Academic Writing Task 1 · table

Rental costs and required annual salaries in three London residential areas

The table below provides information on rental charges and salaries in three areas of London.

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

Weekly rents per property and salaries needed in three London areas

Area	1 bed rent	2 bed rent	3 bed rent	1 bed salary	2 bed salary	3 bed salary
Noting Hill	375	485	738	98,500	127,500	194,000
Regent's Park	325	450	650	85,500	118,000	170,500
Fulham	215	390	600	56,500	102,500	157,500

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 weekly rental charges and the corresponding annual salaries required to afford properties with one, two, or three bedrooms in Notting Hill, Regent’s Park, and Fulham.

Overall, Notting Hill consistently demands the highest financial commitment for all property types, whereas Fulham represents the most economical option. There is a clear positive correlation between the size of the property and both the rental cost and the salary threshold across all three locations.

Regarding rental prices, Notting Hill is the priciest, with a one-bedroom flat costing £375 per week, rising to £738 for a three-bedroom unit. In contrast, Fulham offers the lowest rents, starting at £215 for a one-bedroom property and reaching £600 for three bedrooms. Regent’s Park occupies the middle ground, with weekly rents ranging from £325 to £650.

In terms of salary requirements, the figures mirror the rental trends. To secure a three-bedroom property in Notting Hill, an annual salary of £194,000 is necessary, which is significantly higher than the £157,500 required in Fulham. Similarly, for a one-bedroom flat, the salary needed in Notting Hill is £98,500, compared to just £56,500 in Fulham, highlighting a substantial disparity in affordability between these London districts.

196 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.

correlation: a mutual relationship or connection between two things
economical: giving good value or service in relation to cost
disparity: a great difference between two or more things
mirror: to correspond to or reflect a similar pattern
threshold: the level or point at which something starts
priciest: the most expensive option among a group

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Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?

Notting Hill is consistently the most expensive area for both rent and required salary across all property sizes, while Fulham is the most affordable.

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.