雅思写作考试中,Task 1(小作文)要求考生在20分钟内完成一篇至少150字的报告,描述图表、表格或流程图中的信息,数据类题目(如柱状图、线图、表格等)占据较大比例,而如何准确、流畅地描述数字是许多考生面临的挑战,本文将详细介绍雅思小作文中描述数字的方法,帮助考生提升得分。
掌握基本数字表达方式
在描述数据时,考生需要灵活运用不同的表达方式,避免重复使用单一词汇,以下是几种常见的数字表达方法:
(1)直接使用数字
对于具体数值,可以直接写出数字,
- In 2020, the number of tourists reached 5 million.
- The unemployment rate stood at 7.2% in 2019.
(2)使用近似表达
如果数据不是精确值,可以使用近似词汇,如:
- nearly, approximately, around, roughly
- just over, just under, slightly above, slightly below
- The figure was just under 50,000 in 2015.
- Approximately 60% of respondents agreed with the policy.
(3)使用倍数和分数
比较数据时,倍数和分数是常用的表达方式:
- twice as much as, three times higher than
- half of, a quarter of, one-third of
- The sales in 2020 were twice as high as those in 2010.
- Only a quarter of the participants completed the survey.
描述趋势变化的词汇
在动态图表(如线图、柱状图)中,数据通常呈现上升、下降或波动趋势,考生需要掌握相关词汇:
(1)上升趋势
- increase, rise, grow, climb, surge, soar
- a steady increase, a sharp rise, a gradual growth
- The population increased steadily from 2000 to 2010.
- Oil prices surged by 20% in the last quarter.
(2)下降趋势
- decrease, decline, drop, fall, plummet, dip
- a significant decrease, a slight decline, a sudden drop
- The crime rate declined sharply after the new law was introduced.
- Company profits fell by 10% compared to the previous year.
(3)波动趋势
- fluctuate, vary, oscillate
- a period of fluctuation, erratic changes
- The stock market fluctuated throughout the year.
- Unemployment rates varied between 5% and 8% during the decade.
数据对比与强调关键信息
雅思小作文不仅要求描述数据,还需要进行比较和分析,以下是几种有效的对比方式:
(1)使用比较级和最高级
- higher than, lower than, the highest, the lowest
- The UK had a higher proportion of graduates than France.
- 2018 saw the highest number of visitors in the past decade.
(2)突出极值
在描述图表时,应优先提及最大值、最小值或显著变化:
- peaked at, reached a low of, hit a record high
- The temperature peaked at 40°C in July.
- Oil production hit a record low in 2020 due to the pandemic.
(3)使用连接词增强逻辑性
- while, whereas, in contrast, similarly, by comparison
- While urban areas saw a rise in population, rural regions experienced a decline.
- In contrast, the demand for electric cars increased significantly.
避免常见错误
许多考生在描述数字时容易犯以下错误,影响得分:
(1)过度使用相同词汇
反复使用“increase”或“decrease”,会让文章显得单调,应灵活替换同义词,如“rise”“growth”“decline”“drop”等。
(2)忽略单位或时间
描述数据时,必须包含单位和时间,否则信息不完整。
- ❌ The number was 500.
- ✅ The number of students reached 500 in 2020.
(3)错误使用介词
- increase by(表示变化幅度)
- increase to(表示最终数值)
- The price increased by 10%.(上涨了10%)
- The price increased to $50.(上涨到50美元)
高分范文示例
以下是一篇描述柱状图的范文,供考生参考:
** The chart below shows the percentage of people using different modes of transport in a city from 1990 to 2020.
范文:
The bar chart illustrates the changes in transport preferences among city residents between 1990 and 2020.
In 1990, cars were the most popular mode of transport, used by 45% of people. Public transport, such as buses and trains, accounted for 30%, while cycling and walking made up 15% and 10% respectively.
By 2000, car usage had risen to 55%, whereas public transport saw a decline to 25%. The proportion of cyclists remained stable at 15%, but walking decreased slightly to 8%.
In 2020, the trend shifted significantly. Car usage dropped to 40%, while public transport surged to 35%. Cycling became more popular, reaching 20%, and walking also increased to 15%.
Overall, while cars remained the dominant choice throughout the period, public transport and cycling gained popularity in recent years.
练习建议
要提升数字描述能力,考生可以采取以下练习方法:
- 多分析真题图表:熟悉不同类型的图表(线图、柱状图、饼图、表格)。
- 积累同义词:整理描述趋势、比较、变化的词汇,避免重复。
- 限时写作:模拟考试环境,20分钟内完成一篇小作文。
- 对照范文修改:对比高分范文,优化自己的表达方式。
雅思小作文的数据描述并不难,关键在于掌握正确的表达方式,避免常见错误,并通过练习提升熟练度,只要方法得当,考生完全可以在短期内取得明显进步。