Academic Writing Task 1 · table

Changes in Canadian household and family types from 1984 to 2020

The table below shows the changes in some household types in Canada from 1984 to 2020.

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

People in households by type of household and family in Canada

Canada: household types	1984	1994	2004	2014	2020
One person	6	8	11	12	12
One-family households
Couple
No children	19	20	23	25	25
Dependent children	52	47	41	39	36
Non-dependent children	10	10	11	9	9
Lone parent	4	6	10	12	12

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 shifts in the composition of Canadian households between 1984 and 2020. Overall, the proportion of households with dependent children fell considerably, whereas most other categories, particularly one-person and lone-parent households, saw an upward trend.

In 1984, households with dependent children were the most common, accounting for 52% of the total. However, this figure steadily declined over the period, reaching 36% by 2020. Conversely, the percentage of one-person households doubled from 6% in 1984 to 12% in 2020. Similarly, the proportion of lone-parent families tripled, rising from 4% to 12% over the same timeframe.

Regarding other family types, couples without children saw their representation grow from 19% in 1984 to 25% in 2020, remaining stable at that level for the final six years. In contrast, the percentage of households with non-dependent children remained relatively consistent throughout the period, starting at 10%, peaking slightly at 11% in 2004, and finishing at 9% in 2020. In summary, the data reflects a clear move away from traditional family structures with dependent children towards smaller or alternative household arrangements in Canada.

179 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.

proportion: a part or share of a whole number
declined: to become smaller or less in quantity
conversely: in a way that is the opposite
stable: not likely to change or fail suddenly
consistent: acting or done in the same way
composition: the way in which something is put together

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Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?

The most significant trend is the substantial decline in households with dependent children, while one-person households and lone-parent families experienced notable growth.

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.