks for the comments. I really appreciate them.
Thank you so much. Your exercise papers really helped me! ^^
Thank you very much for this! My students really loved it when I teach them in this flow. 🙂
Thanks a lot. These exercises have been reality useful and involving to be used in the class