how to do ielts writing task 1 table

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Task 1 Table

Task 1 table for ielts.

Below is an IELTS Writing Task 1 Table. Below the table is a model answer.

With a table, you need to do much the same as you would for any other question that requires you to write about data.

In this case, the table is over time, so you would treat it like a line graph and describe the changes.

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

The table shows the Proportions of Pupils Attending Four Secondary School Types Between Between 2000 and 2009.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant.

Write at least 150 words.

Secondary School Attendance

Model answer.

The table illustrates the percentage of school children attending four different types of secondary school from 2000 to 2009. It is evident that whereas the community schools experienced a marked increase in the proportion of those attending their institutions over the period, the others saw a corresponding decline.

To begin, the percentage of pupils in voluntary-controlled schools fell from just over half to only 20% or one fifth from 2000 to 2009. Similarly, the relative number of children in grammar schools - just under one quarter - dropped by half in the same period. As for the specialist schools, the relatively small percentage of pupils attending this type of school (12%) also fell, although not significantly.

However, while the other three types of school declined in importance, the opposite was true in the case of community schools. In fact, whereas only a small minority of 12% were educated in these schools in 2000, this figure increased to well over half of all pupils during the following nine years.

(170 Words)

This task 1 table answer would get a good score for several reasons.

Firstly, there is a clear overview which points out the main trends:

It is evident that whereas the community schools experienced a marked increase in the proportion of those attending their institutions over the period, the others saw a corresponding decline.

It also meets the requirements of the task, as data is selected appropriately to describe some of the trends. Also, there are plenty of comparisons made between the data.

The data is organised clearly and coherently, in this case by firstly describing the schools that had a drop in attendance and then describing the one that saw on increase. 

There is evidence of the ability to use some complex sentences and structures. For instance:

• whereas the community schools...
• the relatively small percentage of pupils attending this type of school (12%) also fell...
• while the other three types of school...

Also the writer in this task 1 table can write flexibly about numbers and change, for example:

• just over half to only 20% or one fifth from
• this figure increased to well over half of all pupils

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More on IELTS Tables:

IELTS Tables Model Answer: Presenting a logically organised response

With IELTS Tables in academic writing task 1 you have given data in a table format and you have to describe it. View a sample question and model answer.

Writing Task 1 Table Sample: The elements for a high score for IELTS

This Writing Task 1 Table Sample for IELTS has a model answer that shows you what you will need to write to get a band score of 7 or more. It compares the cultural activities of various age groups.

IELTS Table: Tips and techniques for a high score.

IELTS Table advice for a high score. Learn how to describe an IELTS table, which is just another way to present data.

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IELTS Writing task 1 table – overview, structure, steps, and tips

1. an overview of ielts writing task 1 table.

Despite the familiarity in terms of question type, IELTS Writing Task 1 Table may turn out to be a hindrance to IELTS learners with countless numbers and figures appearing at the same time but lacking images or illustrations. 

IELTS Table Chart can be also divided into two features namely dynamic (figures change overtime) and static (figures don’t change overtime) charts, which is the same with IELTS Line chart, Bar chart and Pie chart. The most obvious difference between IELTS table and the other three question types in IELTS Writing Task 1 is the way to perform numbers and figures. Whereas IELTS table chart only shows figures only, IELTS bar chart, line chart, and pie chart exhibits figures in the form of bars, lines and pies. 

On this IELTS Table Chart task, as usual, you will need to report significant figures in a time limit of approximately 20 minutes with at least 150 words. Furthermore, various vocabulary and grammar structures should be appropriately utilised in IELTS Writing Task 1 Table . 

Here are some samples of IELTS Writing Task 1 Table :

If you’re about to take the IELTS test, let’s start practicing with our free IELTS online test

2. Structure of IELTS Writing Task 1 Table

Having a similar structure with other types of questions in IELTS Writing Task 1, IELTS Table chart can be organized in three parts:

2.1. Introduction

In this part, you need to give an introduction of the table in only one or two sentences by paraphrasing the question and showing:

• Kind of graph (table)
• Main topic (e.g. consumer spending on different items)
• Place (e.g. Ireland, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Turkey)
• Time (e.g. between 2002)
• Unit of measurement (%)

e.g. The table illustrates the proportion of national expenditure in Ireland, Italy, Spain, Sweden and Turkey on three types of consumer items in 2002.

2.2. Overview

In one to three sentences, an IELTS Table chart overview should include only the general trend or outstanding features such as:

• The highest figure
• The lowest figure
• The similar figures
• The unchanged figures

It’s highly recommended to scan the figures column by column, then row by row to detect the highlighted data. 

e.g. Overall, the category of consumer goods that all countries spent most on was food, drinks and tobacco, which was three times higher than on the other types of goods. The lowest spending could be seen in the category of leisure and education in all five countries. The outlay of Turkey was generally higher than the other four countries.

In the Body part, specific details will be reported in two separate paragraphs. You can group the data of the Pie Charts base on such ways:

• Categories (e.g. paragraph 1: Food/Drinks/Tobacco; paragraph 2: Clothing/Footwear & Leisure/Education)
• Countries (e.g. paragraph 1: Ireland, Turkey with higher figures; paragraph 2: Italy, Spain, Sweden with lower figures)

In terms of choosing figures within a table, you should base on these criteria: 

+ Dynamic chart

• Choose data in the first and last year to see big changes among categories
• Choose data in the mid-period to see differences between the highest and lowest figures, or equal figures. 

+ Static chart

• Choose data by column (the highest, lowest, equal figures)
• Choode data by row (the highest, lowest, equal figures)

*** Just follow one direction only to describe the table more effortlessly

Each paragraph in the Body part of IELTS Pie chart should only consist of three or four sentences with detailed key features.

>>> Practice now: IELTS Writing Practice Test

3. Steps to get a high band score in the IELTS Writing Task 1 Table  

3.1. step 1: analyse the ielts table chart question.

IELTS Writing Task 1 Table Chart includes:

• Description of the table (e.g. The table below gives information about consumer spending on different items in five different countries in 2002.)
• Instructions: Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. & Write at least 150 words.
• Table:  

The key to boost your score is underlining or highlighting important parts of the questions.

3.2. Step 2: Identify key features

These questions below may help you figure out main characteristics of the table:

• What is the time period?
• What is the unit of measurement?
• What does the title of the table (if any) represent?
• What is the general trend?
• What are the biggest, smallest figures/categories?
• Are there any obvious similarities?
• Are there any special categories?

3.3. Step 3: Start to write the IELTS Writing Task 1 Pie Chart 

With four paragraphs, follow the three-part structure to write an IELTS Table Chart essay: 

• Paragraph 1: Introduction
• Paragraph 2: Overview
• Paragraph 3: 1st key features
• Paragraph 4: 2nd key features

3.4. Step 4: Check your IELTS Writing Task 1 Table essay

Apart from the figures analysed, you need to consider grammar structures, spellings and word choices in your IELTS Table chart essay so that you can get a high band score for your performance. 

4. Tips for IELTS Writing Task 1 Table

• Read carefully and meet the requirements of the IELTS Table chart question 
• Do not describe all the data given but look for significant figures 
• Always paraphrasing the given questions 
• Keep track of your word count (at least 150 words) and time limit (around 20 minutes)
• Do not give personal comments or opinions
• Use proper vocabulary for IELTS Writing Task 1 Table and various grammar structures. You can refer to vocabulary needed for IELTS Writing Task 1 here: IELTS Academic Writing Task 1

No matter how tricky and difficult an IELTS Table Chart Task 1 can be, you can dominate this question type in IELTS Writing Task 1 by preparing and having a deep insight into the overview, structure, steps and tips to write an IELTS table chart essay. Besides, learning from various model sample answers can be a good choice and IELTS TEST PRO will be an ideal mobile app and website for IELTS test takers and English learners. Visit our website and download the app now!

