“The figure rose to 60” tells the reader where it ended. “The figure rose by 20” tells the reader how much it changed. Confusing the two can produce a fluent sentence with the wrong numerical meaning.
The trend-description section of Jobin Thomas’s IELTS Academic Writing – Grammar Focused practises verbs, noun phrases and prepositions for changes. This guide uses original illustrative figures to make the distinctions clear.
Separate the starting value, final value and change
Original illustrative data
A fictional evening class had 40 learners in September and 60 in October.
Starting value: 40 learners.
Final value: 60 learners.
Amount of increase: 20 learners.
Description: “Enrolment rose from 40 to 60 learners, an increase of 20.”
“To” introduces the final value. “By” introduces the amount of change: “Enrolment rose by 20 learners.” “From…to…” provides both endpoints. Keep the unit attached so the numbers remain meaningful.
Use in to identify what changed
A noun phrase can describe the same change: “There was an increase in enrolment.” Add the amount with “of”: “There was an increase of 20 learners in enrolment.”
You do not need to use every possible structure in one paragraph. Choose a natural version that states the information accurately, and vary it only when that helps the writing.
Distinguish a percentage from percentage points
Suppose an illustrative attendance rate rises from 40% to 50%. The difference is 10 percentage points. Relative to the starting rate, the increase is 25%, because 10 divided by 40 equals 0.25.
“Rose by 10%” does not mean the same as “rose by 10 percentage points.” The first expresses a relative change; the second expresses the difference between two percentages. When you use either, make sure it matches your calculation.
Check the numerical description
Data: A fictional participation rate fell from 60% to 45%.
Final value: 45%.
Difference: 15 percentage points.
Relative decrease: 25%, because 15 divided by the starting value of 60 equals 0.25.
Accurate sentence: “The participation rate fell from 60% to 45%, a drop of 15 percentage points.”
Keep the time frame and status of the figures clear
For completed past periods, a past-tense description may be appropriate. If a figure is a projection, label it accordingly. “Is projected to reach” preserves a different status from a statement that the value has already been reached.
Do not describe a future estimate as a historical result. Read the dates and any legend before choosing the verb, and preserve distinctions shown in the supplied material.
Avoid adding a cause the data does not provide
A chart may show enrolment rising without explaining why. Do not add a claim about better teaching, advertising or lower prices unless the information establishes that connection. Describing a trend and explaining its cause are different tasks.
For a short review, circle every number, unit and trend preposition in your draft. Recalculate each stated difference and compare it with the source values. This catches meaning errors that a spelling check will not find.
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Source: IELTS GRA WR 01.epub, Jobins Training. Examples labelled original or illustrative were written for this article. Independent exam preparation; no affiliation with or endorsement by the examining body. Practice does not predict an official score.