What is the overview and why it matters

The overview is a 1 to 3 sentence summary of the most important features. It shows main trends, highest or lowest points, big changes, or major differences. Examiners expect it for Band 6 plus under Task Achievement. Put it early so your essay has a clear frame.

Golden rule: Overview = big picture, no detailed numbers.

The Overview First structure

1. Intro: one sentence that paraphrases the task statement.
2. Overview: 1 to 3 sentences that summarise the key features.
3. Body 1: select and compare data to support the first part of the overview.
4. Body 2: support the remaining points with selective figures.

Time guide: 1 min read, 2 min plan, 6 to 7 min write, 1 to 2 min check.

How to find key features in 30 seconds

• Identify extremes: highest, lowest, biggest rise or fall.
• Look for patterns: overall increase, steady decline, fluctuation, stability.
• Group items: winners vs losers, early vs late years, A group vs B group.
• For process: number of stages, start and end, outputs.
• For maps: major additions, removals, land use shifts.

Model overview sentences by task type

Line or bar chart

• Overall, X increased while Y fell, and A remained stable.
• In general, Country A led across the period, whereas Country C stayed lowest.

Pie charts

• Overall, the share of online sales grew and replaced store purchases as the main segment.

Table

• In general, all cities became more expensive, with City B showing the largest rise.

Process

• Overall, the product is made in six stages, beginning with raw mixing and ending with packaging.

Maps

• Overall, the area changed from a rural layout to a visitor center with new roads and facilities.

Tip: Keep numbers out of the overview. Save figures for body paragraphs.

High value vocabulary for overviews

• trend: increase, decrease, rise, fall, grow, decline, remain stable
• comparison: higher, lower, the highest, the lowest, lead, lag
• size words: slight, modest, steady, sharp, dramatic
• map and process: transformed, expanded, added, removed, converted, consists of, begins with, culminates in

Do and don't for overviews

Do

• Place the overview right after the intro.
• Mention only the most important 2 or 3 features.
• Use accurate comparison words.

Dont

• Do not list every category.
• Do not include exact numbers or dates in the overview.
• Do not copy the task wording.

Body paragraphs that prove the overview

• Body 1: largest changes or leaders with selective data points.
• Body 2: remaining features and any notable exceptions.
  Use few but strong numbers. Compare within sentences: X rose from 10 to 30, surpassing Y which fell from 25 to 18.

Mini examples

Line chart overview
Overall, car use rose steadily, bus use declined, and cycling remained comparatively low.

Body snippet
Car trips climbed from 20 to 40 per week, while bus trips fell from 35 to 22. Cycling stayed close to 5 to 7.

Process overview
Overall, there are eight stages, starting with water collection and ending with distribution.

Map overview
Overall, the village became more residential, with new housing replacing farmland and a road added across the centre.

Grouping shortcuts

• Time series: split early years vs later years.
• Categories: top two vs bottom two.
• Proportions: majority vs minority.
• Shape words: upward trend, downward trend, stable line, fluctuating path.

Common errors and quick fixes

• Numbers inside overview → remove figures and keep only trends.
• No contrast → add a whereas clause to show differences.
• Too many features → choose three maximum.
• Misread axes → confirm units and years before writing.
• Copying task → paraphrase with synonyms.

10 minute practice plan

1. 60 s scan the visual and circle extremes.
2. 60 s write a one line intro and a two line overview.
3. 6 min draft two compact body paragraphs with selective data.
4. 2 min check comparisons, units, and article use.

Quick checklist before you finish

• Intro paraphrases the task.
• Overview states 2 or 3 major features without numbers.
• Bodies include correct figures and comparisons that support the overview.
• Units, years, and commas are accurate.
• Language varies: rise, climb, increase, fall, decline.

DIY drill bank

• Collect 5 visuals: one line, one bar, one pie, one table, one map or process.
• Write only the overview for each in under 40 seconds.
• Later expand two of them into full reports.
• Keep an overview notebook to recycle strong sentence frames.

Final advice

Decide the big picture first, write the overview early, and let your data in the bodies prove it. Two clear comparisons beat long lists of numbers. With a short routine and tight language, the overview becomes your easiest marks in Task 1.