Analyzing graphs, charts and tables

Question 1

Introduction

What is the graph/chart/table about?
What is the source?
What does the graph/chart/ table refer to? What is the content? (weights, measures, currency…) What is the time span covered?
In what way is the information presented?

Answer 1

What is the graph/chart/table about?
What is the source?
What does the graph/chart/ table refer to? What is the content? (weights, measures, currency…) What is the time span covered?
In what way is the information presented?

• The graph/chart/table is about … / deals with …
• It is taken from …
• The graph/chart/table shows the relationship between … and …
• The graph/chart/table compares the population in terms of / with
  respect to / with regard to marital status and annual income (in
  dollars).
• It covers a period of … months/years …
• It depicts a development of three months/years / from 2015 to
  2018.
• This is a bar chart / pie chart / line graph / table.
• The vertical/horizontal line shows/represents …
• The figures are expressed as a percentage of the total population /
  total number of …
• The data are presented in absolute numbers.

Question 2

Description (Describe Figure 1 / Table 2 / Document 3.)

Is there a general development?
What is the highest/lowest point? Is there anything striking?
Are there any irregularities?

Answer 2

Is there a general development?
What is the highest/lowest point? Is there anything striking?
Are there any irregularities?

• The line/size/weight … rises/increases/decreases … slowly/
  gradually / more steeply / almost vertically / there is no change …
• There has been a noticeable/distinct increase in the number of /
  drastic reduction in volume / dramatic fall in the proportion of …
• The upward development / downward trend continues.
• The number/proportion/frequency/amount of … has changed
  slightly/steadily/sharply/markedly/dramatically/significantly.
• The unemployment figures stagnate / remain stable.
• The rates fluctuate widely/considerably / from year to year.
• From 2010 to 2015 the population declined from 40,000 to 30,000
  inhabitants.
• The average of … is …
• African-Americans account for 12.7% of the US population.
• This amounts to a total of …
• The production reached a low/peak / peaked in 2017.
• The minimum/maximum weight/size/depth is …
• Only a small percentage of people are …
• This amounts to a total of …

Question 3

Comparison (Compare the developments depicted in Figure 1 with those depicted in Figure 2. /
To what extent do the data presented in the graph/chart/table back up the information provided in the
text?)

Answer 3

Are there any similarities and/or
differences with respect to the
different data / pieces of
information/ developments/ …
given?

• Comparing the different data with each other we can say that …
• The country with the highest/lowest population density /
  biggest/smallest area is …
• The amount of … is higher/lower in … than in…
• The number is about three times higher than …
• The graph shows twice as many as …
• It is twice the size of …
• While Figure 1 reflects …, Figure 2 shows …

Question 4

Generalisation (Sum up the main information supplied in Document 1.)

Answer 4

What are the most important
data/observations/
developments?

• Generally speaking, …
• By and large, …
• All in all, …
• Summing up, …

Question 5

Explanation/interpretation/prediction/evaluation (Comment on the development shown in … /
Explain/assess the development depicted in … / Analyze the data presented in … )

Answer 5

What are the reasons for the
developments shown?

• We can account for this development by looking at …

Can the different data/various
developments be related to each
other?

• The statistics for London/2017 … show/reveal that …
• Due to… / because of …

What predictions can be made?

• The number/rate of … is expected/predicted/likely to drop/fall
  after 2025
• In my opinion this trend will continue because …
• Judging by/from …

Do the data and/or developments
depicted in the chart, graphs and/or
table confirm what you know about
the topic?

• The data confirm/support the thesis/information …
• The data are not consistent with other figures.
• The information does not seem to be trustworthy.
• The chart conveys a false impression.