Tables: selecting the key data
A table can hold 30 numbers or more, and copying them is the fastest route to band 5. Learn a six-move method for finding the story in a table (totals, extremes, row patterns, the outlier), how many figures to include, and how to group rows into two clear body paragraphs.
By the end of this lesson you will be able to:
- Read a table in two minutes: title, units, totals, then columns and rows
- Identify the highest and lowest values, totals, row patterns and outliers
- Use simple calculations (shares, multiples) to create meaningful comparisons
- Decide how many figures to include and choose them so each supports a comparison
- Group rows by pattern, size, time or category type into two coherent body paragraphs
- Convert units and round large numbers accurately
How Task 1 tables are built
Most tables are one of two types:
- Time tables: the rows are places or categories, and the columns are years (or the other way round). Treat each row like a line on a graph: where does it start and end, and does it peak?
- Static tables: the columns are different measures or groups (e.g. number of students, average age, % female), all at one time. Compare across the rows within each column.
Some tables, like the one below, have columns for periods within one year, plus a Total row and a Total column.
The two-minute read
- Title: what, where, when.
- Units: thousands? per cent? dollars? Check the title, the column headers and any note.
- Totals first. A total row or column gives you the big picture instantly, and it often contains your overview.
- Down each column: who is highest and lowest at each point?
- Across each row: what pattern does each item follow, and which row breaks the pattern?
| Attraction | Jan–Mar | Apr–Jun | Jul–Sep | Oct–Dec | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cox's Bazar beach | 1,250 | 480 | 320 | 1,450 | 3,500 |
| Sundarbans | 95 | 30 | 10 | 115 | 250 |
| Srimangal tea gardens | 140 | 90 | 55 | 155 | 440 |
| Paharpur Buddhist Vihara | 70 | 25 | 15 | 50 | 160 |
| Sajek Valley | 110 | 75 | 190 | 125 | 500 |
| All five attractions | 1,665 | 700 | 590 | 1,895 | 4,850 |
Units: thousands
Finding the story in a table: six moves
- 1
Start with the totals
The All five row shows that October–December (about 1.9 million) and January–March (about 1.7 million) were far busier than April–June (700,000) and July–September (590,000). The Total column shows that Cox's Bazar received 3.5 million of the 4.85 million visits. Those two facts almost write your overview.
- 2
Find the extremes
Highest single value: Cox's Bazar in October–December (1,450,000). Lowest: the Sundarbans in July–September (10,000). Highest and lowest totals: Cox's Bazar (3,500,000) and Paharpur (160,000).
- 3
Read across each row
Four of the five attractions were busiest between October and March and quietest in July–September. Write that pattern once, not four times.
- 4
Hunt for the outlier
Sajek Valley peaks in July–September (190,000), exactly when every other site is at its quietest. An outlier is almost always a key feature. Leaving it out is one of the commonest reasons a table answer gets band 6 instead of 7.
- 5
Calculate (simply)
Simple maths creates powerful comparisons:
- 3,500 ÷ 4,850 ≈ 72%, so Cox's Bazar received nearly three quarters of all visits.
- 1,450 ÷ 320 ≈ 4.5, so its busiest quarter was more than four times as busy as its quietest.
- In every quarter, Cox's Bazar alone had more visitors than the other four sites combined (e.g. July–September: 320,000 vs 270,000).
Keep calculations simple and approximate honestly.
- 6
Group and plan
Group 1: Cox's Bazar (the giant). Group 2: the Sundarbans, Srimangal and Paharpur (same seasonal pattern, smaller scale). Group 3: Sajek (the exception). That gives two body paragraphs: the main pattern, then the exception plus the ranking of the smaller sites.
What to look for, and how to say it
| Feature | Where to look | Useful language |
|---|---|---|
Biggest and smallest | Total column; the highest and lowest single cells | by far the most visited; the fewest visitors; the lowest figure in the table was ... |
Totals and shares | Total row or column; simple division | X alone accounted for nearly three quarters of ...; out of a total of ... |
Row pattern | Read left to right | peaked in ...; fell to its lowest point in ...; followed the same seasonal pattern |
Column comparison | Read top to bottom | in every quarter, X received more visitors than the other four combined |
Outlier or exception | The row that moves against the others | the only exception was ...; unlike the other sites, ...; in contrast, ... |
Similarity | Rows of similar size or shape | the figures for X and Y were broadly similar; X and Y followed a similar pattern |
Ranking | Sort the totals in your head | the second most popular; ranked third; at the other end of the scale |
The same table, two band scores
Band 5: row by row
Cox's Bazar had 1,250 visitors in January to March, 480 in April to June, 320 in July to September and 1,450 in October to December. The Sundarbans had 95, 30, 10 and 115. Srimangal had 140, 90, 55 and 155. Paharpur had 70, 25, 15 and 50. Sajek Valley had 110, 75, 190 and 125. The total was 4,850.