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How to Describe Tables for IELTS Writing Task 1

Posted by David S. Wills | May 24, 2021 | IELTS Tips , Writing | 2

In task 1 of the IELTS writing exam, you could be asked to describe line graphs , bar charts , pie charts , process diagrams , maps , or tables. Sometimes you are even given a mix of data types to describe. All of these have their unique challenges, and some people struggle with one kind more than another. Perhaps the trickiest ones, though, are tables.

Today, I’m going to show you how to describe a table for IELTS writing . I will show you some ways to analyse the data, structure your essay, and use the right language to provide a great answer. At the end, I will show you my own sample answer.

What’s the Purpose of Describing Tables

Ok, so this might seem like a strange thing to discuss, but actually it’s pretty important, so let’s deal with it first.

When you do any part of the IELTS exam, there is a specific reason for the task. It measures your English ability for a particular skill. In the case of task 1, you are basically being challenged to describe something. This is very different from task 2, where you discuss or argue something.

Tables provide a different sort of data from line graphs or bar charts. They require slightly different language and the ability to analyse information in a different way from maps, process diagrams, or anything else.

Although tables are not necessarily harder than any other kind of data, they can pose one unique challenge: Most IELTS tables have more data points to think about. So what does this mean? Well, basically you have to figure out what to include and what not to include.

Sometimes they are simpler, but in every case you will be tasked with finding the most relevant data to describe. Remember: You don’t have to mention every single part of the table.

Analysing an IELTS Table

When you are given a table to describe for the IELTS exam, you must first attempt to understand it as fully as possible. Do not rush this or else you might start writing and then realise that you misunderstood something.

To understand the table, take a sensible approach:

• Read the description first for clues.
• Look at the heading and any labels.
• Think about the categorise provided.
• Then finally look at the data contained within it.

By doing this, you give yourself the best chance of understanding the table and its contents. I cannot overemphasise the importance of this.

Here’s an example:

The table below shows the results of a 20-year study into why adults in the UK attend arts events.

The question and the heading give us some vital information about the nature of the data provided. We can learn from these that the study took place over twenty years (we can also see that from the table itself) and that it is about British adults going to arts events. Specifically, we need to think about the reasons why they attended these sorts of events.

Looking at the categories, we can see four reasons given. Think about what these mean and how we could describe them in the essay. This will be discussed in the next part.

You also need to think about the time. Not all tables contain changes over time, but this one does. We have two columns about the past and one about the present, so that could pose some challenges. Again, we’ll look at that in the following section.

Language for Describing Tables

When it comes to describing tables, your language will depend upon the content of the table. There isn’t really any specific “table vocabulary” that you need to know. You don’t really need to know words like “row” and “column” because you’re less likely to describe the table itself than the data within the table.

It is more important to think about how you will paraphrase the question and heading, and how you will incorporate the categories or labels. You also need to think about grammar because if there are changes over time, this will need to be reflected in your language.

Let’s continue using the above table as an example. We would not want to repeat the question exactly, so we need to paraphrase it somewhat. [By the way, paraphrasing is useful for task 1 but not task 2 .]

I would personally change the question from this:

The table gives information about the reasons why people in the UK attended arts events over a period of twenty years.

You can see that my sentence contains basically the same information, but that it has changed the grammar and language sufficiently so that it is now my own words. The most important thing, though, is that it is grammatically and factually correct.

As for the categories or labels, we cannot simply copy them into our essay. This is actually a big problem, which I have discussed in a mini-lesson on Facebook . That covers the issue for line graphs, bar charts, and other forms of data.

Here, we would not want to say:

special occasion/celebration accounted for slightly more than a quarter of adults

You should try to turn it into proper grammar:

slightly more than a quarter of adults went [to arts events] for a celebration or special occasion

This is because tables and charts often have a lack of grammar or a special kind of grammar. They tend to use capitalised or abbreviated forms, and it is part of your duty to turn this into real language. Also, the above sentence didn’t really have any meaning outside the context of the table. You should imagine that your reader cannot see the table and then describe it clearly so that they could visualise it.

As for grammar, please pay close attention to changes in time. Some tables have no time differences, so you simply use comparative forms, like this:

All this data comes from one year – 2002 – and so you don’t need to show any time changes. Just keep in mind that it’s from the past, so you could not use future or present tenses.

You would say things like this:

• The Turkish spent the most on food, drinks, and tobacco, at almost a third of their consumer spending, followed closely by the Irish.
• Spain was next, at just under a fifth, with Italy and Sweden not far behind.
• Italians spent the most on clothing and footwear, at 9% of consumer spending, and all other countries spent a very similar amount, at roughly 6%.
• Less than 5% of consumer spending went on leisure and education in each of the five countries, though in Turkey it was the highest, and in Spain the lowest.

In the chart we previously examined, featuring data from 20 years ago until the present day, we need to be more careful. We can mix past and present forms as appropriate:

• Twenty years ago, almost six out of ten people said that they attended such events because they wanted to see a particular performer or artist. Ten years later, this had not changed very much, though there was a very slight decline in numbers, and today the figure is approximately the same, at 56% of people surveyed.

Notice how for 20 years ago and 10 years ago I used past simple , but for today I switched to present simple . You can also see that I used past perfect to show the change that occurred between 20 and 10 yeas ago:

Ten years later, this had not changed very much…

It is possible to use present perfect for the same effect:

Today, however, the proportion has increased to…

I have chosen not to use that tense because it did not really fit into what I wanted to say, but it is definitely possible to use it.

For IELTS writing task 1, your structure will be quite different from task 2. [You can read about that here .] Basically, you need an introduction and then one, two, or three body paragraphs that present the data effectively. Aim to write about 160-190 words, unless you can write quickly and accurately, in which case you may benefit from writing more .

I am going to structure my essay like this:

One final note: Please always ensure that you draw attention to the most significant data points and that you highlight comparisons, such as something being the highest or lowest, or any opposite/inverse trends that occur. These are key features that will have been deliberately included.

IELTS task 1 essays always include this instruction:

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

The key words here are “selecting,” “reporting,” “main features,” and “comparisons.” You should aim to cover this in all your IELTS task 1 essays.

Sample Band 9 Answer

The table gives information about the reasons why people in the UK attended arts events over a period of twenty years. In each year, the most common reason was the desire to see a specific performer or artist, but the other reasons given changed quite significantly.

Twenty years ago, almost six out of ten people said that they attended such events because they wanted to see a particular performer or artist. Ten years later, this had not changed very much, though there was a very slight decline in numbers, and today the figure is approximately the same, at 56% of people surveyed. For each of those three years, this reason was by far the most common given among the respondents of the survey.

Interestingly, in the first year recorded less than a tenth of people said that they went in order to accompany a child but this grew by fifty percent ten years later, and now almost a quarter of people go for this reason. Conversely, going as a form of celebration dropped from about a quarter to less than a tenth, showing very much the opposite trend. The least common reason given in the first and second years was going for work or business, but this grew slightly and now it is marginally more common for people to do for this reason than for a celebration.

Finally, a Video…

Several years ago, I made a video about this topic. It aimed to explain the process of describing a table. You might find it useful to watch me writing an essay step by step and explaining all of my choices. Here it is:

About The Author

David S. Wills

David S. Wills is the author of Scientologist! William S. Burroughs and the 'Weird Cult' and the founder/editor of Beatdom literary journal. He lives and works in rural Cambodia and loves to travel. He has worked as an IELTS tutor since 2010, has completed both TEFL and CELTA courses, and has a certificate from Cambridge for Teaching Writing. David has worked in many different countries, and for several years designed a writing course for the University of Worcester. In 2018, he wrote the popular IELTS handbook, Grammar for IELTS Writing and he has since written two other books about IELTS. His other IELTS website is called IELTS Teaching.

