IELTS Writing
Task 1: tables
Tables hold a lot of numbers, and the task is to select. Look across the rows and down the columns for the highest and lowest figures, totals and clear patterns.
Group related rows together in your body paragraphs instead of going through the table line by line.
A simple structure
- Introduction (1 sentence): paraphrase what the visual shows, with the time period and units.
- Overview (2 sentences): the two or three most important features. No figures needed here; this is what examiners look for first.
- Body paragraph 1: the first group of key features, with figures and comparisons.
- Body paragraph 2: the second group, again with figures. No conclusion or opinion needed.
Example question
The table below shows the number of books borrowed from a public library network by type, in 2015 and 2025. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.
| 2015 | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|
| Adult fiction | 420 | 310 |
| Children's books | 380 | 450 |
| Non-fiction | 260 | 190 |
| E-books | 40 | 360 |
| Audiobooks | 25 | 140 |
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How to answer
Reading Tables
- Read the column headings and row labels before selecting a value.
- Find a value where the chosen row and column meet.
- Compare like with like: keep the year and measure the same when comparing categories.
- Check both values in the table before writing a comparison.
Example: Task 1 table: books borrowed at two libraries. Central: 1,200 in 2015 and 1,500 in 2020. East: 900 in 2015 and 1,100 in 2020.. In 2020, Central recorded 1,500 books borrowed, compared with 1,100 at East. Central’s figure also rose from 1,200 in 2015 to 1,500 in 2020.
Selecting Key Data
- Choose figures that make a useful comparison, not simply numbers that are available.
- Include enough figures to support the comparison, but leave out details that add little.
- When several categories show a similar pattern, use a few figures to represent them.
- Put related figures together so the comparison is easy to follow.
Example: Task 1: a chart showing the percentage of a family budget spent on five items in 2022. Food and housing took similar shares of the budget, at 31% and 29%. Transport also accounted for a sizeable share, at 22%.
Grouping Related Data
- Group figures that share a feature, such as similar size, direction or category.
- Keep each group together in one sentence or a short paragraph.
- Support each group with key figures; you do not need to report every value.
- Check that every item in a group really shares the feature you name.
Example: Task 1: a pie chart showing how a community centre's budget was divided in 2024. The largest portions of the budget went to staff and building costs, at 34% and 27%, respectively. Equipment and activities formed a middle group, at 16% and 13%. The smallest allocations were for cleaning and publicity, which accounted for 6% and 4%.
Summarising Dense Tables
- Scan rows and columns for shared direction, stable rankings and clusters before selecting individual figures.
- Group categories that follow the same pattern, such as consistently high, middle or low values.
- Use the overview for the dominant pattern; reserve a few representative figures for the detail paragraphs.
- Check each group across every time point. One striking cell does not represent a category’s overall pattern.
Example: Task 1 table: employees receiving annual training (%) by sector, 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022. Technology: 42, 49, 61, 70; finance: 38, 44, 55, 64; education: 31, 37, 48, 57; healthcare: 28, 34, 45, 53; retail: 20, 25, 33, 40; hospitality: 18, 23, 30, 37.. Overall, training participation rose in all six sectors, with the same broad ranking throughout: technology and finance were highest, while retail and hospitality were lowest. Education and healthcare occupied the middle group. By 2022, the upper pair had reached 70% and 64%, compared with 57% and 53% in the middle pair and 40% and 37% in the lower pair. The figures therefore show a shared rise alongside a consistent division between the groups.
Practise
Short items from the ielts.coach lessons. Answer them, then check to see why each answer is right.
1A table shows staff attending training: Sales, 2019: 18 and 2023: 24; Design, 2019: 14 and 2023: 19; Support, 2019: 12 and 2023: 16. What is the value for Design in 2023?
2A table shows visitors to two centres: Oak Centre, 2012: 240 and 2022: 300; River Centre, 2012: 180 and 2022: 220. Which comparison is correct?
3A chart shows spending on food (31%), housing (29%), transport (22%), clothing (10%) and entertainment (8%). Which selection best compares the similar larger and smaller shares?
4A chart gives figures for five age groups: 18–25 (24%), 26–35 (23%), 36–45 (22%), 46–55 (17%) and 56+ (14%). Which sentence best represents the similar figures in the first three groups?
5A chart shows values of 31%, 29%, 15%, 14%, 6% and 5%. Which pair is best grouped as the two largest values?
6A table gives figures for six activities. Two are around 30%, two are around 15%, and two are below 10%. Which plan groups the data clearly?
7Which overview best summarises the training table in the example?
8A table shows weekly reading hours for four age groups in 2015, 2020 and 2025: ages 18–29, 3.2, 3.5, 3.9; ages 30–44, 3.8, 4.0, 4.2; ages 45–59, 4.6, 4.7, 4.8; ages 60+, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3. Which overview groups the strongest patterns?
Test hacks
Task 1 needs an overview
Write a sentence that sums up the main trends or the biggest differences, without numbers. Many writers skip it.
Why it works: An overview is essential for a high Task Achievement score.
Answer every part of Task 2
Underline each question in the prompt. A two-part question needs two clear answers.
Why it works: Missing part of the task limits your Task Response score, however good your English is.
Give Task 2 more time
Spend about 20 minutes on Task 1 (150+ words) and 40 minutes on Task 2 (250+ words).
Why it works: Task 2 counts for twice as much as Task 1 in your Writing score.
Practise with feedback on every answer
ielts.coach builds daily lessons and practice around your interests and level, marks Writing and Speaking like an examiner in seconds, and plans your weeks to test day.
More IELTS Writing guides
IELTS Writing Task 1
Task 1: line graphs
Task 1: bar charts
Task 1: pie charts
Task 1: process diagrams
Task 1: maps
IELTS Writing Task 2
Task 2: opinion essays
Task 2: discussion essays
Task 2: advantages and disadvantages
Task 2: problem and solution essays
Task 2: two-part questions
How IELTS Writing is marked