雅思小作文除了第一句话复述题目外，接下来要写的就是overview了，也就是对图表的最明显的，有概括性的特征的描述。Overview的具体位置可以是跟在复述题目的句子之后，作为开头段，也可以单独成段，或者有些范文中将这一概括放在结尾作为conclusion，这些形式都可以。
但是如何找准主要特征呢?下面新东方在线刘美娟老师就将结合具体的例子总结overview应该怎么写才能拿高分，希望对雅思考生能够有所帮助。
首先，overview应该从三个角度展开：
1. overall trend整体趋势
2. biggest rise/ fall/ change最大变化项目
3. comparison对比
其次，overview具体内容应该这样写：
1. 写1-2个总体的特征
2. 不用带具体数值
3. 对比和最大值，或整体趋势往往需要结合起来写
3. 可以加一些功能性语言：总体看来overall; 最明显的是… It is obvious that…等
最后，咱们结合例子来看是如何体现的：
1. 找最大值
The British were the biggest spenders in all six categories among the nations compared in the bar chart while the lowest spending levels were attributed to the residents of Belgium
2. 总体数量比较
Overall, there were more male research students than females in 2005.
3. 总体趋势比较
Overall, the consumption of margarine and butterdecreased over period given while for low fat and reduced spreads, it rose.
4. 总体占比对比+总体趋势变化
It is clear that Yemen had the younger population in the year 2000, and the same is predicted for the year 2050. The populations of both countries are predicted to get older over the 50 year period.
5. 变化性对比
As is seen from the given illustration, men were well ahead of women in all the job sectors in Freedonia in 1975. However the scenario changed in the 1995 and women did a remarkable progress in their professions.
6. 最大值最小值对比
The television was the most popular consumer durable while dishwasher was the least common type of durables the British people had during the years 1972 to 1983.
7. 最大值+总量对比
Overall, it can be seen that donated food accounted for the majority of the income, while program services accounted for the most expenditure. Total revenue sources just exceeded outgoings.
8. 总体趋势+对比+最大值
Overall, there was an increase in the number of visits to and from the UK and there were more visits abroad by UK residentsthan visits to the UK by overseas residents over the period given. Furthermore, the most popular country to visit by UK residents was France in 1999.
任何题目咱们只要从开头提到的三大角度去思考，再根据题目灵活的进行结合就可以即快又准的概括出总体特征和最明显特征。最后刘美娟老师还建议大家平时多多结合题目去做一些审题练习。