Academic Writing Task 1 · table

Demographic changes in the UK population by age and gender

The table shows the proportion of females and males aged 15 and aged 75 from 1911 to 2001 in the UK.

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

Population statistics by age and gender in the UK

Category	1991	1961	2011
Total Population (Millions)	36.070.364	46.196.200	56.065.700
% People aged 15	1,86%	1,48%	1,23%
Females aged 15	335.730	333.900	333.700
Males aged 15	334.241	349.400	354.400
% People aged 75	0,23%	0,55%	0,70%
Females aged 75	47.351	254.900	210.100
Males aged 75	34.012	160.200	181.300

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 demographic shifts in the UK across three specific years: 1961, 1991, and 2011, focusing on the total population and specific age groups of 15 and 75.

Overall, the total population rose consistently from 46.196.200 in 1961 to 56.065.700 in 2011. A notable trend is the inverse movement between the two age groups: the proportion of 15-year-olds decreased over the period, while the proportion of 75-year-olds saw a marked upward trend.

Regarding the younger cohort, the percentage of people aged 15 fell from 1,48% in 1961 to 1,23% in 2011. Interestingly, the number of females aged 15 remained relatively stable, hovering around 333.700 to 335.730. Conversely, the number of males aged 15 grew from 349.400 in 1961 to 354.400 in 2011.

In contrast, the elderly population showed substantial growth. The percentage of people aged 75 rose from 0,55% in 1961 to 0,70% in 2011. The number of females in this age group peaked at 254.900 in 1961 before declining to 210.100 by 2011. Meanwhile, the number of males aged 75 increased from 160.200 in 1961 to 181.300 in 2011, reflecting a broader demographic shift towards an ageing population.

190 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.

inverse: opposite in position, order, or relation to another
marked: clearly noticeable; evident or significant in size
cohort: a group of people with a shared characteristic
hovering: remaining at or near a particular level
substantial: of considerable importance, size, or worth
shift: a slight change in position, direction, or tendency

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Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?

While the total population of the UK grew steadily between 1961 and 2011, the proportion of 15-year-olds declined, whereas the percentage of 75-year-olds experienced a significant increase.

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.