Academic Writing Task 1 · table

International travel numbers by region between 1990 and 2005

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

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

International travel statistics by region (1990-2005)

1990	1995	2000	2005	Arena
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 international travellers across five distinct regions between 1990 and 2005, measured in millions. Overall, there was a consistent upward trend in global travel, with the total figure rising from 448.9 million in 1990 to 693.7 million by 2005. Europe consistently accounted for the largest share of international arrivals throughout the period.

Europe dominated the market, starting at 280.2 million in 1990 and reaching 400.2 million by 2005. In contrast, Asia and the Pacific saw the most dramatic proportional growth, more than doubling from 60.2 million to 135.8 million over the fifteen-year span. America also experienced growth, peaking at 118.2 million in 2000 before declining slightly to 113.2 million by the end of the period.

Smaller regions showed steady but modest increases. Africa's travel numbers grew from 18.2 million to 28.7 million, while the Middle East saw the lowest figures, rising from 9.8 million to 15.8 million. Despite these regional variations, the global trend remained positive, reflecting a significant expansion in international tourism across all listed areas, with Europe and Asia and the Pacific driving the majority of the volume.

185 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
accounted for: to make up a particular proportion of something
dramatic: sudden and striking or impressive in nature
proportional: corresponding in size or amount to something else
modest: relatively moderate, limited, or small in amount
variations: differences in the level or amount of something

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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 remaining the most popular destination while Asia and the Pacific experienced the most significant 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.