Introduction to IELTS Writing Task 1 Tables
With a table, the numbers are easy to see. Deciding which ones matter takes a little more thought. Start by asking what each row represents and what each column measures.
This IELTS Writing Task 1 table sample shows you how to turn those observations into a clear report. You’ll practise reading different units, grouping related figures and spotting an exception that a quick glance might miss.
For the wider test format, visit our IELTS Writing Task 1 guide.
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The table task
Practice question
The table gives information about registered membership, annual book loans and weekly opening hours at four public libraries in one city in 2024. Write a report describing the main features and comparing the figures where relevant.
Write at least 150 words and spend about 20 minutes on your answer, following the official IELTS Academic Writing guidance.
Public libraries in 2024
Original practice data created for this lesson. Membership and loan figures are given in thousands; opening hours are measured per week.
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How to analyse rows and columns
Read across a row to understand one library. Central has 40,000 registered members, records 1.2 million annual book loans and opens for 60 hours a week.
Read down a column to compare the same measure across libraries. In the opening-hours column, Riverside has the highest figure, at 70, while Hilltop has the lowest, at 45.
Check the units before writing. A value of 1,200 in a column labelled “thousands” means 1,200,000. Also, 900,000 book loans does not mean 900,000 different borrowers. A person can borrow several books.
Finally, check the dates. This table describes one past year, so use the past simple: had, recorded and was open. It gives no evidence of an increase or decrease over time. A table with several years would allow you to describe changes.
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Selecting key features
Different columns have different leaders in this table. Look for the leader in each column, then check whether the rankings follow the same pattern.
Here, four observations are useful:
- Central has the most registered members and the highest loan total.
- Riverside opens for the longest hours.
- Lakeside has the fewest members but records more loans than Hilltop.
- Hilltop has the lowest loan total and the shortest opening hours.
That third point is easy to miss. It gives you a useful comparison because the membership and lending rankings differ.
For a larger table, select representative figures that support the main features. Our guide to selecting Task 1 data explains how to choose details without losing the overall picture.
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A clear four-paragraph plan
Use the first two paragraphs to introduce the table and summarise its main features. Then group the libraries into two pairs.
Four paragraphs are a practical option for this task. A separate conclusion would repeat the overview. For help with that paragraph, see our Task 1 overview guide.
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Band 8 sample answer
This is a Band 8-style teaching model. It has not been given an official examiner score.
The table compares four public libraries in terms of registered membership, annual book loans and weekly opening hours in 2024.
Overall, Central had the most members and the highest number of loans, while Riverside opened for the longest hours. Lakeside had the fewest members but recorded more loans than Hilltop, which also had the shortest opening hours.
Central recorded 40,000 members and 1.2 million book loans, compared with 30,000 and 900,000, respectively, at Riverside. Central therefore had 10,000 more members and 300,000 more loans. However, Riverside was open for 70 hours per week, compared with 60 at Central. Both libraries had substantially higher membership and lending figures than the other two.
Hilltop and Lakeside had 20,000 and 15,000 members, respectively. Despite its smaller membership, Lakeside recorded 450,000 loans, compared with 400,000 at Hilltop. Lakeside’s weekly opening hours were also higher, at 50 compared with 45. Hilltop therefore ranked last for both book loans and opening hours, even though it had 5,000 more members than Lakeside.
Word count: 165.
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Useful table vocabulary
Choose language that describes the relationship you can actually see. These examples all use the library data above.
Use many with countable nouns: twice as many members. Use much with uncountable nouns: twice as much time. For more patterns, explore our Task 1 comparison language.
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Why the answer works
The official Writing band descriptors assess task achievement, coherence and cohesion, lexical resource, and grammatical range and accuracy. In this model:
- The overview covers all three measures, including the different leaders and the exception involving Lakeside.
- Each body paragraph has a clear comparison: Central with Riverside, then Hilltop with Lakeside.
- The units stay accurate. Values in thousands become full numbers or millions in the report.
- Grammar supports the meaning. Despite and even though express contrasts, while which adds a related detail about Hilltop.
The model includes all twelve figures because this table is compact and they fit into useful comparisons. Including every number is not a goal for every table.
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Common mistakes
Moving down the table one row at a time.
Four separate descriptions can become repetitive. Group libraries so that each paragraph develops a comparison.
Comparing different units.
You can compare Central’s membership with Riverside’s membership. Comparing 40,000 members with 60 opening hours tells the reader nothing useful.
Inventing a trend.
“Loans increased to 1.2 million at Central” suggests earlier data. This table provides only one year. Write “Central recorded 1.2 million loans”.
Treating opening hours as a cause.
The figures do not establish that longer opening hours caused more borrowing. Report the relationship without guessing why it exists.
Using the wrong verb after a number phrase.
Write “The number of members was 40,000”, but “There were 40,000 members”.
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Practice task
This time, the table compares two years. Adapt your overview and vocabulary to describe change.
The table shows the percentage of people in four age groups who made at least one online purchase during the year in one country in 2010 and 2025. Write a report describing the main features and comparing the figures where relevant.
People who shopped online, by age group
Original practice data. Write at least 150 words and allow about 20 minutes.
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Before writing, identify the highest and lowest percentages in each year. Then calculate the change for each group. Which groups could you discuss together?
Check your analysis after writing: every group increases. The youngest group has the highest percentage in both years, while the oldest has the lowest. The two older groups each rise by 40 percentage points; the two younger groups each rise by 30.
An overview could begin:
Overall, online shopping became more common in every age group. The youngest age group had the highest percentage in both years, although the two older groups recorded larger increases in percentage points.
A rise from 10% to 50% is 40 percentage points. Check this distinction, your tense choices and the order of figures after respectively before finishing.
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More IELTS Task 1 and writing lessons
- How to Select Key Data in IELTS Task 1
- IELTS Task 1 Comparison Language
- How to Write an IELTS Task 1 Overview
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