Academic Writing Task 1 · table

Average IELTS General Test Band Scores for Four Language Groups in 2010

The table below shows the average band scores for students from different language groups taking the IELTS General Test in 2010.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.

Average IELTS General Test band scores by language group in 2010
LanguageListeningReadingWritingSpeakingOverall
German6.86.36.66.96.7
French6.36.16.56.66.5
Indonesian6.36.16.16.76.3
Malay6.26.46.06.66.4

Chart redrawn by BandLadder from the data in the original IELTS practice task. Many IELTS practice tasks come from the Cambridge IELTS series (Cambridge University Press & Assessment); all rights in the original tasks remain with their owners.

Band 8 sample answer

The table illustrates the average IELTS General Test band scores achieved by students from four distinct language backgrounds—German, French, Indonesian, and Malay—during 2010. Overall, German speakers demonstrated the strongest performance across all categories, while the other three groups showed more comparable results.

German students led the cohort with an overall score of 6.7, bolstered by a high listening score of 6.8 and a peak speaking score of 6.9. In contrast, Indonesian students recorded the lowest overall average at 6.3. French speakers sat in the middle with an overall score of 6.5, while Malay speakers achieved an average of 6.4.

Regarding specific skills, speaking was the strongest area for all groups, with scores ranging from 6.6 for French and Malay to 6.9 for German. Conversely, writing and reading scores were generally lower. Malay speakers struggled most with writing, recording the lowest score of 6.0, whereas Indonesian students matched this 6.1 score in both reading and writing. French speakers maintained a relatively consistent performance, with their lowest score being 6.1 in reading. Overall, the data highlights that while German speakers outperformed their counterparts, speaking proficiency remained a universal strength across all language groups.

191 words. Every figure in the answer comes from the chart above.

How to write about tables

bolstered
supported or strengthened by a particular factor
counterparts
people or things that correspond to another
cohort
a group of people with a shared characteristic
conversely
in a way that is the opposite
proficiency
a high degree of skill or competence
consistently
acting or done in the same way over time

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Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?

German speakers achieved the highest overall band score, while all four groups consistently performed best in the speaking component and least effectively in the reading or writing sections.

How long should an IELTS Task 1 answer be?

At least 150 words; 170 to 200 is the safe range. Spend about 20 minutes on it and leave 40 for Task 2, which carries twice the marks.

How do I describe tables?

Tables hide the trend: find the highest, lowest and biggest change yourself. Select; do not list every cell. Organise paragraphs by row or by column, whichever gives the clearer comparison.

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