IELTS tables are another way of visually displaying comparative data. This sample compares the spending of five countries in Europe.
What you should notice is that the table is not over time. This means that you need to focus on the language of comparing and contrasting.
Remember to also see if there is any way that you can group the data – this will help you to write a well-organized response.
| You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. The table illustrates the proportion of monthly household income five European countries spend on food and drink, housing, clothing and entertainment. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words. |
Model Answer
The table shows the amount of household income that five countries in Europe spend per month on four items. Overall, it is evident that all five countries spend the majority of their income on food and drink and housing, but much less on clothing and entertainment.
Housing is the largest expenditure item for France, Germany and the UK, with all of them spending around one-third of their income on this, at 30%, 33% and 37%, respectively. In contrast, they spend around a quarter on food and drink. However, this pattern is reversed for Turkey and Spain, who spend around a fifth of their income on housing, but approximately one-third on food and drink.
All five countries spend much less on the remaining two items. For clothing, France and Spain spend the least, at less than 10%, while the other three countries spend around the same amount, ranging between 11% and 15%. At 19%, Germany spends the most on entertainment, whereas the UK and Turkey spend approximately half this amount, with France and Spain’s spending between those other three nations.
(180 Words)
Evaluation of the Model Answer
Task Achievement: Band 8
- The response effectively summarizes the main points of the table, providing a clear comparison of household spending across the five countries.
- It covers all key details, including spending patterns on housing, food and drink, clothing, and entertainment.
- The response presents a balanced overview and detailed information, fulfilling the task requirements.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 8
- The response is well-organized, with clear paragraphing and logical progression.
- Cohesive devices like “in contrast,” “however,” and “ranging between” are used appropriately to connect ideas.
- The information flows smoothly from one point to the next, making the comparison easy to follow.
Lexical Resource: Band 7.5
- The vocabulary used is appropriate and clear, with phrases like “largest expenditure item,” “approximately one-third,” and “much less.”
- There is some repetition of phrases like “spend around,” which could be varied to enhance lexical richness.
- There are no significant lexical errors, but further lexical variety could enhance the response.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 8
- The response demonstrates a good range of sentence structures, including complex sentences and comparative forms.
- There are no major grammatical errors, and the response is generally accurate.
- Some minor improvements in sentence complexity and variation could further elevate the response.
Overall Band: 7.5-8
This is a well-structured, clear response that provides an effective comparison of household spending across the five countries. To achieve a solid 8, further lexical variety and more sophisticated grammatical structures could be incorporated.
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