IELTS Vocabulary:

Describing & analysing tables

Look at the four tables below. These show demographic trends in four different countries between 1996 and 2000. The numbers on the left and right of each table show the number of people in millions.

Using the information in these tables, match sentences 1-13 with the appropriate country.

Number of people under 18 years of age	Number of people over 65 years of age	Number of deaths	Number of married people	Number of single people
Country 1: Lycia
Country 2: Cilica
Country 3: Moesia
Country 4: Cappadocia

1) In which two countries was there a considerable discrepancy between married and single people between 1996 and 1998?

a) Cilicia and Cappadocia

2) In which country was there a constant and considerable discrepancy between married and single people over the five-year period?

a) Cappadocia

3) In which country was there a sudden and noticeable difference between those under 18 and those over 65 in 1998?

a) Lycia

4) In which country did the number of under-18s rise dramatically between 1996 and 2000?

a) Moesia

5) In which country did the number of under-18s increase slightly between 1996 and 2000?

a) Cappadocia

6) In which country did the number of over-65s go up sharply between 1996 and 1998?

a) Moesia

7) In which country did the number of married people decline over the five-year period?

a) Lycia

8) In which country did the number of deaths decrease significantly between 1996 and 1999?

a) Moesia

9) In which country was there a slight decline in the number of married people between 1998 and 1999?

a) Moesia

10) In which country was there a sharp drop in the number of under-18s between 1997 and 1998?

a) Lycia

11) In which country was there a slight reduction in the number of deaths over the five-year period?

a) Lycia

12) In which country was there a significant increase in the number of deaths between 1998 and 2000?

a) Cilicia

13) In which country did the number of deaths remain constant over the five-year period?

a) Cappadocia

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Vocabulary Tip

The verbs rise and increase have the same meaning here. We can also say climb. These verbs can also be nouns.
The verbs fail, drop and decline have the same meaning here. These verbs can also be nouns.

The adverbs steadily and noticeably can have the same meaning here. They can also be adjectives (steady, noticeable).
The adverbs sharply, rapidly and dramatically can have the same meaning here. They can also be adjectives (sharp, rapid, dramatic).

Now look at the table below, which shows the changes in economic activity in a town over a period of five years. The figures on the left and right show the number of people involved in these activities, in thousands.

Write your own sentences to describe the situation in the town regarding the number of:

Number of people in industry	Number of people in retail	Number of semi-skilled / skilled people in public services (including police, doctors, bus drivers, etc.)	Number of people in tourism	Number of unemployed

1. People employed in industry between 1996 and 2000.

The number of people employed in industry fell/dropped/declined steadily/noticeably between 1996 and 2000 / over the five-year period.
OR
There was a steady drop/decline/fall in the number of people employed in industry between 1996 and 2000 / over the five-year period.

2. People employed in retail between 1996 and 2000.

The number of people employed in retail rose / increased slightly between 1996 and 2000 / over the five-year period.
OR
There was a slight rise / increase in the number of people employed in retail between 1996 / over the five-year period.

3. People employed in public services between 1999 and 2000.

The number of people employed in public services rose / increased sharply / rapidly / dramatically between 1999 and 2000.
OR
There was a sharp / rapid / dramatic rise / increase in the number of people employed in public services between 1999 and 2000.

4. People employed in tourism between 1996 and 2000.

The number of people employed in tourism rose / increased steadily / noticeably between 1996 and 2000.
OR
There was a steady / noticeable rise / increase in the number of people employed in tourism between 1996 and 2000 / over the five-year period.

5. Unemployed between 1998 and 2000.

The number of unemployed fell /dropped /declined sharply/rapidly/dramatically between 1998 and 2000.
OR
There was a sharp / rapid / dramatic fall / drop / decline in the number of unemployed between 1998 and 2000.

6. People employed in industry compared with those in tourism in 1996.

There was a considerable discrepancy between those employed in industry and those working in tourism in 1996.

7. People employed in industry between 1998 and 1999.

The number of people employed in industry fell /dropped/declined slightly between 1998 and 1999.
OR
There was a slight fall /drop /decline in the number of people employed in industry between 1998 and 1999.

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Vocabulary Tip

Other words and expressions which you might find useful include:
For things going up: rocket/jump/edge up/soar/creep up/peak (especially for numbers, prices, etc.)
For things going down: slump / plunge / slip back / slip down / plummet / drop / bottom out (especially when talking about prices)