How to Read Tables with Lots of Data – Writing Task 1

Tables are a common type of visual data presented in IELTS Writing Task 1. To write an effective essay, you need to master how to read and analyze data from a table. This article will guide you on how to approach tables with a lot of data and provide additional tips for your essay.

1. Approaching the Table: Organizing Information

When you encounter a table, the first thing you need to do is organize the information in a meaningful way. Look at the title, columns, and rows to understand the table’s content.

• Title: The title tells you the main topic of the table, helping you identify the scope and aim of the essay.
• Columns and Rows: Columns and rows provide specific types of data. Pay attention to units of measurement, time periods, locations, etc. to understand how the data is presented.

Example: If the table describes the spending patterns of people in 5 countries across different categories, you need to identify:

• Title: Spending Patterns of People in 5 Countries.
• Columns: Names of the countries.
• Rows: Different spending categories (e.g., food, clothing, entertainment).

2. Analyzing the Data: Finding Key Points and Comparisons

Once you understand the table’s content, you need to find the key points and notable comparisons.

Tips:

• Look for the highest and lowest values: Identify the highest and lowest values in each column/row, which are often noteworthy points.
• Look for trends: Observe if there are any clear changes between columns/rows? Increases or decreases?
• Compare: Compare data across rows, columns, or groups.

Example:

• Highest value: Which country has the highest spending percentage on food?
• Lowest value: Which country has the lowest spending percentage on entertainment?
• Trend: Is there a significant change between countries in the percentage of spending on clothing?
• Comparison: Compare the percentage of spending on food between two countries with different income levels.

3. Writing the Essay: Using Accurate and Clear Language

When writing your essay, use accurate and clear language to describe the key points and comparisons.

Tips:

• Use words related to comparison: higher, lower, greater, smaller, more, less,…
• Use phrases that show trends: increase, decrease, rise, fall, remain stable,…
• Pay attention to grammar and spelling: Write accurately and use correct grammar.

Example:

• “It is clear from the table that the expenditure for food, drinks and tobacco in Turkey was significantly higher than in any other country.”
• “The smallest proportion of spending was allocated to leisure and education.”
• “There was a noticeable increase in the percentage of national consumer expenditure on clothing and footwear in Italy compared to other countries.”

4. Noteworthy points

• Don’t include too much detail. Focus on the key points and important comparisons.
• Use specific examples to illustrate the key points.
• Proofread your essay before submitting it.

5. Example

Table:

Country	Spending on Food	Spending on Clothing	Spending on Entertainment
Ireland	28.91%	6.45%	2.56%
Turkey	32.14%	5.87%	4.35%
Italy	18.62%	9.00%	2.98%
Spain	16.54%	6.21%	1.98%
Sweden	15.77%	6.73%	3.12%

Essay:

The table shows the percentage of national consumer expenditure in five European countries for three categories: food, drinks and tobacco, clothing and footwear, and leisure and education. It is immediately obvious that Turkey and Ireland spend the most on food, drinks and tobacco, with 32.14% and 28.91% of their budget respectively. This is significantly higher than the other three countries, all of which spent less than 20% on this category. In contrast, the smallest proportion of spending was allocated to leisure and education. While Turkey had the highest expenditure in this category at 4.35%, Spain spent only 1.98%.

Conclusion

Understanding how to read tables with lots of data and applying these tips will help you write an effective IELTS Writing Task 1 essay. Practice regularly and proofread your essay before submission to achieve the best results.