Also check out our previous pie chart lessons:
Analysing Pie Charts 1
Linking Words and Pie Chart Analysis
Exercise 1 | Understanding the Graph
True or False?
- The two pie charts show the statistics in two years only. It is not possible to say what happened between 1981 and 1999, only what the statistics were in those two particular years. Therefore, the vocabulary you use to talk about changes over time in a line graph (rise, fall, fluctuate, peak etc.) cannot be used.
- Candidates often forget to give important details, such as the overall number of visitors in each year. Make sure you mention this information.
- In the introduction, make sure you provide an overview of the main features of the two pie charts. Concentrate on highlighting the categories with the highest/lowest percentages. Don’t include any actual statistics in your overview, save these for the body paragraphs.
Exercise 2 | Writing about Data
Add the data
| The two sets of data reveal the percentage of people visiting different types of attractions in two separate years in the UK. Overall, 1999 had a far higher number of tourists than 1981 and the most popular type of attraction in both years was museums and galleries while wildlife parks and zoos remained the least popular. | |
| The most visited type of attraction in both years was museums and galleries. In 1981 the figure stood at % of visitors and there was a significant gap of % between visitors to this type of attraction and the second most popular, which was theme parks at %. However, the percentage of visitors to museums was % less in 1999 than in 1981 standing at only % and so the difference in the percentage of visitors to museums and theme parks stood at only % as % of people visited theme parks in that year. | |
| In both 1981 and 1999 the least popular type of attraction was wildlife parks and zoos with % and % of visitors respectively. It is important to note that percentage of visitors more than doubled for this type of attraction. In contrast, the percentage of people visiting historic houses and monuments was the same in both years. | |
We can see that the details of these pie charts have been separated into 1) the two most popular and 2) the two least popular tourist attractions. An alternative way to structure this task is to divide the details into 1) year 1981 and 2) year 1999.
When you write, you must decide how you want to separate your detail paragraphs.
Exercise 3 | Important Vocabulary
The most visited type of attraction in both years was museums and galleries. In 1981 the figure stood at 48% of visitors and there was a significant gap of 16% between visitors to this type of attraction and the second most popular, which was theme parks at 32%. However, the percentage of visitors to museums was 10% less in 1999 than in 1981 standing at only 38% and so the difference in the percentage of visitors to museums and theme parks stood at only 1% as 37% of people visited theme parks in that year.
In both 1981 and 1999 the least popular type of attraction was wildlife parks and zoos with 4% and 9% of visitors respectively. It is important to note that percentage of visitors more than doubled for this type of attraction. In contrast, the percentage of people visiting historic houses and monuments was the same in both years.
| Paragraph 1 | |
| show | |
| places that toursits like to visit | |
| to summarise | |
| Paragraph 2 | |
| the number/amount was… | |
| tourists | |
| a word that introduces a contrast | |
| a big difference | |
| Paragraph 3 | |
| two times as many | |
| a phrase which introduces a contrast |
We often find that students find it difficult knowing what prepositions (in/on/at/by etc) to use when referring to data. Luckily we have a class to help you with that:
Prepositions to go with statistics and data
