Academic Writing Task 1 · table

Rental costs and required annual salaries in three London residential areas: IELTS Writing Task 1 sample answer

An IELTS Writing Task 1 table question with a Band 8 sample answer, the chart redrawn with its data, the vocabulary that lifts the report and how to write about tables.
  • 196 words
  • Tables
  • Academic
  • 20 minutes

The question

The table below provides information on rental charges and salaries in three areas of London.

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

Weekly rents per property and salaries needed in three London areas
Area1 bed rent2 bed rent3 bed rent1 bed salary2 bed salary3 bed salary
Noting Hill37548573898,500127,500194,000
Regent's Park32545065085,500118,000170,500
Fulham21539060056,500102,500157,500

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.

Model answer

Band 8 sample answer

Band 8196 words. Every figure in the answer comes from the chart above.

The table illustrates the weekly rental charges and the corresponding annual salaries required to afford properties with one, two, or three bedrooms in Notting Hill, Regent’s Park, and Fulham.

Overall, Notting Hill consistently demands the highest financial commitment for all property types, whereas Fulham represents the most economical option. There is a clear positive correlation between the size of the property and both the rental cost and the salary threshold across all three locations.

Regarding rental prices, Notting Hill is the priciest, with a one-bedroom flat costing £375 per week, rising to £738 for a three-bedroom unit. In contrast, Fulham offers the lowest rents, starting at £215 for a one-bedroom property and reaching £600 for three bedrooms. Regent’s Park occupies the middle ground, with weekly rents ranging from £325 to £650.

In terms of salary requirements, the figures mirror the rental trends. To secure a three-bedroom property in Notting Hill, an annual salary of £194,000 is necessary, which is significantly higher than the £157,500 required in Fulham. Similarly, for a one-bedroom flat, the salary needed in Notting Hill is £98,500, compared to just £56,500 in Fulham, highlighting a substantial disparity in affordability between these London districts.

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.

Write a report, get a band free →

Tables

How to write about tables: tips and vocabulary

  • →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.
  • correlation

    a mutual relationship or connection between two things

  • economical

    giving good value or service in relation to cost

  • disparity

    a great difference between two or more things

  • mirror

    to correspond to or reflect a similar pattern

  • threshold

    the level or point at which something starts

  • priciest

    the most expensive option among a group

Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?+

Notting Hill is consistently the most expensive area for both rent and required salary across all property sizes, while Fulham is the most affordable.

How many words and how long for IELTS Writing Task 1?+

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 is IELTS Writing Task 1 scored?+

On four criteria: task achievement, coherence and cohesion, vocabulary, and grammatical range and accuracy. A clear overview of the main features is what most separates Band 6 from Band 7 and above.

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.

Keep practising

More tables

© 2026 BandLadder. Written and checked by the BandLadder team. You may quote or cite this page with credit to BandLadder and a link to it; republishing it in full needs our written permission. Content use policy

Write a report, get a band free