Academic Writing Task 1 · table

Percentage of women in senior management across three companies 1975-2015

The table below shows the percentage participation of women in senior management in three companies between 1975 and 2015.

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

Percentage participation of women in senior management positions

Year	Eldan Ltd	Bamforth Ltd	Finsbury Ltd
1975	3%	9%	16%
1980	3%	11%	14%
1985	14%	13%	15%
1990	28%	15%	22%
2000	33%	17%	20%
2015	64%	46%	26%

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 women holding senior management roles in three distinct companies—Eldan Ltd, Bamforth Ltd, and Finsbury Ltd—over a forty-year period from 1975 to 2015.

In 1975, female participation was notably low, particularly at Eldan Ltd, where it stood at a mere 3%. Bamforth Ltd and Finsbury Ltd began at 9% and 16% respectively. By 2015, all three firms recorded higher figures, with Eldan Ltd witnessing a remarkable surge to 64%, making it the company with the highest female representation by the end of the period.

Regarding the other two firms, Bamforth Ltd experienced a steady upward trend, climbing from 9% in 1975 to 46% in 2015. In contrast, Finsbury Ltd showed more modest growth. Although it started as the leader in 1975 with 16%, its progress was inconsistent, dipping to 14% in 1980 and 20% in 2000, before reaching 26% by 2015. Consequently, Finsbury Ltd was overtaken by both Eldan Ltd and Bamforth Ltd. Overall, the data highlights a clear shift towards greater gender balance in senior management across these organisations, albeit at varying rates of progression.

181 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
surge: a sudden and powerful upward movement or increase
steady: regular, even, and continuous development or change
modest: relatively moderate or limited in size or amount
inconsistent: not staying the same throughout the entire period
overtaken: to catch up with and surpass in progress

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Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?

Overall, all three companies saw an increase in female representation in senior management, with Eldan Ltd experiencing the most dramatic growth while Finsbury Ltd showed the least significant rise.

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.