Academic Writing Task 1 · table

Survey results comparing aspects of city living in 1980 and 2010

The tables show the results of 2 surveys done in 1980 and 2010 on various aspects of city living in a particular city. Units are measured in percentage.

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

Survey results on city living aspects in 1980 and 2010

Category	Good	Neither good or bad	Bad
1980 Education	82	17	6
1980 Shops	75	11	14
1980 Environment	72	20	8
1980 Healthcare	64	24	12
1980 Transport system	54	31	14
1980 Accommodation	56	34	10
2010 Education	76	13	11
2010 Shops	81	9	10
2010 Environment	64	16	20
2010 Healthcare	83	10	7
2010 Transport system	67	22	11
2010 Accommodation	65	17	18

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 provided tables illustrate changes in public opinion regarding six aspects of city living between 1980 and 2010, with data expressed in percentages.

Overall, satisfaction levels for healthcare, shops, transport, and accommodation improved over the three decades, whereas education and the environment saw a decline in positive sentiment. Notably, healthcare experienced the most significant growth in approval, while the environment saw the sharpest rise in negative ratings.

In 1980, education was the most highly regarded aspect at 82%, followed by shops at 75%. By 2010, these figures shifted; education fell to 76%, while shops rose to 81%. Similarly, the environment saw its 'good' rating drop from 72% to 64%, with the 'bad' rating more than doubling from 8% to 20%.

Conversely, healthcare saw a substantial improvement, with positive ratings climbing from 64% in 1980 to 83% in 2010, while negative perceptions halved from 12% to 7%. The transport system and accommodation also saw positive trends, with 'good' ratings increasing from 54% to 67% and 56% to 65% respectively. However, dissatisfaction with accommodation rose from 10% to 18% over the same period.

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.

substantially: to a great or significant extent
climbing: increasing in value or level over time
doubling: becoming twice as much as before
conversely: introducing a statement that contrasts with previous
sharper: more sudden or pronounced in change
proportion: a part or share of a whole

Write your own report and get a band

Take a timed Academic writing test and get a band for task achievement, coherence, vocabulary and grammar, with the sentences to fix.

Practise IELTS Academic writing

On your phone? Get the BandLadder app.

Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?

Overall, while satisfaction levels for healthcare, shops, transport, and accommodation improved over the three decades, education and the environment saw a decline in positive sentiment.

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.