Academic Writing Task 1 · Lesson 1 of 5
Writing the overview
The overview is the most important paragraph in Task 1. Learn how to choose the main trends and summarise them clearly.
In this lesson you will
- learn how to pick out the key information that forms the basis of an overview
- analyse a model overview and the language it uses
- write your own overview and compare it with a model
Key idea
What is an overview?
An overview is a short summary of the main points or general trends in a graph, chart, table or diagram. It shows the examiner that you can see the bigger picture, not just individual numbers. Always include one. A good place for it is straight after your introduction.
The overview has a big effect on your Task Achievement score:
| Band | Task Achievement: what the examiner looks for |
|---|---|
| 7 | A clear overview. The data is grouped sensibly, and the main trends or differences are identified. |
| 6 | A relevant overview is attempted. |
| 5 | The answer tends to focus on details without showing the bigger picture. |
Step 1
Study the graphs
Each graph below shows the percentage of the population of four countries (France, Germany, Spain and the UK) who travelled abroad on holiday, every two years from 2002 to 2012. The data is different in each graph. Look at each one and ask yourself: what is the general trend? Which country stands out?
Graph 1
Graph 2
Graph 3
Graph 4
Graph 5
Match the notes to the graphs
Before writing, test takers made these notes about the general trends. Which graph does each set of notes describe?
- A · general increase · 2006 = lowest in all countries · Germany = highest %
- B · overall increase from 2002 · slight decrease after 2010 · similar % from each country each year (e.g. 2002: all between 17 and 20%) · 2006 = biggest differences
- C · generally stable · except Germany = big increase · Germans: foreign travel most popular
- D · general decrease 2002–2012 · except UK = increase · Spain = small number of holidays abroad
- E · overall increase 2002–2012 · Spain and UK = holidays abroad popular · France = least popular
Notice: the notes contain no detailed numbers. They only record the big picture: the general direction, the exceptions, and which country stands out. This is exactly what goes into an overview.
Step 2
Analyse a model overview
A test taker expanded one set of notes into this overview.
There was an overall increase in the number of foreign vacations from 2002. However, trips abroad decreased slightly after 2010. Generally, in each year, a similar percentage of people from each country took overseas holidays, except in 2006, when there was a big difference between France and the UK.
Questions about the overview
Answer the questions, then check.
- Which set of notes (A–E) was this overview written from?
-
Does the writer give any specific percentages in the overview?
- Which two words show that the writer is describing general trends, not details?
- Can you think of any other words or phrases like these?
- Which words and phrases does the writer use instead of repeating “the percentage of the population who travelled abroad on holiday”?
- Notes B (Graph 1).
- No. The overview stays general. Specific numbers belong in your body paragraphs.
- overall, generally
- For example: in general, from an overall perspective, on the whole, broadly speaking, it is clear that.
- foreign vacations, trips abroad, overseas holidays. Using different expressions like this shows the examiner your range of vocabulary. Try not to repeat words from the question again and again.
Step 3
Write your own overview
Now it's your turn. Try not to look back at the notes in Exercise 1.
Make notes
Choose one graph from Graph 2 to Graph 5. Write brief notes on the key trends and main features only: the overall direction, any exceptions, and anything that stands out. Don't include individual numbers.
- Graph 2: generally stable · except Germany = big increase · Germans: foreign travel most popular
- Graph 3: overall increase 2002–2012 · Spain and UK = holidays abroad popular · France = least popular
- Graph 4: general decrease 2002–2012 · except UK = increase · Spain = small number of holidays abroad
- Graph 5: general increase · 2006 = lowest in all countries · Germany = highest %
Did you find the same main trend? Did you leave out individual details?
Write the overview
Use your notes to write an overview of two or three sentences for your graph. Use some of the language from Exercise 2, such as overall, in general and except for, and vary how you refer to holidays abroad.
Graph 2: Overall, the proportion of people taking foreign holidays remained fairly stable, except in Germany, where there was a significant increase over the period. Germans also took far more trips abroad than people from any of the other countries.
Graph 3: There was an overall increase in foreign travel from 2002 to 2012. Holidays abroad were most popular with people from Spain and the UK, and least popular with the French.
Graph 4: From an overall perspective, overseas holidays became less popular between 2002 and 2012, except in the UK, where foreign travel increased. Relatively few Spanish people went abroad on holiday.
Graph 5: In general, the proportion of people from each country who went abroad on holiday increased over the period, apart from a dip in 2006, when all four countries recorded their lowest figures. Germans were the most frequent foreign travellers throughout.
Checklist: Does your overview describe the general trend? Does it mention the main exception or the feature that stands out? Have you avoided detailed numbers? Have you avoided copying words from the question?
Activities adapted from British Council IELTS teaching materials (takeielts.britishcouncil.org).