Academic Writing Task 1 · table

International travel numbers by region between 1990 and 2005

The table below describes the number of people (in million) who went for international travel in 1990, 1995, 2000, and 2005.

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

Number of people who went for international travel (in millions)

1990	1995	2000	2005	Area
448.9	615.2	669.2	693.7	Total
18.2	20.8	26.9	28.7	Africa
80.5	112.5	118.2	113.2	America
60.2	80.3	117.4	135.8	Asia and the pacific
280.2	390.3	393.2	400.2	Europe
9.8	11.3	13.5	15.8	Middle East

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 number of people, in millions, who engaged in international travel across various regions between 1990 and 2005. Overall, there was a consistent upward trend in global international travel, with Europe remaining the most popular destination throughout the entire period.

In 1990, the total number of international travellers stood at 448.9 million. This figure rose significantly to 615.2 million by 1995 and continued to grow, reaching 693.7 million by 2005. Europe dominated the market, starting at 280.2 million in 1990 and peaking at 400.2 million by the end of the period. In contrast, Africa and the Middle East recorded the lowest figures, beginning at 18.2 million and 9.8 million respectively, and showing only modest growth to 28.7 million and 15.8 million by 2005.

Asia and the Pacific experienced the most notable growth, more than doubling from 60.2 million in 1990 to 135.8 million in 2005. Meanwhile, travel to America saw a rise from 80.5 million to 118.2 million in 2000, before experiencing a slight decline to 113.2 million by 2005. Despite these regional variations, the global trend remained positive throughout the fifteen-year timeframe.

186 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.

upward trend: a general direction in which something is developing
dominated: to have a commanding influence or largest share
modest growth: a small or limited increase in size
notable: worthy of attention or striking in appearance
slight decline: a small reduction in the amount of something
timeframe: a specified period of time for an event

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Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?

Overall, the total number of international travellers increased steadily throughout the period, with Europe consistently accounting for the largest share of the global total.

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.