Band 8: selected and grouped
Cox's Bazar dominated throughout the year, receiving more visitors in every quarter than the other four sites combined. Like the Sundarbans, Srimangal and Paharpur, it was busiest between October and March: its 1.45 million visitors in the final quarter were more than four times the figure for July to September (320,000).
Sajek Valley was the exception to this seasonal pattern. Its busiest period was July to September, with 190,000 visitors, at a time when all the other sites were at their quietest.
The band 5 answer copies 21 numbers and gets the unit wrong: the table is in thousands, so '1,250 visitors' should be 1,250,000. It describes every row in the same way and never says what the numbers show. The band 8 version uses only four figures, yet it makes three key points: the dominance of Cox's Bazar, the shared seasonal pattern and the Sajek exception.
Check: reading and selecting from a table
7 questions- 1
A table has a Total row and a Total column. What should you look at first?
- 2
The table is in thousands. The Sundarbans figure for October–December is 115. How should you write it?
- 3
Choose TWO key features of the tourist table that belong in the overview.
Select 2.
- 4
Cox's Bazar: total 3,500 (thousands). All five attractions: total 4,850 (thousands).
Cox's Bazar received nearly three quarters of all visits to the five sites.
- 5
Visitors (thousands) by quarter. Sajek Valley: 110, 75, 190, 125. Srimangal tea gardens: 140, 90, 55, 155.
Sajek Valley received more visitors than Srimangal in every quarter.
- 6
Sajek Valley was the only to the seasonal pattern: it was busiest from July to September.
- 7
Find and correct the mistake:
Paharpur had the less visitors of all five attractions.
Answer every question to check.
Grouping: four ways to organise a table answer
Once you know the story, choose one organising principle for your body paragraphs:
| Group by... | When it works | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Pattern (same behaviour) | Most rows move the same way and one or two don't | Body 1: the four seasonal sites. Body 2: Sajek, the exception |
| Size (big vs small) | One or two rows are far larger than the rest | Body 1: Cox's Bazar. Body 2: the four smaller sites |
| Time | The columns are years and the story is a change between two dates | Body 1: the situation in 2000. Body 2: the changes by 2020 |
| Category type | The rows fall into natural families | Body 1: renewable energy sources. Body 2: fossil fuels |
Whichever you choose, each paragraph should have a topic you could state in a few words. If you can't name a paragraph's topic, you are probably listing.
Rounding large numbers
Tables often contain awkward numbers. Round them sensibly and signal that you are rounding:
- 1,450 (thousands) → 1.45 million or almost 1.5 million
- 4,850 (thousands) → 4.85 million or nearly 5 million
- 3,500 out of 4,850 → about 72% → nearly three quarters
- 1,895 vs 1,665 → slightly more than
Never round away the point you are making. If two figures are 590,000 and 610,000 and the difference between them matters, don't call both roughly 600,000.
The table below shows the number of visitors to five tourist attractions in Bangladesh in each quarter of 2024. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
The table shows how many people visited five tourist attractions in Bangladesh in each quarter of 2024.
Overall, Cox's Bazar was by far the most visited destination, and visitor numbers at most sites peaked between October and March. Sajek Valley was the only exception, attracting the largest number of visitors between July and September.
Cox's Bazar welcomed 3.5 million visitors over the year, nearly three quarters of the total of 4.85 million for all five sites, and in every quarter it received more visitors than the other four combined. Its busiest period was October to December, with 1.45 million arrivals, more than four times the figure for July to September (320,000). The Sundarbans, Srimangal and Paharpur followed the same seasonal pattern on a much smaller scale. The Sundarbans, for example, attracted 115,000 visitors in the final quarter but only 10,000 in the third, the lowest figure in the table.
Sajek Valley, in contrast, received 190,000 visitors between July and September, its highest quarterly total. With 500,000 visitors overall, it ranked second, ahead of Srimangal (440,000), while Paharpur attracted the fewest, at 160,000.
- Introduction'How many people visited' paraphrases 'the number of visitors'; 'each quarter' covers all four columns in two words.
- OverviewBuilt from the Total column (Cox's Bazar) and the row pattern with its exception (Sajek). No figures.
- Calculated comparisons'Nearly three quarters' (3,500 ÷ 4,850 ≈ 72%), 'more than four times' (1,450 ÷ 320 ≈ 4.5) and 'more than the other four combined' show the examiner that you have understood the data, not copied it.
- Grouping three rowsThe Sundarbans, Srimangal and Paharpur share one sentence and one example, instead of twelve numbers.
- Outlier gets its own paragraphBody 2 opens with Sajek, the key exception. 'In contrast' links it to the pattern in Body 1.
- Ranking with selected totalsThe final sentence ranks the smaller sites using just three totals.
- Units convertedThe table is in thousands, so 3,500 becomes 3.5 million and 10 becomes 10,000. Every figure is checked.
- Figure countTen of the 30 numbers in the table are used, plus two calculated comparisons ('nearly three quarters', 'more than four times'). Each figure supports a point.
