The aim of this lesson is to use an IELTS table gap fill exercise to improve your vocabulary knowledge and flexibility when you are describing a table.
However, although the information is presented here as a table, this is the same language were it to be presented as another type of graph such as a bar chart or pie chart.
So it provides you with practice generally for writing about graphs that are not over time. Read the question and look at the table. Then decide which word should be placed in the gap.
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.
Proportion of household income five European countries spend on food and drink, housing, clothing and entertainment.
Food and drink | Housing | Clothing | Entertainment | |
---|---|---|---|---|
France | 31% |
7% |
13% |
|
Germany | 22% |
33% |
15% |
19% |
UK | 27% |
37% |
11% |
11% |
Turkey | 36% |
20% |
12% |
10% |
Spain | 31% |
18% |
8% |
15% |
it is evident that | However | shows | a quarter on | the largest |
the remaining | ranging between | respectively | while | much less on |
Proportion of household income five European countries spend on food and drink, housing, clothing and entertainment.
Food and drink | Housing | Clothing | Entertainment | |
---|---|---|---|---|
France | 31% |
7% |
13% |
|
Germany | 22% |
33% |
15% |
19% |
UK | 27% |
37% |
11% |
11% |
Turkey | 36% |
20% |
12% |
10% |
Spain | 31% |
18% |
8% |
15% |
The table 1. shows the amount of household income that five countries in Europe spend per month on four items. Overall, 2. it is evident that all five countries spend the majority of their income on food and drink and housing, but 3. much less on clothing and entertainment.
Housing is 4. 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%, 5. respectively. In contrast, they spend around 6. a quarter on food and drink. 7. 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 8. the remaining two items. Regarding clothing, France and Spain spend the least, at less than 10%, 9. while the other three countries spend around the same amount, 10. ranging between 12% and 15%. At 19%, Germany spends the most on entertainment, whereas UK and Turkey spend approximately half this amount, with France and Spain between the two.
Any comments or questions about this page or about IELTS? Post them here. Your email will not be published or shared.
"I think these eBooks are FANTASTIC!!! I know that's not academic language, but it's the truth!"
Linda, from Italy, Scored Band 7.5