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How to describe a table chart for Academic Task 1

Learn how to describe a table chart for IELTS Academic task 1. Find out how to summarise, group and divide the table chart data.

We are going to show you how to ace the IELTS academic writing task 1 so that you’ll be able to craft a compelling, well thought-out answer when you are faced with an IELTS Academic question asking you to compare and summarise table chart data in the IELTS exam .

After reading this article you’ll be confident reading and understanding data for the IELTS table chart task 1 and then you will be able to accurately describe it in an easy-to-understand manner that the IELTS examiners will love.

Let’s go through the main points that will help you on your road to describing an IELTS writing task 1 table in no time.

1. Summarise the table

Every IELTS table question tells you to do the same things.

You describe the information by selecting and reporting the main features.

This is a very important skill and is arguably the focus of the entire task. Here are some IELTS writing task 1 examples Look at the figures in the table and the tense of the data. Is it the past, is it the present or does it predict future trends?

Also, look at the data and make a list of any IELTS table description vocabulary that you will need to use to explain yourself effectively. Think about what you can paraphrase too. For example, could you use ‘literacy’ in your answer?

2. Divide the data

This is a key tip for IELTS writing task 1! Data can be a challenge to handle. Split the data into manageable pieces that you can group. That way you can explain it better because you can understand it better.

In the above task 1 example, the data has been divided into two significant groups. This makes it easier to understand and describe.

You can also look for exceptions in the data which is where something interesting happens or is something that stands out for you. This helps you get started describing the data and the information you can see.

Every table is different, and there’s never only one way to divide the data. For

You can see a task 1 model answer below to help you.

3. Model Answer 

This table compares the UK’s 55-year projected growth of the number of people over the age of 75 with that of the total population. Overall, we can expect the number of people aged over 75 to double by 2070.

It is estimated that in the 20 years from 2015, the total population of the UK will grow by almost 10 million, from 64.8 million in 2015 to 73.2 million in 2035. The number of over 75’s will also increase significantly, from 5.4 million (2015) to 8.9 million (2035), which is an increase of nearly 4%.

The estimated figures for 2050 and 2070 indicate that this trend will continue, and the total population will be as high as 82 million by 2070. Although the number of people aged 75 or older will remain relatively stable between 2035 (8.9 million) and 2050 (9 million), the number will continue to swell and by 2070 nearly 15% of the population (11 – 12 million) will be aged 75 or older.

4. Make your point clearly

How you structure your task 1 answer can help set the overall flow of your answer. Usually, two main paragraphs will be used so that you can describe each group of data. That means that one group of data would be described in one paragraph whilst the second group of data would be a new paragraph.

This keeps things organised and helps you keep track of your overall point.

 Task 1 top tip – remember it’s always ‘the number of’ for countable nouns and ‘the amount of’ for uncountables.

The number of people increased

The amount of rice increased.

Don’t mix them up!

5. Compare & contrast with exceptions

For example, the first paragraph could be comparing the data whilst the second paragraph is talking about this in more detail, whilst a final summary sentence ties it all nicely.

This helps you stay on track and easily cover all the IELTS task 1 bases too.

Still not sure? Let’s go through an example.

Introductory statement  – explain what you are going to compare.

Paragraph 1  – Comparison – Describe and compare the data groups and any exceptions you can see in the table.

Summary sentence  – An overall sentence about the table that ties everything together and talks about anything significant from paragraphs 1 and 2.

Let’s see how it looks compared to a model answer.

6. Writing task 1 table model answer analysis

– Introduction

This table compares the UK’s 55-year projected growth of the number of people over the age of 75 with that of the total population.

– Paragraph 1

It is estimated that in the 20 years from 2015, the total population of the UK will grow by almost 10 million, from 64.8 million in 2015 to 73.2 million in 2035. The number of over 75’s will also increase significantly, from 5.4 million (2015) to 8.9 million (2035), which is an increase of nearly 4%. The estimated figures for 2050 and 2070 indicate that this trend will continue, and the total population will be as high as 82 million by 2070. -Although the number of people aged 75 or older will remain relatively stable between 2035 (8.9 million) and 2050 (9 million), the number will continue to swell and by 2070 nearly 15% of the population (11 – 12 million) will be aged 75 or older.

– Summary Sentence

Overall, we can expect the number of people aged over 75 to double by 2070.

Let’s break it down some more, using the model answer above.

The introduction talks about what the table shows and explains the groups that will be compared. In this case, it is two groups within the first group of 20 years.

Paragraph 1 takes a closer look at the second group of 20 years and the data that shows. It also acknowledges the exception shown in the graph.

The summary sentence describes something significant and relates to both paragraphs and ties everything together.

So, using our model answer above, this could be during the time period the number of people over 75 doubled.

7. Points to remember – writing task 1

Don’t include your own opinion or any information that is not asked for.

Don’t include too many figures in your writing task 1 table answer.

Don’t forget to have a plan to structure the answer correctly.

8. Be a master essay writer and prepare fully for writing task 1 with these tips

Use practice tests – the more experience, the better!

Review sample essays, such as these  here .

Time yourself as you practice more and more.

Try answering the question  without   using a dictionary.

Click here for more help with your  IELTS academic task 1 

19 IELTS writing task 1 table vocabulary phrases

Warning: Use these in context .

An  inspection  of the data in the first table clearly shows

It is apparent from this table that considerable …

In the third column, there is a distinct trend of …

What stands out in the table is …

A closer inspection of the table shows …

As the table shows, there is a significant decrease …

There is a significant difference between column A and column B, most notably…

An inspection of the data in the table reveals that …

What stands out in this table …

…is the general pattern of …

… is the difference between …

… is the wide disparity between …

… is the rapid increase of …

… is the growth of …

…is the high rate of

High-level sentences

The figure for 1999 is almost three times that of 2010.

The figure for 2011 is exactly four times that of 2010.

It is clear that the figures between 2001 and 2010 are broadly in the same range.

The figures between 1999 and 2000 are very similar to those of the prior year. The figures in columns A and B are almost identical.

Have a look at some more IELTS writing task tutorials.

Video tutorial: IELTS Academic Task 1 – How to Describe a Table

Take a look at the full video tutorial here:

More useful IELTS Academic Task 1 lessons

• IELTS Writing Task 1 Vocabulary List With Examples
• How to describe a pie chart
• Bar Chart IELTS
• How to describe a map
• Describe an image 
• Describe a natural process
• How to describe a table
• How to paraphrase
• Line graph sample answer
• Marking criteria for Task 1
• Map vocabulary for IELTS Task 1
• How to describe a flow chart
• Essential skills for Task 1
• How to get band 9 for academic task 1
• How to describe a process diagram
• Academic task 1: sentences and grammar to describe a chart

How to Write An IELTS Task 1 Table Band 9 Report

In IELTS Writing Task 1, you might be given one or two tables containing data. Your task will be to compare the information provided between different time periods or entities. This is a common type of question in this task.

It's important to focus on only one or two significant features in each table, rather than trying to include everything you see. This advice applies to all types of Writing Task 1 questions.

To tackle a Table Chart question, follow these seven major steps:

Analyse the question

Identify the major features

Remember the 4 paragraph structure

Paraphrase the question sentence

Write an Overview paragraph

Write the Body paragraph 1

Write the Body paragraph 2

This will guide you through the process and help you produce a well-structured response.​

However, if you want to ensure the band score you need in the IELTS exam, you can use our IELTS Writing Feedback   service. A former IELTS examiner will give you detailed feedback on how to reach your target score.

