Numbers exercise for IELTS task 1

Numbers exercise for IELTS task 1

Perhaps the most important language for academic task 1 in IELTS is the language of numbers. You get to use this in just every task so it’s worth practising it and getting it right. This lesson has a numbers exercise for IELTS task 1 focussing on:

the language of approximation

some basic maths!

Let’s try some basic maths

Try this drag and drop exercise to make sure you know the basic maths language. The idea is that IELTS is a language test and you need to be able to use words when you write about numbers.

Some basic arithmetic

Match the items on the right to the items on the left.

10% 25% 50% 33% 20% 75% 66% 5% 52% 48%

two thirds a majority a minority a small fraction one in ten a fifth three quarters a quarter a half a third

Now try some more complex stuff

One problem with IELTS is that the numbers you are given are generally not exact numbers. They are usually approximate numbers. Here it is important that you are accurate in how you describe these figures: nearly a fifth is not the same as a fifth

Know your numbers language

Match the items on the right to the items on the left.

almost 10% approximately a third nearly a fifth in the region of 40% over a quarter exactly one in ten around two thirds more or less three quarters more than a half a small fraction

4% 53% 9% 64% 34% 42% 27% 18% 10% 77%

Now try a pie chart exercise

This exercise has a pie chart that looks just like an IELTS pie chart. How well can you do?

Test your numbers in a pie chart

Fill in all the gaps

fifth fraction over tenth third three

1. Approximately a _________ of people drive themselves to work.

2. Nearly a _________ of the population decide to take the bus when they commute.

3. Only a small _________ of people use a taxi to get to work.

4. Slightly _________ 5% of people walk to work in Cambridge.

5. Around a _________ of commuters travel by train.

6. Exactly _________ in ten people cycle to work.

Help/answers

10%

25%

50%

33%

20%

75%

66%

5%

52%

48%

one in ten

a quarter

a half

a third

a fifth

three quarters

two thirds

a small fraction

a majority

a minority

The fractions are:

50% = a half

33% = a third

25% = a quarter

20% = a fifth

10% = a tenth

5% = just a small faction

66% = two thirds

75% = three quarters

Other useful expressions

10% = one in ten

20% = two in ten etc etc

over 50% = a majority

under 50% = a minority

almost 10%

approximately a third

nearly a fifth

in the region of 40%

over a quarter

exactly one in ten

around two thirds

more or less three quarters

more than a half

a small fraction

9%

34%

18%

42%

27%

10%

64%

77%

53%

4%

Approximate words

All these words have the same general meaning. They mean that a number is about correct. They can mean either more of less than the number:

eg 52% and 48% are both approximately a half

around

approximately

in the region of

more or less

about

Less words

These words are different because they mean the number is less and not more than the exact figure.

eg 48% is almost a half and not more than a half

almost

nearly

just under

More words

These words are the opposite. They show the number is greater than the exact figure

more than

over

Exact words

Sometimes you get a number that is exact. If you do, the best advice is to say that it is exact! Here are some words to help:

exactly

precisely

1. Approximately a third of people drive themselves to work.

2. Nearly a fifth of the population decide to take the bus when they commute.

3. Only a small fraction of people use a taxi to get to work.

4. Slightly over 5% of people walk to work in Cambridge.

5. Around a tenth of commuters travel by train.

6. Exactly three in ten people cycle to work.

Дата добавления: 2015-08-28