The document provides guidance on writing an overview for a diagram or graph for an IELTS writing task. It explains that an overview is a short summary of the main trends, and the process involves identifying key information from the graph like axes and elements. An effective overview uses generalizing language and phrases instead of specific details, keeps to 20-40 words, and refers to elements of the graph without direct reproduction of numbers or percentages from the original.

1. Writing an overview
for a
diagram/graph/chart
IELTS writing: task 1

2. • What’s an overview?
An overview is a summary of the main points or general trends of a
diagram or graph.
• What is the process of selecting key information to form the
basis of an overview?
See the process in the next slide

3. Activity: look at the overview in step 3 and
answer questions 1-4 below for more
understanding.
1 Which words / phrases show that these
are general trends (instead of details)?
2 Can you think of any other words /
phrases like this?
3 Does the candidate give any specific
percentages in the overview?
4 Which words / phrases does the
candidate use to refer to ‘percentage of
the population who travelled abroad’?
2) write notes about the key points the graph
is showing:
1) look at the information in the vertical and horizontal axes
and different elements of the diagram/chart to get the main
idea.
3) transform your notes into an overview as in the example below.
It should be 20-40 words only.

4. Practice writing an overview for the following line graph.