We also offer you  eBooks   loaded with in-depth discussion that are guaranteed to help you achieve a high band score. These  eBooks  have been written by a team of former IELTS examiners and contain top-quality content, including powerful tips and strategies that reveal band 9 secrets.

In these eBooks , our team of examiners has shared their step by step detailed illustration how to write high band IELTS essays, covering all possible question types in the Writing part.

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

The table below shows expenditures of four car companies on advertising in the UK in 2002.

Write at least 150 words.

Source: Cambridge English IELTS Past Papers

1. How to Analyse A Task 1 Table Question

To answer an IELTS question effectively, we must identify three key elements in the question sentence: topic words, micro keywords, and action words.

Topic words refer to the general area of the question topic, such as the advertising expenditure of car companies.

Micro keywords help us to prepare a specific answer by providing details such as the companies involved (Renault, Rover, Vauxhall, Cetirizine) and the media used (Press, Cinema, Outdoor, Radio, and TV).

Action words are the words that tell us what to do, such as "compare." Even if these words are not directly stated, we must understand what the examiner expects us to do. For example, if there are multiple diagrams or issues to discuss, we should focus on comparing the major features.

If you want further detailed discussion on question analysis, if you want experienced examiners' special tips and strategies on how to analyse a question most effectively, you can check the dedicated chapter in the  eBook.

Once we have analysed the question, we can identify the major features in the diagrams and proceed with answering the question effectively.

2. How to Identify the Main features in A Task 1 Table

Finding the major features in an IELTS Task 1 table question is an essential skill to master. The following steps can guide you through the process:

Understand the Data: Before anything else, you need to thoroughly understand the data presented in the table. Take your time to read the title, the column and row headers, and the units of measurement. This will give you a general idea about the content of the table.

Identify Trends: Look at the data and identify any noticeable trends. These could be increases or decreases over time, patterns of growth or decline, or consistent patterns.

Note Extremes: Find the highest and lowest figures, or any data that stands out because it's significantly different from the rest. This includes sudden increases or decreases, or numbers that are particularly high or low compared to others.

Make Comparisons: Look for comparisons that can be made. These could be between different categories in the table, or between different periods of time. For instance, one category might consistently perform better or worse than others, or there might be noticeable changes from one year to the next.

Look for Similarities and Differences: If there are multiple categories or periods of time, look for any similarities or differences between them. This could be in terms of trends, patterns, or individual data points.

Summarize: Finally, try to summarize the main features of the data. This is what you'll need to present in your IELTS Task 1 report.

Remember, finding the major features isn't about presenting every single piece of data in the table. Instead, you're looking for the key points that give a broad overview of the data as a whole. Practice this skill regularly, and you'll find that it becomes much easier to quickly and accurately identify the major features in any IELTS Task 1 table question.

Let's apply the above-mentioned strategy and find the key features in our sample table question:

Renault (among the car companies) was the leading spender: 132 million dollars in total

TV (among the media) attracted the highest advertising expense: 239 million dollars

Study area: UK in 2002. Units are measured in millions of dollars.

3. IELTS Task 1 Table Report Writing Structure

We can complete the essay using only 10 sentences! Yes, it is that much simple! Take a look how we place the 10 sentences in our 4 paragraph essay structure. The  eBook gives you step by step detailed demonstration on how to write each paragraph perfectly.

1. Paraphrasing the Question Sentence

Paraphrase the question statement using just one or two sentences. 

2. Overview Paragraph

Sentence 1: summary statement 1(preview of the essay without presenting data)

Sentence 2: summary statement 2 (more preview without presenting data)

3. Body Paragraph 1

Sentence 1: first major point

Sentence 2: second major point

Sentence 3: extension sentence 1 (compare/combine the major points stated above)

Sentence 4: extension sentence 2 (extension of the previous sentence, or adding an exceptional feature).

4. Body Paragraph 2

Sentence 1: exceptional feature 

Sentence 2: extension of the exceptional feature

Sentence 3: final sentence (wrapping-up the whole essay, completely based on the discussion above, nothing new)

Let's develop the answer step by step applying the above-stated 4 paragraph essay structure.

Before jumping on to give you a step by step detailed discussion, let's ask you a question:

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4. Paraphrasing the Question Sentence

This is the first paragraph of our IELTS Task 1 essay. This paragraph is all about paraphrasing the question statement. That means you will restate the question sentence in your language without changing the meaning of the original sentence. If you want to write this paragraph perfectly, you need to have a good grip on paraphrasing techniques. You can check the  eBook for powerful tips and strategies on how to paraphrase effectively.

This paragraph conveys an impression to the examiner how well you have understood the question.

Let's look at the actual question statement that we are using on this page:

"The table below shows expenditures of four car companies on advertising in the UK in 2002."

We can paraphrase the statement above as:

"The data table displays the advertising expenditure of the four car companies in millions of dollars, in the United Kingdom during 2002."

That concludes the first paragraph, which only consumed 23 words out of the 150-word limit. Moving forward to the next section, the Overview Paragraph.

5. Overview Paragraph

Overview is the second paragraph of our IELTS Writing Task 1 essay. This is the most important paragraph as well. Because without an overview paragraph in Task 1, you cannot expect more than band 5 in IELTS Writing section. Therefore, you need to take a very special care for this paragraph.

An Overview simply means a summary of the main features that you are going to discuss in the body paragraphs. Don't use any data in this paragraph, just state the most significant changes of the data that you can see in the Table. Remember, you are writing this paragraph only for conveying a general idea about your essay to the readers, not any details. For more in-depth discussion on how to write a smart overview paragraph, you can check the  eBook written by a team of vastly experienced former IELTS examiners.

Overview Paragraph Structure

Remember our Overview paragraph structure:

Sentence 1: summary statement 1(preview o f the essay without presenting data)

Let's form the paragraph:

Sentence 1(Summary Statement 1)

"Overall, Renault was the top spender on advertisement, with TV attracting the highest expenditure."

Sentence 2(Summary Statement 2)

"The companies' expenses varied for Press, Cinema, and Outdoor advertising, but they allocated identical budgets towards radio promotion."

Complete Overview Paragraph

"Overall, Renault was the top spender on advertisement, with TV attracting the highest expenditure. The companies' expenses varied for Press, Cinema, and Outdoor advertising, but they allocated identical budgets towards radio promotion."

It's pretty straightforward. In the previous section, we used 23 words to rephrase the question sentence, and now we have added another 32 words to complete the Overview paragraph. This indicates that we have finished two of the four paragraphs required for the IELTS Task 1 essay, and we're already halfway there. Let's proceed to the next sections, Body Paragraph 1 and Body Paragraph 2.

6. Body Paragraph 1

In the overview paragraph, we have given just a ge neral statement of significant features, we haven't discussed any detail. Now it's time to explain them in the two body paragraphs.

Body Paragraph 1 Stru cture

Remember our Body Paragraph 1 structure:

Let's form the paragraph following the above-stated structure:

Sentence 1( First Major Point )

"Renault took the top spot for promotional expenses, investing a total of 132 million dollars, while the other three companies each spent 100 million dollars."

Sentence 2( Second Major Point )

"TV received the highest advertising expenditure, with a total of 239 million dollars from all four companies."

Sentence 3( Extension Sentence 1 )

"The advertising type hierarchy consisted of TV, followed by Press, with Renault leading the advertising companies, and Vauxhall coming in second place."

