Academic Writing Task 1 · table

Survey responses from club members and the public regarding a theatre: 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.
  • 189 words
  • Tables
  • Academic
  • 20 minutes

The question

The tables below show responses to a questionnaire given by two groups of people (club members and the general public) who showed their opinions about a new theatre.

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

Production quality
ExcellentSatisfactoryPoor
Club members70%17%13%
General public67%18%15%
Information about the plays/performances to the public
ExcellentSatisfactoryPoor
Club members72%23%5%
General public88%10%2%
Facilities in the theatre
ExcellentSatisfactoryPoor
Club members75%23%2%
General public55%19%26%

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 8189 words. Every figure in the answer comes from the chart above.

The provided tables illustrate the feedback from club members and the general public regarding three aspects of a new theatre: production quality, information provided, and the theatre facilities.

Regarding production quality, both groups expressed high levels of satisfaction. Exactly 70% of club members rated the quality as excellent, a figure closely mirrored by the general public at 67%. The remaining respondents were split between satisfactory and poor ratings, with the general public showing slightly higher dissatisfaction at 15% compared to 13% for club members.

In terms of information provided about performances, the general public was notably more impressed, with 88% rating it as excellent, compared to 72% of club members. Conversely, club members were more critical, with 23% finding the information satisfactory and 5% poor. Finally, regarding theatre facilities, a stark contrast emerged. While 75% of club members rated the facilities as excellent, only 55% of the general public shared this view. Furthermore, over a quarter of the general public (26%) described the facilities as poor, whereas only 2% of club members held this negative opinion, suggesting a significant disparity in how these two groups experienced the theatre's amenities.

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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.
  • mirrored

    reflected or showed a very similar pattern

  • stark contrast

    a very clear and obvious difference between things

  • disparity

    a great difference between two or more things

  • notably

    in a way that is worthy of attention

  • conversely

    in a way that is the opposite

  • proportion

    a part or share in relation to whole

Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?+

Overall, both groups generally held positive views, although the general public was significantly less satisfied with the theatre facilities compared to club members.

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

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