Writing Task 1 (Academic): Describing Data
- 1. Introduction (1 sentence): paraphrase the task — what the chart shows, where and when. Do not copy the question.
- 2. Overview (2 sentences): the two or three most important features — the main trends or the biggest differences — without numbers. A report without an overview cannot get above band 5 for Task Achievement.
- 3–4. Two body paragraphs: support the overview with key figures, grouping similar data together and making comparisons.
- No conclusion and no opinion: describe only what the data shows.
| Verb | Noun | Typical adverbs / adjectives |
|---|---|---|
| rise · increase · grow · climb | a rise · an increase · growth | sharply, dramatically, steadily, gradually, slightly |
| fall · decrease · decline · drop | a fall · a decrease · a decline · a drop | a sharp / steady / slight fall |
| fluctuate | a fluctuation | fluctuated between 20% and 30% |
| remain stable · level off · plateau | a plateau | remained stable at 40% |
| peak · reach a peak | a peak | peaked at 2 million in 2010 |
| double · halve · triple | — | nearly doubled, more than halved |
The table below shows the percentage of households with internet access in three countries between 2005 and 2020. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. (This is an invented practice task.)
| Country | 2005 | 2010 | 2015 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Country A | 30% | 55% | 78% | 92% |
| Country B | 15% | 25% | 48% | 80% |
| Country C | 60% | 72% | 80% | 85% |
The table illustrates the proportion of homes that had access to the internet in three countries over a fifteen-year period from 2005.
Overall, internet access increased in all three countries, and the gap between them narrowed considerably. Country B saw the most dramatic growth, while Country C, which started from the highest level, experienced the smallest rise.
In 2005, Country C had by far the highest rate of internet access, at 60%, compared with 30% in Country A and only 15% in Country B. Over the next fifteen years, the figure for Country C rose steadily to 85%.
By contrast, Country A tripled its figure, reaching 92% in 2020 and overtaking Country C in 2015. Country B grew relatively slowly until 2010, but its rate then climbed sharply, from 25% to 80% by the end of the period.
- No overview, or an overview full of numbers.
- Listing every number instead of selecting the key ones.
- Giving reasons or opinions ("because the internet became cheaper").
- Using the wrong tense: past data needs past tenses.