Sentenc e 4( Extension Sentence 2 )

"In terms of radio promotion, ea ch of the four companies invested an equal sum of 15 million dollars."

Complete Body Paragraph 1

"Renault took the top spot for promotional expenses, investing a total of 132 million dollars, while the other three companies each spent 100 million dollars. TV received the highest advertising expenditure, with a total of 239 million dollars from all four companies. The advertising type hierarchy consisted of TV, followed by Press, with Renault leading the advertising companies, and Vauxhall coming in second place. In terms of radio promotion, each of the four companies invested an equal sum of 15 million dollars."

We've completed 75% of the IELTS Task 1 essay by adding 82 words to write the first body paragraph. It's a simple process of describing the obvious features shown in the pictures. In total, we've used 137 words so far for three paragraphs, and we only have one more paragraph left to write. It's okay to add a few more words, preferably 170-220, but never write less than the minimum required 150 words.

Awesome! Now, it's time to move to the final paragraph, Body Paragraph 2.

7. Body Paragraph 2

Body paragraph 2 is the final paragraph of our IELTS Task 1 essay. This is the easiest paragraph in the whole essay. Because here we're just stating other features briefly in the first sentence, adding another overall comparison statement in the second sentence, and then writing a final sentence summarizing the whole essay. Let's apply our structure for the second body paragraph:

Body Paragraph 2 Structure

Sentence 1(Exceptional Feature)

"On the other hand, Cetirizine spent the most, 70 million dollars, on TV advertisements, with Vauxhall following behind."

Sentence 2(Extension of the Exceptional Feature) 

"Outdoor and cinema promotions received the least amount of expenditure."

Sentence 3(Final Sentence)

"Finally, TV obtained the largest percentage of advertising expenses among all four companies, and Renault was the top spender for advertisement purposes."

Complete Body Paragraph 2

"On the other hand, Cetirizine spent the most, 70 million dollars, on TV advertisements, with Vauxhall following behind. Outdoor and cinema promotions received the least amount of expenditure. Finally, TV obtained the largest percentage of advertising expenses among all four companies, and Renault was the top spender for advertisement purposes."

We have included 47 extra words to the earlier 137, and wrapped up our 4-paragraph essay. This means we accomplished an IELTS Task 1 essay with 184 words, surpassing the required minimum of 150 words.

Well, mastering the art of crafting a compelling IELTS Task 1 Table Band 9 Report doesn't happen overnight. It takes persistence, dedication, and a good understanding of the format, content, and structure. However, with the right strategies such as focusing on language accuracy, task achievement, and coherence and cohesion, you can significantly increase your IELTS Writing Band score. Remember to make clear comparisons, interpret the data accurately, and provide a suitable overview.

The path to perfecting your IELTS Task 1 report writing is no doubt challenging, but it becomes significantly easier when armed with effective strategies and practice. So, don't be disheartened if your first attempts don't fetch you a Band 9. Keep practicing, keep improving, and use the tips in this blog post to guide your journey.

Acing your IELTS Task 1 Table Band 9 report is within your reach, so take the necessary steps today. From understanding the structure to meticulously proofreading your work, every step counts towards your success. Keep perfecting your writing skills and watch your IELTS scores soar!

Don't forget to check the following resources:

Download IELTS High Scoring eBooks

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Check the detailed discussion on all the question types

Pie Chart                  Bar Chart

Line Graph                Map

Table Chart               Process Diagram

Multiple Graphs

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• Academic Task 1

IELTS Academic Table Chart Guide

• Task 1 Guide
• Table & Bar
• Bar & Pie
• Table & Pie
• Compare Contrast
• Identifying Trends

This guide will help you to prepare to answer table questions in the IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 part of the exam. Read on for example questions, tips, sample answers and much more!

Table of Contents

1.1 objective, 1.2 skills used, 2.1 tables with one year.

• 2.2 Tables with Multiple Years

3.1 Introduction

3.2 overview, 3.3 main body paragraphs.

• IELTS Writing Task 1 Band Descriptors Explained

5.1 Comparative Language

6.1 comparative structures, 7.1 sample answer commentary.

• Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
• Quiz- Check Your Understanding

2. IELTS Table Overview

One type of IELTS writing task 1 is a table that presents information in columns and rows.

You may be given one table, two tables, or a combination question ( see our guides on combination questions with tables and pie and bar charts ).

You need to produce a formal report that summarises the key information given in the table(s). Your IELTS report should be factual (do not include your opinion) and you must write at least 150 words . You may need to compare data from different periods of time, only one given year, or there may be no date provided.

This IELTS writing task is testing your ability to select and summarise key information from a table and make comparisons between categories. You must also show that you understand the difference between a formal report (IELTS writing task 1) and an essay (writing task 2). To do this, your report should:

• Not include the first person ‘I’ at any point (e.g. write ‘ The graph shows …’ not ‘I think the graph shows’)
• Not use contractions (e.g. use ‘ It is …’ not ‘it’s)

IELTS External links

Also, read the following IELTS Report Writing Guides

• IELTS Bar Chart
• Line Graph IELTS
• Pie Chart for IELTS
• IELTS Academic Table
• IELTS Academic Process Diagram
• Maps for IELTS
• Combined - Table and Bar Chart
• Combined - Bar Chart and Pie Chart
• Combined - Table and Pie Chart
• IELTS Writing Task 1 Guide

2. IELTS Task 1 Table Questions

Here is an example of what a typical table might look like:

2.2 Tables With Multiple Years

Here is a table where you are given data to compare from the past and present:

Reasons for adults attending the theatre (in %) in London

3. Structure for IELTS Table Questions

The first paragraph of your report for an IELTS writing task 1 table should paraphrase (rewrite in your own words) the given statement. The IELTS statement is usually given above the table and will give you a brief description of the data shown.

Here are some ways you could start your report :

• The table shows…
• The table gives details about…
• The table provides information about…
• The table summarises information about…
• The table compares…

Paraphrasing means writing something into your own words and maintaining the same meaning. You can do this by using synonyms , similar phrases , changing the word order of the sentence in some way (such as changing the active to the passive voice) or changing the word class of words (e.g. changing a noun to a verb form).

See this example of a paraphrased statement:

Original statement: The table below shows the figures for genres of TV programmes watched on a streaming service by country in millions.

Paraphrased statement: The table compares four countries in terms of the number of people, in millions,  who watched four different genres of television programmes (comedy, horror, documentary, and true crime) on a streaming service.

Main changes :

• ‘The table below…’ becomes the table ‘ The table compares …’
• ‘…the figures for genres of TV programmes’ becomes ‘ four different genres of television programmes ’
• Brackets are used to give the specific television genres. Note- do not put a very long list within brackets, and do not over use brackets in your report.
• …in millions…’ becomes ‘… people, in millions ,…’

With all IELTS writing task 1 reports, you must always include an overview paragraph after your introduction. Your overview should provide the general trends shown in the table without going into detail.

Here are some things to consider when writing an overview for tables :

• Start your overview with ‘ Overall …’ to make it easy for the examiner to locate your overview paragraph. Other possible words / phrases are:
• In summary ,…
• Broadly, it can be seen that ..
• To summarise ,…
• Mention each category in the table but do not describe all the data for each category (e.g. if four countries are mentioned you should write something about all four countries, but not all the figures related to each one)
• Try to group the data in some way using your general knowledge e.g. group sweet and savoury food
• Look for the key features of the table (the highest/lowest/ most significant figures)

Your main body paragraphs are where you go into detail about the features mentioned in your overview.

