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B2 — Upper Intermediate+50 XP available

Interactive Grammar: Describing Data quiz

Use noun phrases, verb phrases, prepositions, and approximations to describe graphs, charts, and statistical information in English.

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Lesson progressNot started
Duration
~60 min
Questions
40
Level
Upper Intermediate

Overview

Describing data uses specific grammar structures: there was a significant rise in…, the figure increased by…, X peaked at…, compared with the previous year… It requires noun phrases, verb phrases for trends (rise, fall, fluctuate), and prepositions of degree and comparison.

Describing trends

  • riseSales rose / increased / climbed sharply / steadily / gradually.
  • fallProfits fell / dropped / declined dramatically / slightly.
  • stableOutput remained stable / levelled off throughout the year.
  • peakThe figure reached a peak in July before falling.

Quantities & approximations

  • Sales fell by 15%. (15% change)
  • Unemployment rose to 8%. (new total = 8%)
  • Approximately / roughly / around 500 people attended.
  • The figures fluctuated between 30 and 50.

Common Mistakes

  • ❌ Sales rised. → ✅ Sales rose. (irregular verb)
  • ❌ Output fell to 10%. → ✅ Output fell by 10%. (change, not new total)
  • ❌ There was a gradually increase. → ✅ a gradual increase. (adjective before noun)

When to use

IELTS Task 1

The graph shows a steady rise in temperatures.

Business reports

Sales climbed sharply in Q3.

News & analysis

Unemployment fell to a ten-year low.

Academic writing

The data reveals a significant upward trend.

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct language for describing data and graphs

Multiple Choice12 questionsB2 — Upper Intermediate~18 min
1'Sales rose sharply.' 'Sharply' describes .
2Which is the most accurate way to describe 'approximately 50'?
3Which phrase shows a gradual increase?
4To describe a peak, you say the figure .
5Which phrase describes a sharp fall?
6'Figures fluctuated between 30 and 50.' This means .
7Which preposition is used to add data?
8Sales fell 20% in the final quarter.
9Sales fell 20% (meaning the new total was 20%).
10'Approximately', 'around', and 'roughly' are used to .
11Which describes a levelling off?
12Which conjunction is used to add contrasting data?
Progress0 of 12 answered

Fill in the Blanks

Complete with the correct data description language

Fill in the Blanks10 questionsB2 — Upper Intermediate~15 min
1Sales(rose/rised/risen)steadily throughout the year.
2Profits fell(by/to/with)15% in the second quarter.
3The figures(fluctuated/fluctuating/fluctuation)between 20 and 40.
4The number(reached/reaching/reach)a peak in June.
5Sales dropped(dramatically/dramatic/drama)in the final quarter.
6Output(remained/remain/remaining)relatively stable throughout.
7Unemployment rose(by/to/with)around 8% — roughly double the previous year.
8The graph shows a(gradual/gradually/graduation)increase over the decade.
9(Approximately/Approximate/Approximation)3,000 people attended the event.
10Costs(climbed/climb/climbing)sharply in the first half of the year.
Progress0 of 10 answered

Transform the Sentences

Rewrite the data description more precisely or formally

Transform8 questionsB2 — Upper Intermediate~12 min

1Sales went up a lot. → → Use 'rose significantly'

2The number went down from 100 to 80. → → Use 'fell by ... to ...'

3The figure was roughly 500. → → Use 'approximately'

4Sales went up and down a lot. → → Use 'fluctuated'

5The highest point was in July. → → Use 'reached a peak'

6It stayed the same for most of the year. → → Use 'remained stable'

7Sales fell a bit at the end. → → Use 'declined slightly'

8It went up very fast in 2020. → → Use 'rose sharply'

Progress0 of 8 answered

Fix the Errors

Correct the data description language

Error Fix10 questionsB2 — Upper Intermediate~15 min

1Sales rised by 20% last year.

2The figure reached at a peak in July.

3Output fell to 10% in the second quarter.

4Sales dramatically dropped.

5The price fluctuated from 30 to 50.

6Figures remained relatively stably.

7There was a gradually increase.

8Approximately 500 of people attended.

9Costs climbed sharp in the first quarter.

10Sales went up to 15% compared to last year.

Progress0 of 10 answered

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this lesson on describing Data cover?

Use noun phrases, verb phrases, prepositions, and approximations to describe graphs, charts, and statistical information in English.

Which CEFR level is this lesson designed for?

This lesson is designed for Upper Intermediate (B2) learners and forms part of the Sentence Structure section on Grammartier.

What is the best approach for studying describing Data?

Start with the definition above, then work through the examples to see how describing Data behaves in context. Since this is a Upper Intermediate (B2) topic within sentence structure, focus on using the structure accurately in context and noticing the mistakes learners typically make with it — this is the level where small errors start to matter for fluency. Finish with the quiz below to check what's actually sticking.

How does describing Data relate to the rest of sentence structure?

Describing Data is one of the Upper Intermediate–level topics grouped under Sentence Structure on Grammartier. Understanding it well makes the related lessons in the same category easier to follow — use the related-lessons links on this page to keep building on it once you've completed this quiz.

Your Grammar Learning Path

Follow the CEFR progression for this topic cluster.

  1. B2
    Interactive Grammar: Cohesion and Coherence quiz
  2. B2
    Interactive Grammar: Contrast and Concession quiz
  3. B2
    Interactive Grammar: Describing Data quizYou are here
  4. B2
    Interactive Grammar: Discourse Markers quiz
  5. B2
    Interactive Grammar: Formal Connectors quiz
  6. B2
    Interactive Grammar: Inversion After Negative Adverbials quiz
  7. B2
    Interactive Grammar: Paraphrasing quiz

Before You Start

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Related Concepts

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