Academic Writing Task 1 · table

Average length and viewing time of various YouTube video advertisements

The table shows the average length of YouTube video advertisements and the average length of time viewers spend watching them.

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

Average YouTube Video ad length and time viewed

Type of YouTube ad	Average length of YouTube ad (seconds)	Average time viewed (seconds)
Public service	66.7	28.1
Business and finance	35.1	24.6
Entertainment and news	30.8	26.5
Travel	28.7	23.0
Technology	39.3	20.9
Retail	26.5	20.1
Consumer electronics	24.9	17.3
Clothing	23.4	16.6
Pharmaceuticals	21.8	16.0
Lifestyle	33.7	14.3
Overall	38.1	20.4

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 duration of YouTube video advertisements across ten different sectors, alongside the corresponding average time viewers spent watching them. Overall, the data indicates that while ad length varies considerably, viewers consistently watch only a portion of the total duration, with an overall average viewing time of 20.4 seconds for a 38.1-second ad.

Public service advertisements were the most prominent, featuring the longest average length at 66.7 seconds and the highest viewing time of 28.1 seconds. In contrast, entertainment and news ads, which lasted 30.8 seconds, achieved a high engagement rate with 26.5 seconds of viewing time. Business and finance ads also performed well, with viewers watching 24.6 seconds out of a 35.1-second average length.

Conversely, lifestyle advertisements were relatively long at 33.7 seconds but recorded the lowest viewing time at just 14.3 seconds. Similarly, pharmaceuticals and clothing ads had shorter average lengths of 21.8 and 23.4 seconds respectively, with corresponding viewing times of 16.0 and 16.6 seconds. Technology ads, despite being the second longest at 39.3 seconds, only managed a viewing time of 20.9 seconds, suggesting that longer ad duration does not necessarily correlate with higher viewer retention.

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

How to write about 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.

correlate: have a mutual relationship or connection between things
prominent: important, famous, or noticeable in a specific context
corresponding: relating to or connected with a particular thing
retention: the continued possession or use of something
illustrates: provides a visual representation of data or information
consistently: in every case or on every occasion

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Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?

Public service advertisements were the longest and most watched, while lifestyle ads had the lowest viewing time despite being significantly longer than several other categories.

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.