You should consider the following points :

• Decide if you need to use language to compare and contrast, or language to describe changes over time
• You can describe the average of a range of data
• Do not try and describe all the data given in the table(s)
• Vary your sentence structures (use a range of simple and complex sentences)
• If you are given dates, make sure to use a range of correct tense
• Use linking phrases
• Use a range of comparative language to compare date on the table (see Vocabulary for IELTS Tables )
• Organise your body paragraphs according to the categories you used in your overview
• Leave a line between each paragraph to make your report structure clear for the examiner

4. IELTS Writing Task 1 Band Descriptors Explained

Our section on IELTS Writing Band descriptors   for IELTS writing Task 1 explains how to succeed in: Task achievement , Coherence and Cohesion , Lexical Range and Accuracy , and Grammatical Range and Accuracy .

5. Vocabulary for IELTS Tables

Here are some useful phrases to use when comparing data from a table:

Examples: Spanish was far more popular for men than women.

Twice as many women as men chose to study Welsh.

A considerably higher number of men than women chose to study Arabic.

The number of women who studied French was slightly higher than that of men.

Far more men than women studied French.

Japanese was equally popular for women and men.

6. Grammar for IELTS Writing Task 1 Table

Form X is as _____ as Y X is not as _____ as Y

Examples: A one-bedroom flat is as expensive in the UK as in the USA, at £700 and £720 per month. A woman’s haircut in the USA is not as expensive as in the UK, at £35 and £45. A burger from a UK restaurant is not as expensive as a burger in the USA, at £1.20 and £2.00.

Other useful structures

• X is 50% the price of Y
• X is double the price of Y
• X is the same price as Y
• X is much less expensive than …
• X is slightly less expensive than …
• X is not quite as expensive as …
• X is twice/ three times cheaper than Y

7. IELTS Writing Task 1 Table Sample Answer

The table shows a breakdown of the most popular languages taken by native English speakers studying at the UK Centre for Foreign Language Learning in 2020.

Summarise the charts by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant.

The table highlights information about the percentage of English native speaking women and men that studied one of nine foreign languages at a foreign language school in the UK in 2020.

Overall , what stands out from the table is that Arabic was the most popular language for men, while Mandarin was more popular than other languages for women. Another interesting point is that the biggest difference in percentage between genders related to Mandarin.

In detail , if we look at Welsh, it was twice as popular with men than with women, at 8% and 4% respectively. Similarly, German was two times as popular for men with 14% as opposed to women at 7%. The largest difference in language studies for men and women was Mandarin, at  14% and 27%.

Conversely , Spanish was as popular with women as with men at 19% for both genres. Likewise, there was a slight difference in the number of men (9%) and women (10%) studying Japanese. Finally , Italian, this was the least popular language for women coming in at only 3% followed closely by men at 5%.

The report above would receive an estimated 9.0 overall in the IELTS writing task 1 Academic paper.

It has been organised into four logical paragraphs that are clearly divided into an introduction, overview, and two separate body paragraphs.

The overview paragraph has been clearly signposted using ‘overall’ and the key features introduced with the phrase ‘what stands out from the table’. Only the key features have been stated and the writer has not gone into detail. The superlative ‘the most popular language’ has been used to rank the information. A range of other comparative language has been used successfully, such as ‘the most popular’, ‘more popular than’, ‘the biggest difference’, ‘two times as popular’ and ‘twice as popular’.

A range of linking devices have been used successfully such as ‘conversely’, ‘similarly’, and ‘finally’.

Further details have been given in the main body paragraphs using comparative structures ’ e.g. ‘Spanish was as popular with women as with men’.

8. Common Errors and How to Avoid Them

8.1 problem 1.

Problem 1 Difficulty locating the key features of the table.

Solution 1 IELTS Candidates often struggle with identifying the key features of a table as it might not be as clear as a graph or chart. One solution is to look for the highest and lowest numbers on your table and ask yourself:

• What are the largest numbers?
• What are the smallest numbers?
• Which numbers show the biggest difference?
• Which numbers are similar?

The answers to these questions will help you to identify the key features of the table.

8.2 Problem 2

Problem 2 Only writing about one table when more than one are given

Solution 2 If you are given more than one table, then you need to summarise data from each table to do well in the task achievement’ marking component. Remember, you do not need to write about every single detail, only the main trends.

9. Quiz- Check Your Understanding

Take this short quiz to test your understanding of writing task 1 and tables:

• Graphs/charts Answer: A. Graphs/charts Exp × A lot of the comparative language you will need for a table can also be used when summarising charts and graphs.
• Process diagram

Explanation: Some tables will have dates ranging from the past to the present and future.

Explanation: You may also be given two tables.

Explanation: Grouping your data into logical categories is useful to create coherence in your report, for example, grouping healthy and unhealthy foods together.

• A considerably higher number of men than women chose to study Arabic. Answer: A.
• A considerable higher number of men than women chose to study Arabic.
• Far more men women studied French.
• Far more men than women studied French. Answer:B.
• A one-bedroom flat is as expensive in the UK as in the USA, at £700 and £720 per month respectively. Answer: A. This sentence refers to detailed figures from the table.
• A one-bedroom flat is as expensive in the UK as in the USA.
• A burger from a UK restaurant is not expensive as a burger in the USA, at £1.20 and £2.00.
• A burger from a UK restaurant is not as expensive as a burger in the USA, at £1.20 and £2.00. Answer: B. This sentence uses the structure …not as expensive as….
• Bread was double the price of tea in 2020. Answer: A. ‘double the price of’ is a comparative structure
• The cost of bread was high in England in 2020.
• England had the highest price of break in 2020. Answer: A. ‘the highest…’ is an example of a superlative
• Bread was very expensive in England in 2020 at £2.30 per loaf.

3 thoughts on “IELTS Academic Table Chart Guide”

There is an error in answers of 9th and 10th question. It is being impossible to select the answer for 10th question, if you already choose the answer for 9th one. It will be great, if the problem is fixed.

fixed, thanks.

Hello, Thank you for the great article. I just want to point out that the following sentence in TASK 1 sample answer seems incomplete; fragment.

“Another interesting point is that the biggest difference in percentage between genders related to Mandarin.”

Can you account for it please as I am not sure how to fix it?

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IELTS Writing Task 1 Tips, Model Answers & More

Useful IELTS writing task 1 tips, answers, lessons & videos for success achieving a high score. This page contains all the information and help you need to do well. Learn about the IELTS marking criteria, paragraphing, vocabulary and much more. This page has tips for Academic writing task 1 and GT writing task 1 (see bottom of page).

IELTS Writing Task 1 Information

• IELTS recommend you spend no more than 20 mins on writing task 1. However, the time is yours to manage as you wish.
• You should write over 150 words.
• IELTS writing task 1 is worth only about 33% of your total writing marks.
• Task Achievement (25%)
• Coherence & Cohesion (25%)
• Vocabulary (25%)
• Grammar (25%)
• : IELTS Writing Task 1 Band Scores 
• Academic writing task 1 is a report on a chart (bar chart, line graph, pie chart, table, map, diagram/process). See below for practice charts, model answers, tips etc.
• General Training writing task 1 is a letter only. GT letter writing tips can be found towards the bottom of this page. Click here for Information about GT Writing Differences.  There are tips for letter writing, further down this page.
• All words will be counted and all numbers count as one word. See this page: How Words are Counted
• For more information about IELTS test rules, tips etc, see this page: IELTS  Test 1 FAQ

IELTS Writing Task 1 Practice Charts

A collection of useful IELTS writing task 1 practice samples to develop your writing at home.

IELTS Charts for Practice : Academic Test Only

• Academic students may get bar charts, tables, line graphs, pie charts, maps and diagrams (processes).

IELTS Letters for Practice : GT Test Only

• GT students will only be given letters for task 1. GT students can find more tips lower down this page.

