Academic Writing Task 1 · table

Past and projected population figures for four selected countries: 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 gives information about past and projected population figures in various countries for different years.

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

Past and projected population figures in various countries
Country19901993200020202050
Australia17.117.719.222.726.0
Canada26.628.531.036.939.0
New Zealand3.43.53.84.34.7
United States249.9258.2275.1320.6349.0

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 historical and projected population data for Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States across five specific years between 1990 and 2050. Overall, all four nations experienced consistent population growth throughout the period, with the United States maintaining a significantly larger population than the other three countries combined.

The United States began with a population of 249.9 million in 1990, which steadily climbed to 320.6 million by 2020, with a further projection of 349.0 million by 2050. Canada followed a similar upward trajectory, starting at 26.6 million in 1990 and reaching 36.9 million by 2020, with an expected figure of 39.0 million by 2050.

Australia and New Zealand showed much smaller population scales. Australia’s population rose from 17.1 million in 1990 to 22.7 million in 2020, and it is projected to reach 26.0 million by 2050. New Zealand remained the least populous nation throughout the entire timeframe, growing from 3.4 million in 1990 to 4.3 million in 2020, with a modest projected increase to 4.7 million by 2050. In summary, while all countries show a positive trend, the disparity in total population size between the United States and the other nations remains substantial.

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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.
  • trajectory

    the path followed by a development or trend

  • disparity

    a great difference between two or more things

  • upward

    moving or directed towards a higher position

  • projected

    estimated based on current trends or data

  • substantial

    of considerable importance, size, or worth

  • modest

    relatively moderate or limited in amount

Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?+

Overall, all four nations experienced consistent population growth throughout the period, with the United States maintaining a significantly larger population than the other three countries combined.

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

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