- No outside knowledgeThe answer never mentions monsoons, winter holidays or why Sajek is different. The table doesn't say, so the answer doesn't either.
Writing Task 1 practice
150+ words · 20 minThe table below shows the percentage of adults who mainly cycled to work in six European cities in 1995, 2005, 2015 and 2025.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.
| City | 1995 | 2005 | 2015 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amsterdam | 32 | 34 | 36 | 38 |
| Copenhagen | 30 | 33 | 41 | 45 |
| Berlin | 8 | 11 | 15 | 21 |
| London | 2 | 3 | 5 | 9 |
| Paris | 1 | 2 | 5 | 17 |
| Rome | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
Units: %
Self-check before submitting
- ☐ My introduction paraphrases the prompt (e.g. 'compares the proportion of adults in six European cities who mainly cycled to work').
- ☐ My overview says Copenhagen and Amsterdam were far ahead throughout, cycling grew everywhere except Rome, and Paris saw the most dramatic growth.
- ☐ I grouped the cities by size: the two high-cycling cities together, Berlin in the middle, then London, Paris and Rome.
- ☐ I mentioned that Copenhagen overtook Amsterdam between 2005 and 2015.
- ☐ I mentioned that Paris overtook London by 2025 and that Rome was the only city to decline.
- ☐ For most cities I gave the start and end figures rather than all four years.
- ☐ I used trend language because the columns are years (rose steadily, climbed, halved, overtook).
- ☐ I wrote % or 'per cent' correctly and did not write 'rose by X%' for a change in percentage points.
- ☐ I used about 10–15 figures in total, and my answer is roughly 170–200 words.
Final quiz: tables
11 questions- 1
Which is the best overview for the cycling table?
- 2
Adults who mainly cycled to work (%). Paris: 1 (1995), 2 (2005), 5 (2015), 17 (2025). London: 2, 3, 5, 9.
Paris overtook London between 2015 and 2025.
- 3
Adults who mainly cycled to work (%). Copenhagen: 30 (1995), 33 (2005), 41 (2015), 45 (2025). Amsterdam: 32, 34, 36, 38.
Copenhagen had the highest rate of cycling in every year shown.
- 4
Adults who mainly cycled to work in Berlin (%): 8 (1995), 21 (2025).
The number of cyclists in Berlin more than doubled between 1995 and 2025.
- 5
How many figures should a 180-word answer about a 24-value table include?
- 6
Find and correct the mistake:
Rome was the only city which cycling decrease.
- 7
In 2025, the Paris figure was seventeen times as as in 1995.
- 8
Match each way of grouping with the situation it suits best.
Group by patternGroup by sizeGroup by timeGroup by category type - 9
Put the six moves for analysing a table in order.
Drag the cards (or use the arrows) into the correct order.
- 1Check the totals
- 2Read the title and the units
- 3Identify the outlier
- 4Group the rows and plan two body paragraphs
- 5Read across each row for its pattern
- 6Find the highest and lowest values
- 10
A table is in thousands and shows 590 for July–September. Which sentence is accurate?
- 11
Choose TWO sentences that bring in outside knowledge and should NOT appear in a Task 1 answer.
Select 2.
Answer every question to check.
Key takeaways
Vocabulary for describing tables
Saved as flashcards with a free accountoutlier
noun/ˈaʊtlaɪə(r)/
A value or item that is very different from the others in a set of data.
ব্যতিক্রমী মান
Sajek Valley was the outlier, peaking when other sites were quietest.
exception
noun/ɪkˈsepʃn/
Something that does not follow the general pattern.
ব্যতিক্রম
With the exception of Rome, every city saw growth in cycling.
dominate
verb/ˈdɒmɪneɪt/
To be the largest or most important part of something.
প্রাধান্য বিস্তার করা
Cox's Bazar dominated visitor numbers throughout the year.
combined
adjective/kəmˈbaɪnd/
Added together.
একত্রে; সম্মিলিতভাবে
Cox's Bazar received more visitors than the other four sites combined.
peak
verb / noun/piːk/
To reach the highest point; the highest point.
সর্বোচ্চ বিন্দুতে পৌঁছানো
Visitor numbers peaked in October to December.
seasonal
adjective/ˈsiːzənl/
Changing according to the time of year.
ঋতুভিত্তিক
The Sundarbans followed the same seasonal pattern on a smaller scale.
broadly
adverb/ˈbrɔːdli/
In a general way; mostly, though not exactly.
মোটামুটিভাবে
The figures for 2005 and 2015 were broadly similar.
modest
adjective/ˈmɒdɪst/
Not large in size or amount.
পরিমিত; সামান্য
London saw a more modest rise, from 2% to 9%.
rank
verb/ræŋk/
To have a particular position in a list ordered by size or importance.
ক্রমে স্থান পাওয়া
Sajek Valley ranked second, with 500,000 visitors.
halve
verb/hɑːv/
To reduce to half the size or amount.
অর্ধেক হওয়া
Rome's small share of cyclists halved from 4% to 2%.
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