Task 1: Numbers and Comparatives Language Pack (Writing)

Tile 1: Comparatives you will use most

• X was higher than Y.
• X exceeded Y by N.
• X was N more than Y.
• X was almost as high as Y.
• X was slightly lower than Y.
• Use boosters: far, much, significantly, marginally.

Tile 2: Superlatives and ranking

• The highest figure was in A.
• B had the lowest share.
• Country X led, while Country Y trailed.
• Ranking verbs: top, dominate, lag, outpace.

Tile 3: Change formulas that never fail

• From A to B: Sales rose from 30 to 45.
• By difference: Sales increased by 15 to 45.
• Drop: The rate fell by 8 to 22.
• Peak and low: It peaked at 68, then bottomed out at 21.
• Keep tense in present simple for timeless charts unless dates force past.

Tile 4: Percent vs percentage points

• Percent = relative change: 20 to 30 is a 50 percent increase.
• Percentage points = absolute change: 20 to 30 is 10 percentage points.
• Use points when comparing shares of a whole to avoid confusion.

Tile 5: Proportions and fractions

• accounted for 40 percent
• made up nearly a quarter
• comprised about one third
• represented roughly two fifths
• Useful fraction phrases: just under a half, a little over a tenth.

Tile 6: Ratios and multiples

• twice as high as
• three times as many as
• about half of
• Prefer twice as high as over two times higher than to avoid ambiguity.

Tile 7: Approximation vs precision

• Approximate: about, around, roughly, nearly, just over, just under.
• Precise: give exact values when the chart shows them.
• Mix both: exact for key points, approximate for minor ones.

Tile 8: Prepositions and articles

• An increase in sales
• A rise to 50
• A fall by 10
• A drop from 60 to 45
• Articles: the proportion, the figure for X, a rise in Y.

Tile 9: Ready frames for instant use

• Overview: Overall, X grew while Y declined, and Z remained relatively stable.
• Detail compare: In 2015, A was 38, significantly higher than B at 24.
• Detail change: C rose from 12 to 28, an increase of 16.
• Share: D accounted for approximately one third of total output.
• Multiple: E was nearly twice as high as F by the end of the period.

Tile 10: Error clinic

• Do not write reasons or opinions.
• Do not mix by and to.
• Avoid repeating the same verb: vary with rise, climb, grow, increase, fall, decline, drop.
• Keep units consistent: percentages, millions, kg.
• Copy numbers carefully and check thousands and decimals.

Tile 11: Five quick drills

1. Rewrite: A 25 to 40. Produce two versions: from to and by to.
2. Convert: 18 percent to 27 percent. Write both percent and percentage point changes.
3. Make a multiple: Turn 60 vs 30 into a sentence with twice as.
4. Rank three numbers: 72, 41, 59 using highest, lowest, led, trailed.
5. Approximate: Turn 33, 49, 51 into phrases with just under and just over.

Tile 12: Mini model lines you can copy

• Bar chart: In 2020, smartphones accounted for 48 percent, far higher than desktops at 21.
• Line chart: Production rose from 2.1 to 3.4 million units, an increase of 1.3 million.
• Pie: Services comprised roughly two fifths, while agriculture made up about one sixth.

Pocket checklist

Overview present and neutral
Comparatives accurate with by vs to
Percent vs point distinction correct
2 to 3 key numbers per paragraph
Varied verbs and boosters
Units and dates consistent
Word choice concise and formal

Use this pack while planning, then plug the frames into your paragraphs. Your Task 1 comparisons will become precise, natural, and efficient.