Academic Writing Task 1 · table

Qualifications for English Language Teachers in the UK 2007-2009

The table below shows the number of students living in the UK gaining English language teacher training qualifications in 2007/8 and 2008/9, and the proportion of male qualifiers.

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

Qualifications for English Language Teachers obtained 2007/8 and 2008/9, UK

Year	Qualification	Total	Female	Male	% Male
2007/8	Total	32,930	23,842	8,165	24.7%
2007/8	TEFL	25,446	18,460	6,870	26.9%
2007/8	Cambridge UCLES CELTA & other degrees	7,484	5,382	1,295	17.3%
2008/9	Total	32,945	24,324	7,511	22.7%
2008/9	TEFL	24,917	18,446	6,545	26.2%
2008/9	Cambridge UCLES CELTA & other degrees	8,028	5,878	966	12.1%

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 English language teacher training qualifications awarded in the UK during the 2007/8 and 2008/9 academic years, broken down by gender and qualification type.

Overall, the total number of qualifications remained remarkably stable, with only a marginal increase from 32,930 to 32,945. However, there was a clear downward trend in the proportion of male qualifiers, which fell from 24.7% to 22.7% over the period.

Regarding specific qualifications, TEFL remained the most popular choice, accounting for 25,446 qualifiers in 2007/8 and 24,917 in 2008/9. Despite this slight decline in total numbers, the male proportion remained relatively high at 26.9% and 26.2% respectively. Conversely, the Cambridge UCLES CELTA and other degrees category saw an increase in total qualifiers from 7,484 to 8,028. Notably, this category experienced the most significant drop in male participation, with the percentage of men falling from 17.3% to 12.1%.

In summary, while the overall volume of teacher training remained consistent, the gender gap widened, as the proportion of male qualifiers declined in both TEFL and Cambridge-related qualifications between 2007/8 and 2008/9.

178 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.

marginal: a very small or insignificant change in amount
downward trend: a general direction in which something is decreasing
proportion: a part or share in relation to whole
conversely: introducing a statement that reverses the previous one
consistent: acting or done in the same way over time
widened: to become larger or broader in extent

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Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?

The total number of teacher training qualifications remained relatively stable over the two years, while the proportion of male qualifiers consistently decreased across all categories.

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.