Academic Writing Task 1 · table

Survey results regarding member satisfaction at a city sports club

The table below shows the results of a survey to find out what members of a city sports club think about the club's activities, facilities, and opening hours.

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

Survey results on city sports club satisfaction

Range of activities / Club facilities / Opening hours	Very satisfied	Satisfied	Not satisfied
Range of activities - Female members	35%	35%	30%
Range of activities - Male members	55%	40%	5%
Club facilities - Female members	64%	22%	14%
Club facilities - Male members	63%	27%	10%
Opening hours - Female members	72%	25%	3%
Opening hours - Male members	44%	19%	37%

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 satisfaction levels of male and female members regarding three aspects of a city sports club: the range of activities, facilities, and opening hours.

Overall, it is evident that while club facilities received high approval ratings from both genders, there were notable discrepancies in satisfaction regarding the range of activities and opening hours between male and female members.

Regarding the range of activities, male members were significantly more satisfied, with 55% reporting they were 'very satisfied' and 40% 'satisfied', leaving only 5% dissatisfied. In contrast, female members were more divided, with an equal 35% split between 'very satisfied' and 'satisfied', and a substantial 30% expressing dissatisfaction. Regarding club facilities, both groups were highly positive; 64% of females and 63% of males were 'very satisfied', with relatively low dissatisfaction rates of 14% and 10% respectively.

Finally, opening hours saw a sharp contrast. Female members were overwhelmingly positive, with 72% being 'very satisfied' and only 3% 'not satisfied'. Conversely, male members were less content, with 37% reporting they were 'not satisfied', which was the highest dissatisfaction rate recorded across all categories in the survey.

185 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.

discrepancies: a lack of compatibility or similarity between facts
overwhelmingly: to a very great degree or in great numbers
notable: worthy of attention or notice; quite remarkable
divided: separated into parts or having differing opinions
contrast: the state of being strikingly different from something
proportion: a part, share, or number considered in comparative relation

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, members generally expressed high levels of satisfaction with facilities, while opinions on activities and opening hours varied significantly between genders.

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.