Academic Writing Task 1 · table

Housing distribution across three distinct residential areas of a city

The table below shows the percentage of the population and the types of houses they live in 3 areas of a city.

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

Percentage of population by housing type in three city areas

Type of housing	Flat/Apartment	Terraced	Semi-Detached	Detached
Central area - (population 32,100)	15%	18%	28%	39%
Green Park area - (population 31,700)	76%	14%	5%	5%
Southberg Area - (population 32,000)	25%	56%	5%	14%

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 proportion of residents living in four different types of housing across three specific city areas: Central, Green Park, and Southberg. Despite the populations of these areas being remarkably similar, ranging from 31,700 to 32,100, the housing preferences vary significantly.

Overall, it is clear that flats are the most common housing type in Green Park, whereas terraced houses are the most prevalent in Southberg. The Central area exhibits a more balanced distribution, though it has the highest percentage of detached homes among the three locations.

In the Green Park area, a substantial 76% of the population resides in flats or apartments, which is significantly higher than in the other two areas. Conversely, only 5% of residents in this area live in semi-detached or detached houses. In contrast, the Southberg area is primarily characterised by terraced housing, accounting for 56% of the total, while flats make up 25%.

The Central area presents a different profile, with detached houses being the most common option at 39%. Semi-detached homes also represent a notable portion at 28%, while flats and terraced houses account for 15% and 18% respectively, making it the most varied area in terms of housing stock.

198 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.

prevalent: widespread or common in a particular area
proportion: a part or share in relation to the whole
characterised by: having a particular feature as a main quality
conversely: introducing a statement that contrasts with the previous
distribution: the way in which something is shared or spread
account for: to make up a specific percentage or amount

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Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?

While the Green Park area is dominated by flats, the Southberg area shows a strong preference for terraced housing, and the Central area displays the most diverse distribution of property types.

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.