Academic Writing Task 1 · table

Worldwide market share of notebook computer manufacturers in 2006 and 2007

The table below shows the worldwide market share of the notebook computer market for manufacturers in the years 2006 and 2007.

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

Worldwide notebook computer market share 2006-2007

Company	2006 % Market Share	2007 % Market Share
HP	31.4	34
Dell	16.6	20.2
Acer	11.6	10.7
Toshiba	6.2	7.3
Lenovo	6.6	6.2
Fujitsu-Siemens	4.8	2.3
Others	22.8	19.3
Total	100	100

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 global market share held by various notebook computer manufacturers during 2006 and 2007. Overall, it is clear that HP and Dell strengthened their leading positions, whereas most other major brands and the 'Others' category experienced a contraction in their market presence.

HP remained the market leader, with its share rising from 31.4% in 2006 to 34% in 2007. Similarly, Dell saw a notable growth of 3.6 percentage points, reaching 20.2% by the end of the period. Toshiba also enjoyed a modest increase, growing from 6.2% to 7.3%.

In contrast, other manufacturers faced a downward trend. Acer’s market share fell from 11.6% to 10.7%, and Lenovo experienced a slight decline from 6.6% to 6.2%. The most significant drop was observed in Fujitsu-Siemens, which saw its share more than halve, falling from 4.8% to just 2.3%. Furthermore, the 'Others' category, representing smaller players, decreased from 22.8% to 19.3%. By 2007, the combined market share of HP and Dell accounted for over half of the total global notebook market, highlighting a trend towards consolidation among the top-tier manufacturers.

179 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.

contraction: a process of becoming smaller in size or amount
notable: worthy of attention or notice; quite significant
downward trend: a general direction in which something is decreasing
halve: to reduce something by exactly fifty percent
consolidation: the action of combining things into a single whole
top-tier: belonging to the highest level of quality or importance

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Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?

HP and Dell significantly increased their market dominance over the one-year period, while the combined share of smaller manufacturers and other companies generally declined.

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.