Academic Writing Task 1 · table

Quarterly Revenue Performance of Four Major Technology Companies in 2025

The table below shows the quarterly revenue of four major technology companies in the first three months of 2025. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. --- Instructions: You are presented with a table showing data and must describe the key information, compare values, and highlight significant patterns in at least 150 words. Assessment Criteria: Task Achievement (25%) - Presents a clear overview of main features - Highlights key data and comparisons - Makes appropriate comparisons between categories - Meets the 150-word minimum requirement Coherence and Cohesion (25%) - Logically organizes information - Uses paragraphing effectively - Uses cohesive devices appropriately - Maintains clear progression throughout Lexical Resource (25%) - Uses appropriate vocabulary for comparing data - Shows flexibility and precision - Uses less common lexical items - Has minimal errors in word choice and spelling Grammatical Range and Accuracy (25%) - Uses a variety of sentence structures - Produces error-free sentences - Uses grammar and punctuation appropriately - Shows good control of grammar Tips for Table Description: - Start with an introduction describing what the table shows (topic, categories, time period if any) - Write an overview highlighting the most significant features (highest/lowest values, notable patterns) - Organize data logically in body paragraphs (e.g., by category, by time period, or by value ranges) - Compare and contrast data across rows and columns - Use appropriate vocabulary for tables: - Data presentation: "shows", "illustrates", "presents", "provides information about", "displays", "compares" - Values: "stands at", "reaches", "totals", "amounts to", "is recorded at", "is measured at" - Comparisons: "higher than", "lower than", "more than", "less than", "exceeds", "is exceeded by", "twice as much as" - Ranking: "the highest", "the lowest", "the most", "the least", "ranked first/last", "topped the list" - Differences: "significantly higher", "considerably lower", "marginally different", "substantially more" - Similarities: "similar to", "comparable with", "approximately equal to", "nearly the same as" - Changes over time (if applicable): "increased from X to Y", "decreased", "remained stable", "fluctuated" - Don't describe every single figure - focus on the most significant ones - Group similar data together for clearer description - Make meaningful comparisons between categories - Use specific figures to support your statements

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

Quarterly Revenue of Major Tech Companies (Q1 2025)
CompanyJanuaryFebruaryMarchTotal Q1
TechNova3203403601,020
NextGen System280300310890
FutureTech4004104201,230
Innovatech250260270780

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 revenue generated by four major technology companies—TechNova, NextGen System, FutureTech, and Innovatech—during the first quarter of 2025. Overall, all four companies experienced a steady month-on-month growth in revenue throughout the period, with FutureTech maintaining its position as the market leader.

FutureTech began the quarter with 400 in January and saw consistent growth, reaching 420 by March, which resulted in a total quarterly revenue of 1,230. TechNova followed as the second-highest performer, starting at 320 and rising to 360, culminating in a total of 1,020. Both companies demonstrated a stable upward trajectory throughout the three-month period.

In contrast, NextGen System and Innovatech recorded lower figures. NextGen System’s revenue grew from 280 in January to 310 in March, totalling 890 for the quarter. Innovatech, which started at the lowest point of 250, saw a modest increase to 270 by March, ending with a total of 780. While all companies showed a positive trend, the gap between the highest earner, FutureTech, and the lowest, Innovatech, remained significant, with FutureTech’s total revenue being approximately 58% higher than that of Innovatech.

180 words. Every figure in the answer comes from the chart above.

How to write about tables

month-on-month
Comparing the data of one month to another
upward trajectory
A trend showing a consistent increase over time
culminating
Reaching a final point or a total sum
market leader
The company with the highest sales or revenue
modest increase
A small but noticeable rise in numerical value
significantly higher
A large and important difference between two values

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Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?

FutureTech consistently generated the highest revenue throughout the quarter, while Innovatech recorded the lowest figures across all three months.

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.

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