IELTS Writing Task 1 Tips & Free Videos

Free IELTS  writing task 1 tips and videos for the right techniques and understanding the test more clearly.

• Essential Tips : How to Prepare for Writing Task 1
• Tips : How Many Words Should you Write?
• Tips: What tense to use in writing task 1?
• Tips : Penalty for Under the Word Count
• Video : How to Describe a Bar Chart with model answer
• Video : Map Language: 1
• Video: Conclusion or Overview Tips
• Video : Vocabulary for Accurate Data
• Video : How many Paragraphs 
• Video : Official Writing Answer Sheet Tips
• Video : Line Graph 4 Main Sentences
• Video : Line Graph How to Write a Complex Sentence

IELTS Bar Chart Video

Learn how to describe a bar chart in IELTS writing task 1. You can find a model answer for this lesson here: Model Answer .

Writing Task 1 Model Answers

IELTS model answers for charts, graphs, diagrams, maps and tables.. Each sample answer is estimated band score 9.

• Diagram Model Answer
• Bar Chart & Pie Charts Model Answer
• Table Model Answer
• Map Model Answer
• Line Graph Model Answer
• Bar Chart Model Answer
• Pie Chart Model Answer
• Bar Chart of Age Groups Model Answer
• Table Future Form Model Answer
• Line Graph & Bar Chart Model Answer
• Practise at Home:  IELTS Sample Practice Charts

IELTS Writing Task 1 Practice Lessons

IELTS writing task 1 free practice lessons to help you develop skills and understand about the requirements of task 1 academic. More lessons will be added over time.

• Table & Pie Charts
• IELTS Diagram Rain Water
• Two Line Graphs: Exercise & Model
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• Bar Chart of Change over Time
• IELTS Line Graph Gap Fill Exercise
• IELTS Diagrams: Practice Exercise
• IELTS Line Graph: Vocabulary List
• IELTS Line Graph: How to Describe Guidelines
• IELTS Line Graph: Exercise & Model
• Task 1 Improving  Line Graph Introduction Paragraph
• IELTS Map: Comparison Exercise
• IELTS Two Charts Practice: Pie Chart & Bar Chart
• IELTS Bar Chart: Practice Exercise
• IELTS Diagram Water Supply
• Grammar Accuracy: Practice & Tips
• IELTS Bar Chart: Introduction & Overview Practice
• IELTS Pie Chart: How to Describe a Pie Chart Step by Step
• IELTS Frog Diagram: Introduction & Overview Practice
• Introduction Paragraph: Correcting Errors
• IELTS Bar Chart Sample Answer

IELTS General Training Letter

The following links are for IELTS candidates who are preparing for the General Training Writing Test. Your task will be asked to write a letter. You will not be writing a report as in the Academic Test. Use the links below to help you prepare:

10 Essential Tips for IELTS Letter Writing

How to Improve your IELTS GT Letter

Differences between GT & Academic Writing

General training model letters and practice exercises:

• Apology Letter: Model Answers Formal & Informal
• Amendment Letter: Model Answer 2017
• Complaint Letter: Model Answer
• Complaint Letter: Error Correction
• Letter to a Friend: Model Answer
• Invitation Letter: Model Answer

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IELTS Writing Task 1 Table

Explaining the data on a table in the IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 is quite common. Such essays are not like the ones you are familiar with. These are kind of analytical essays and require to be written in a certain style. 

While there are quite a number of types of such questions, we will focus on the explaining table type questions here.

How to Structure Table Essays?

IELTS Academic writing task 1 structure is usually depends on the type of chart you are asked to write about. Normally we follow a four paragraph structure with a concluding paragraph. However, in case of line graph and table we do not write a conclusion as they are not discursive essays.

Here is a rough structure that you can follow:

Paragraph 1 (Introduction)

Sentence 1- Paraphrase Question

Paragraph 2 (Overview)

Sentence 1- Overview of first main feature

Sentence 2- Overview of second main feature

Sentence 3- Make general comparison, if appropriate

Paragraph 3 (Details of significant feature 1)

Sentence 1- Supporting details

Sentence 2- Supporting details

Sentence 3- Supporting details/comparison details, if appropriate

Paragraph 4 (Details of significant feature 2)

Sentence 3- Supporting details/Comparison details, if appropriate

How to Identify Key Points?

This is often the area most students struggle with. This is because of one main reason: lack of prioritising ability. Prioritising means you should choose two or three significant features and just write about these. The question often specifically says ‘select main features’, so examiner expects you to do this. There should be 2 or 3 main features for you to comment on.

If you are unable to do this you are automatically tempted to write about every single piece of data you will find. This doesn’t allow you to summarise effectively. You must remember that this is a summarising task. Writing a lengthy overview and spending too much time on this task won’t help you in any way. 

Here are some things you should be looking for to include in your discussion:

• High/low values
• Erratic values
• Biggest increase/decrease
• Volatile data
• Unchanging data
• Biggest majority/ minority (pie charts)
• Biggest difference/similarities
• Major trends
• Notable exceptions

Looking for these things should allow you to pick out the most important features.

Another thing you must not do is, overthink the question. It is often tempting to think that the answer is too obvious and therefore not write about it. A common main feature is a general increase or decrease. Some students see this as too simple and ignore it all together. Reporting the obvious or simple features is just as fine.

Examples of Table Essays

Question 1:

The table below shows the number of medals won by the top ten countries in the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Write at least 150 words.

The given data shows the top ten medal winning countries in the London Olympic Games that was held in the year 2012. As is presented in the table data, the United States won the highest number of medals while Hungary had the least number of medals in this Olympic Games.

According to the presentation, USA won the highest number of medals which was 104 and they also got the highest number of Gold and Silver medals. The highest number of Bronze medals was won by the Russian participants which were 32. Two Asian countries were in the top-ten-list, in terms of their medal winning, were China and South Korea. China won 88 medals in total, of which 29 were gold medals. South Korea was in 5th position with their 28 total medals. UK and Russia were in 3rd and 4th positions respectively with 65 and 82 medals. Though Russia won more medals than the UK, they were in 4th position because of the fact that the UK participants won more gold medals which seem to have better points than silver and bronze medals to be in the top position. The other countries who were in the Top-ten-list were Germany, France, Italy, Hungary and Australia with less than 50 medals in total. The least gold medal winning country was Australia and they were in the 10th position of the list.

Question 2:

The table below gives data on the hour of leisure time per year for people in Someland.

Write a report for a university lecturer describing the information in the table below.

You should write at least 150 words.

The table shows how people in different age groups spend their leisure time in Someland over the course of a year. Overall, the amount of leisure time available varies considerably across the age groups and people of different age levels have very different ways of spending their leisure time.

According to the figures, as people age in Someland, their time for socialising reduces. Teenagers and people in their twenties spend around 500 and 350 hours per year on socialising with a group of more than 4 people. Although the total hours of socialising in their 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s are fairly constant (between 300-350), socialising with more than 4 people drops dramatically to 50 hours in the 30s and 40s age groups. Group and individual exercise follow a similar pattern.

People of all ages spend a good part of their leisure time on entertainment such as enjoying TV/ video and cinema. In both cases, teenagers and retired people spend around twice as much time as those who are at working age. Home entertainment ranges from just over a thousand hours for teenagers and retired people and an average of 600 hours for everyone else. Cinema accounts for 100 hours of the teenagers and retired people’s leisure and 25-50 hours for the rest. It is worth noticing that there is a significant trend towards solitary and smaller group activities as people grow older.

IELTS academic writing task 1 can be easily nailed if you have the right ideas and the right writing style. An appropriate structure and a smooth discussion of the key points are sure to add volume to your scores.

