IELTS graphs with future trends.
Updated: Feb 17th 2023
Sometimes in IELTS academic writing task 1 you may be presented with a graph showing a future prediction.
In this case, you need to use the future tense with some specific academic phrases. Let’s have a look at the grammar needed in case you get one of these in the exam. Note that the data in this task is dynamic, which means it changes over time.
In this lesson we will learn:
1. Differences between dynamic and static data.
2. Grammar and vocabulary for IELTS graphs with a future trend.
3. Example sentences based on a graph.
4. Exercise (gap-fill).
Static and Dynamic data
Static data means that the chart or graph displays one period of time. Dynamic data shows two or more periods. It also shows how trends change over a period of time.
Different language will be used for static charts and dynamic charts. For example, you can’t use the language of trends for a static chart because the data doesn’t change over time.
Before you begin writing, always make sure that you first analyse the chart or graph to see if it is one time period, or the data is changing over time. Take 2 minutes to analyse the graph or chart because If you use trends language for a static chart then you will lose marks for grammar
Grammar for future trends:
Here I will need to use the future tense, the passive, the language of trends and comparisons.
Click here for more detail on grammar and vocabulary for describing trends.
Future simple (will + base verb)
- will rise, will decline, will remain the same.. etc…
Future perfect (will + have + past participle)
- will have risen, will have dropped, will have fallen by 20%…
The passive (singular and plural)
- is /are expected to
- is/are set to
- is / are predicted that /to
- is / are anticipated that /to
- is/are likely to
- is/are forecast to
Academic phrases and example sentences:
With future trends you will need to use phrases such as:
is/are predicted to
is/are estimated that
is /are set to
is/are anticipated that
is/are projected to
is/are forecast to
It is also necessary to state specific periods such as ‘over the next 5 years / near the end of the period / toward the end of the period / in the next decade / by 2035′ …. and so on.
Example sentences
Notice the time period in these sentences coupled with specific language needed in IELTS academic task 1.
- Student numbers are expected to decline toward the end of the period.
- It is estimated that the number of skilled workers will rise.
- Manufacturing is set to rise over the next 5 years.
- Visitor numbers are forecast to rise next year.
- By 2030 luxury car sales will most likely decline.
- It is predicted that visitor numbers will drop in the next 3 years.
- It is anticipated that visitor numbers will show a marked drop.
- In contrast, sales in the UK will show a significant increase compared to the USA.
- According to the data, sales are likely to show a significant increase compared with the USA.
- Oil and coal consumption is projected to increase over the next decade.
Verb +Adverb collocation to show trends:
- Student numbers will have risen sharply by 2030.
- Sales of desktop PCs are predicted to drop considerably over the whole period.
- Visitor numbers are likely to fall significantly according to the data.
- By 2023, car sales will likely decline drastically.
- Production of new iPhone’s is anticipated to increase gradually over the next decade.
- The elderly population in Italy is predicted to rise considerably by 2050.
- Nuclear power as a source of energy is expected to dip slightly next year before levelling off.
Example graph with a future trend
Note: This task is not an official Cambridge task. I have simplified it for practice purposes only.
Example sentences based on this chart.
1. In Japan, from 2025 to 2035, the production of cars is set to decline sharply.
2. It is predicted that by 2030 in China, car production will have increased.
3. From 2025 onwards, the number of cars made in Japan is expected to show a similar trend to that of the USA.
4. The number of cars that will be manufactured is likely to drop drastically in the USA by 2035.
5. There is expected to be a gradual increase in car production in China after 2020.
6. Car production in the UK is anticipated to see a sharp decline in the years from 2025 to 2035.
Exercise
Here is the graph again. Fill in the Gaps using the words below.
predictions / sharply / whereas
will be a gradual increase / set to / will be / estimated number of
The graph shows the ________ _______ ___ cars that _____ ____ manufactured from 2020 to 2035 in hundreds of thousands in Japan, the UK, the USA and China.
Overall, Japan, the UK and the USA show _______ that the number of cars manufactured is ___ ___ decline _____ by the end of the period, _________ China indicates that there _____ ____ __ _____ ____ in car production over the whole period.
just over / slight increase / considerable decline / anticipated to follow this trend
predicted / marked drop / is expected to / set to / will be / dramatically
By 2035, car manufacturing in the USA __ _______ ___ drop __________ from 300,000 to ____ ____ a few thousand cars manufactured. The UK is also ______ ____ ______ ____ ____ and shows a _______ _______ in the number of cars that ____ ____ produced. Japan, which indicates it ____ ___ the leading car maker in 2020 at 350,000 cars, is ___ ____ show a ______ ______ in production by 2025, but then a ______ _______ where production is _______ to fall to around 100,000 .
ending at / will have / it is estimated that / will be at / predicted to show
On the other hand, China is ______ __ ______ a gradual increase in car production over the whole period. __ __ _______ ____ production ___ ___ __ 100,000 in 2020 and by 2030 it _____ _____ surpassed the other three countries, _____ ___ around 150,000 vehicles by 2035.