The use of academic vocabulary if essential for a high score in IELTS.

Below I have listed a few common words used and alternatives
for you to use in writing.

Task 1 Vocabulary

Drop -> fall, lower, shrink, dwindle, slump, plummet

Rise -> climb, improve and soar

Fluctuate -> inconstant, unstable

Sudden -> rapid, quick, abrupt, swift

Gradual -> steady, moderate, progressive, regular


Feel free to add to these if you want.

Can I reply here? This looks like a useful list but there is something missing from it.

At present the list only includes language relevant to graphs/charts that change over a period of time. In many instances there is no time element in the graph/chart; here a different form of language is needed - typically the language of comparison. You need to be able to compare in different ways if you want to impress the examiner. In addition to the standard "more than" or -"er than", try

less than
not as....as
equal to
similar to
a similarity between
different from
a difference between
a comparison
in comparison
a contrast
in contrast

To get to the next level, you also need to be able to add the language of gradation: eg, a slight difference