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How to answer table chart essay in IELTS writing task 1 Academics

• IELTS Writing Academics Task 1

Table chart essay is one of the most important questions asked in IELTS writing task 1 Academics.

In this, you are provided with one or two data tables. You will need to compare the data between different entities for a given time. You don’t need to include everything that you notice in the questions instead focus on mentioning the main points in your essay.  Grouping the data is one of the key skills that you need here.

In this article, we will discuss how to answer a table chart essay in IELTS Writing task 1 Academics.

What is a table chart essay?

A table chart essay is a form of the question asked in the IELTS Writing Task 1 Academics in which you are given a table with information and you have to explain the table in your words citing the main points with supporting facts, figures given in the question.  In any table chart, the horizontal and vertical axis is the two major points to be talked about in the essay.

The table contains words, numbers, or both displayed in boxes or columns.  There can be a single table or a combination of two.

In the task, you will be required to describe the table in a 150-word report. You are not supposed to give your opinion in the essay. Just walk by the facts given in the question to frame your answer.

What is the purpose of the Table Chart Essay assessment in IELTS Writing Task 1?

The purpose of the Table Chart Essay Assessment in IELTS Writing task is to judge a student based on the following skills:

• The information described in the answer
• Clarity of Compare and contrast are done in the answer
• Making a report on an impersonal topic
• Use of language in the answer

What are the different parts of the table chart essay questions?

Part 1:  Part1 one of the table chart essay talks about the information given in the question and the table

Part 2:  Part 2 directs you what to do in the question. It talks about the context and the comparisons

Part 3: Part 3 of the essay is the graphical representation of the question.

Structure of the Table chart Essay

Introduction Body Paragraph 1 Body Paragraph 2 Conclusion

     Or

Introduction Overview paragraph Body paragraph 1 Body Paragraph 2

Introduction- Write the introduction within 3-4 lines. Your introduction should cover the main points mentioned in the question. You can begin the introduction by paraphrasing the question.

Body paragraph 1- You can talk about the main issue in the body paragraph 1 that aligns well with your introduction.

Body Paragraph 2- Talk about the second main point in body paragraph 2

Conclusion- Introduction, and conclusion are the 2 major points that decide the score. So, frame your conclusion concerning your understanding of the question.

Marking Criteria of the IELTS Writing Test 1. Task Achievement

Task Achievement is all about how well you answer the question.

To increase your score for TA:

• Present the information accurately
• Answer all parts of the task
• Provide a clear overview
• Highlight the key features

2. Coherence and Cohesion

Coherence and Cohesion are all about testing the organization of the essay, the paragraph used, and the linking devices.

To increase your score for Coherence and Cohesion you can:

• Have 4 paragraphs
• Organize your ideas logically
• Use a range of linking  words
• Make sure each paragraph share an idea

3. Lexical Resource and Vocabulary

Lexical resource tests how good your vocabulary is. Apart from that, it tests spelling and paraphrasing.

To score more on lexical resource and vocabulary front you can:

• Pay attention to the collocations
• Use a range of words appropriate for the topic
• Spell the words correctly
• Avoid using informal language

4. Grammatical Range and Accuracy

In the IELTS Writing task 1 Academics, you will be examined based on your grammar, i.e., the tense used in the paragraph, the tone, use of complex sentences, and the number of errors.

To score well on the grammatical Range and Accuracy front, you can:

• Use a wide range of grammatical structures
• Manage punctuation
• Avoid errors in sentences
• Pay attention to the order of the words in the sentence

Keeping a tab over these points will help you in creating a good essay structure and help you achieve the desired band score.

Each of these parameters is equally weighted. (25%)

How to plan your essay in Writing task 1 Academics Planning is one of the most important things in conquering the IELTS battle.  You can follow the steps below to plan your easy:

1. Analyze the Question Analyze the question by reading the instructions and analyzing the figures, facts mentioned in the information.

2. Identify the main features Pick 2-3 most important trends by analyzing the table chart and write about it in your essay.

3. Brainstorm the ideas and vocabulary Brainstorm the ideas to design your introduction and overview of the essay.

Introduction- paraphrase the question

Overview- summarize the chart

Detailed paragraphs- You can talk about or elaborate on the main features of your essay in the paragraph.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in IELTS Writing Task 1-Academics Incomplete analysis of the data For attempting the question perfectly, you need to understand its base. Therefore incomplete analysis of data will hamper your answer. Take time to read the question and form your answer for the same. Writing Explanation for the data Though you have to write an essay on the data, you don’t have to talk about every single point in the essay.  Try skimming the passage and focus on the explanation of the main points. Not Writing an Overview The overview is critical to your answer formation and completion. Therefore, missing out on an overview can cause your marks. And, of course, you don’t want that to happen!  Write a complete overview of what the question is all about. You can include the overview at the beginning or the end of the essay. Mentioning every detail As mentioned in the 2nd point, you don’t need to include everything in your essay. Just include the main points asked in the question. Exceeding the word limit Although there is no upper limit, most of the IELTS aspirants think that exceeding the word limit is cool. Well, that’s not the case. You should try to complete the essay within 160-190 words and avoid going beyond it. Illogical structure Follow a logical structure while writing the essay Not Planning before writing Planning accounts for one of the crucial steps in writing the essay. Therefore, always plan your essay and organize the structure before writing it.

This is how you can answer the Table Chart questions in IELTS Writing Task 1 Academics. Always take time in reading, organizing the question, and grouping the information. This accounts for an important skill in IELTS Academic Writing and helps you score well.

Apart from that, you can subscribe to interesting and professional Videos like Unlock IELTS with Richa to have a detailed understanding of the IELTS concepts and gain tips and tricks to qualify IELTS effortlessly.  

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IELTS writing task 1: Table with dynamic data

Model answer for a table with a trend..

As mentioned in other posts regarding IELTS academic writing task 1, data can be either static or dynamic . Static data shows no changes over time, you may get a table or a graph where you need to make comparisons. However, it is important to analyse the task first as in this model answer below the data changes over time. So this is using trends language as it is dynamic data.

For a lesson on trends language with dynamic graphs see this link here.

Spend 2 or 3 minutes analysing the task and pick out the key features. In this table below, you will see that the male and female employee numbers declined sharply over the period, whereas factories increased and then dipped.

It is not advised to write about everything, just summarise and keep it concise at under 190 words.

Model Answer

The table illustrates the proportion of factory staff and factories in England and Wales over 50 years from 1851 to 1901.

Overall, the table indicates that the total number of employees witnessed a significant drop throughout the whole period, whereas the number of factories increased substantially over the fifty year timeframe.

Regarding employee numbers, male factory staff in 1851 comprised 287,100 compared to190,000 females. The figure declined rapidly for males in the years after 1851 dropping to a low of 31,000 in 1901. Figures in the female category also witnessed a sharp decline dropping to 160,000 in 1861, which was more than that of male workers at the time. By 1901 female employee numbers were almost equal to males at 30,000. In total, the workforce figure plummeted from 477,100 in 1851 to 61,000 by 1901.

Looking at the data for factories, these accounted for 225 in 1851. Then the figure jumped sharply after 1861, peaking at 721 factories by 1881. In the following 20 years numbers dropped slightly, totalling 600 factories by 1901.

The task must be written in paragraphs, as you can see there is a short introduction, a concise overview and I have separated the employee numbers and factory data into 2 paragraphs.

For a lesson on useful vocabulary in IELTS writing task 1 academic see this link here.

If you need writing corrections take a look at the correction service here: ieltsfocus.com/writing-correction-service

Leave a comment below if you have any questions.

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