Practice › Task 1
IELTS Writing Task 1: Table
How to recognise it
Rows and columns of numbers. Lots of data, so selecting is the key skill.
The overview
Don't describe row by row. Find the highest and lowest values and the general pattern across columns (e.g. all figures rose).
Plan (20 minutes)
| Paragraph | What to write |
|---|---|
| Introduction (1 sentence) | Paraphrase what the table compares. |
| Overview (2 sentences) | The general pattern plus the most notable highest/lowest. |
| Body 1 | One group of rows or columns with key figures. |
| Body 2 | The rest, focusing on contrasts and exceptions. |
Think before you write
- What does the visual show, in what units, and over what time or in what places?
- Find the 2-3 key features (biggest, smallest, main trend, biggest change, exception).
- Write the overview sentence first in your head; it decides how you group the body paragraphs.
- Choose only the figures that support those features. Don't describe everything.
Useful language
- The most notable figure is…
- By far the highest…
- In contrast, …
- …was higher in … than in …
- …ranged from … to …
- In all cases, …
- With the exception of…, …
- a similar pattern can be seen for…
- almost double
- a tenth of
- slightly above the average of…
Mistakes that cost bands
- Copying every number from the table.
- No overview (the most common reason for Task Achievement 5).
- Grouping randomly instead of by pattern.
10 practice questions
Original questions written for upband.ai in the style of the exam. Write your answer in 20 minutes, then score it.
The table shows the average annual salary (in thousands of pounds) for five professions in 2015 and 2025.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.
| Profession | 2015 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Doctor | 70 | 88 |
| Teacher | 30 | 36 |
| Software developer | 45 | 68 |
| Nurse | 26 | 34 |
| Lawyer | 60 | 75 |
Units: £ thousand per year
Practise this question →The table shows the number of cinema tickets sold (in millions) in four countries in 2000, 2010 and 2020.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.
| Country | 2000 | 2010 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Country A | 140 | 160 | 60 |
| Country B | 90 | 85 | 30 |
| Country C | 20 | 55 | 40 |
| Country D | 60 | 62 | 25 |
Units: millions of tickets
Practise this question →The table shows the percentage of people aged 25-34 with a university degree in five countries in 2005 and 2025.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.
| Country | 2005 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Country A | 35 | 52 |
| Country B | 20 | 45 |
| Country C | 40 | 48 |
| Country D | 15 | 22 |
| Country E | 28 | 30 |
Units: % with a degree
Practise this question →The table shows the average time (in minutes) people in five cities spent commuting to work each day in 2025, by transport type.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.
| City | Car | Public transport | Bicycle |
|---|---|---|---|
| City A | 35 | 50 | 25 |
| City B | 55 | 45 | 30 |
| City C | 25 | 40 | 20 |
| City D | 60 | 70 | 40 |
| City E | 30 | 35 | 15 |
Units: minutes per day
Practise this question →The table shows the number of visitors (in thousands) to a national park in each quarter of 2023 and 2025.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.
| Quarter | 2023 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Jan-Mar | 40 | 45 |
| Apr-Jun | 120 | 160 |
| Jul-Sep | 210 | 260 |
| Oct-Dec | 70 | 65 |
Units: thousands of visitors
Practise this question →The table shows the percentage of household income spent on food in six countries in 1995 and 2025.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.
| Country | 1995 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Country A | 18 | 11 |
| Country B | 25 | 16 |
| Country C | 40 | 28 |
| Country D | 12 | 9 |
| Country E | 35 | 30 |
| Country F | 22 | 13 |
Units: % of income
Practise this question →The table shows the amount of carbon dioxide emitted per person (in tonnes) in five countries in 2000 and 2025.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.
| Country | 2000 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Country A | 20 | 14 |
| Country B | 10 | 7 |
| Country C | 2 | 7 |
| Country D | 9 | 9 |
| Country E | 1 | 2 |
Units: tonnes per person
Practise this question →The table shows the results of a survey asking people in three age groups how often they shop online.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.
| Frequency | 18-30 | 31-50 | 51+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Every day | 20 | 10 | 3 |
| Every week | 50 | 45 | 25 |
| Every month | 25 | 35 | 40 |
| Never | 5 | 10 | 32 |
Units: % of age group
Practise this question →The table shows the population (in millions) of four cities in 1950, 2000 and 2050 (projected).
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.
| City | 1950 | 2000 | 2050 (projected) |
|---|---|---|---|
| City A | 2 | 9 | 18 |
| City B | 8 | 10 | 11 |
| City C | 1 | 4 | 14 |
| City D | 5 | 7 | 6 |
Units: millions of people
Practise this question →The table shows the percentage of students in one school who achieved a top grade in four subjects in 2015, 2020 and 2025.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.
| Subject | 2015 | 2020 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maths | 20 | 28 | 25 |
| English | 25 | 30 | 33 |
| Science | 18 | 22 | 27 |
| Languages | 15 | 14 | 12 |
Units: % achieving top grade
Practise this question →