1. Skills
  2. Writing
  3. B2 writing
  4. Writing about a bar chart

Writing about a bar chart

Look at the bar chart, question and sample answer and do the exercises to improve your writing skills.

Instructions

Do the preparation exercise first. Then read the text and do the other exercises.

Preparation

Look at the chart below and answer these questions.

Reading

A report

Worksheets and downloads

Writing about a bar chart - exercises525.21 KB
Writing about a bar chart - answers170.59 KB
Writing about a bar chart - report449.01 KB
Writing about a bar chart - writing practice209.81 KB
Discussion

Do you like using charts and graphs?

Language level
B2 Upper intermediate
Topics
writing
bar chart
describing trends
Average: 5 (2 votes)
Personal online tutoring
EnglishScore Tutors is the British Council’s one-to-one tutoring platform for 13- to 17-year-olds.
Find out more

Comments

Submitted by Rhylan on Thu, 04/21/2022 - 17:38

Do you like using charts and graphs? I like using charts and graphs so much. One of the reason is that in them there are the summary of information you need. For example you don't need to read a book for the learn some information with charts or graphs you can easily see information and understand faster.

Submitted by TheNewGuy on Mon, 07/12/2021 - 11:44

I like using charts and graphs in certain situations only, like in math, geography or economy. They are a lot less overwhelming than raw numbers. However, they can be confusing when used incorrectly. Plus, graphs and charts can be made to be misleading: a pie chart can say 40% when the actual percentage is 20%. This is, unfortunately, used a lot today.
Profile picture for user JohnC103

Submitted by JohnC103 on Fri, 07/09/2021 - 03:38

Bar chart is a type of telling the number of an object, years, people, animals,... and calculate on ages, years, prices,... This is a type of Mathematics. Use for many reasons, like trends, or numbers of tree grow each years,..
Profile picture for user Kostantinus

Submitted by Kostantinus on Wed, 03/17/2021 - 06:25

I like using charts and graphs, because they can show precise information and differences between it. We should learn how to read and discribe them, because nowadays they are very popular in all areas of human activity. After I finish my school I am going to study at university so I decided to practise charts and graphs a lot. It will help me with my studying at uni and at work place.

Submitted by Banana100 on Wed, 11/11/2020 - 22:23

Thanks for you feedback Jo.

Submitted by Banana100 on Tue, 11/03/2020 - 22:05

How come you use: The number of students is relatively low? Shouldn’t it be ‘was’? Also the sentence: Men continue to to make up majority. Again shouldn’t this be continued?
Profile picture for user JoModerator

Submitted by JoModerator on Wed, 11/04/2020 - 09:56

Hi Banana100,

Good question! The writer uses the present tense to describe the bar chart, because the bar chart exists now.

For example, 'The bar chart illustrates ...'

But when talking about facts in the past, they use the past simple 

For example, 'In 1992 there was one woman ...'

However for the examples you give, it could be argued that they are talking about facts in the past. So I think that it wouldn't be incorrect to use the past simple in these cases.

 

I hope that helps.

 

Best wishes,

Jo (LearnEnglish Teens team)

Profile picture for user Giovannichoi

Submitted by Giovannichoi on Tue, 05/12/2020 - 13:28

Yeah, when I have to prepare the school project presentation, me and my friends usually use many kinds of graphs and charts which are included in the PPT program. MY homeroom teacher often make us to prepare about somthing like these: 'The way to protect the Earth' or 'The right way to use Korean' or even 'The classmates' favorite food'!! Actually, I'm often praised as the 'King of PPT', "Emperor of presentation' and 'Computer King'. So I tend to use so many datas when i make presentation files. To sum up, I like to use many graphs and charts.

Submitted by Elife on Sun, 02/23/2020 - 23:58

Yes, I do. Because, it is an easy way to present and explain the results of data or statistical values.

Submitted by Wuwu on Wed, 11/07/2018 - 02:24

You use the graph show the "number" of men and women...... I don't know why we don't use "numbers" to illustrate. Because there are two numbers represent man and woman separately. Thanks
Profile picture for user JoModerator

Submitted by JoModerator on Fri, 11/09/2018 - 07:04

Hi Wuwu,

Thanks for your comment. That's a good point.

We could indeed say 'the numbers of men and women', and that would be more precise as there are two separate numbers.

Well spotted!

 

Best wishes,

Jo (LearnEnglish Teens team)

English courses near you