IELTS Table: Spending on Items

A practice table for IELTS writing task 1, academic paper. This is a great table to help you practise organising information into paragraphs and to practise highlighting key features in an overview.

If you are taking GT IELTS, you will be given a letter for writing task 1. See this page: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-letter-writing-essential-tips/

Take your time to review the table below. You should spend at least 3 mins spotting key features and deciding how to organise information into body paragraphs. You should never spend more than 20 mins writing your report. Please remember this is a report and not an essay.

This table was not created by IELTS Liz. Sourced online.

Model Answer

Click below to reveal the model answer. Please try to write this task on your own before you check the answer.

Click here: Answer & Tips

Model Answer

The table illustrates the percentage of income that was spent on food, electronic equipment, music and videos by both adults and children, divided by gender, in the UK in 1998.

Overall, adults spent less of their whole income on the four items compared to children, who spent most of what money they had. The main item bought by adults was food, which accounted for a quarter of their salary, as opposed to videos (1%). Children spent most of their money on luxury items with music being the main expenditure (39%), whereas food accounted for the lowest of their expenses (10%).

In terms of adult expenditure, there was a significant difference between the money spent by men and women on both food (39% and 14% respectively) and electronic equipment (10% and 1%). Spending on music and videos was 5% or under for both genders.

Girls spent 2% more than boys on music (40%) and also on food (11%), while on videos boys spent 1% more (18%). The item with the biggest disparity between boys and girls was electronic equipment where boys used 18% of their income in contrast to girls who used only 5%.

Review:

  1. The introduction is a paraphrase of the information given with the categories listed.
  2. The overview is complete and full. This is the most important paragraph and the examiner will mark you strictly on it.
  3. The overview contains some data because they are totals. This is common with tables, but not common with other types of task 1.
  4. The body paragraphs are logically organised: BP1 = adults BP2 = children
  5. The body shows how detail can be grouped together to avoid too much detail. Too much detail is to be avoided. See the last sentence in BP1 to learn about grouping information together.
  6. The body also highlights differences and similarities in data.
  7. Comparisons are organised and logical without being confusing for the reader. Not all types of task 1 will have comparisons. They are used only when relevant.
  8. The first sentences of the body paragraphs show what is being written about “In terms of adult expenditure…” now we know the paragraph is about adults, not children.
  9. Paraphrasing is used “spend money on / money used / expenditure” and “salary/income/money” and “difference/disparity”.
  10. A range of linking words were used: overall, as opposed to, whereas, in terms of, in contrast to, while
  11. Information is not repeated. For this reason, there is no conclusion. Task 1 is a report, not an essay. The overview can be put at the end instead if you wish.
  12. Word count is around 193 words. You should not usually need to go over 200. Anyone who frequently writes over 200 words for task 1 is not using the right techniques and is putting in too much detail instead of grouping information appropriately.

The key to a good report is that information is easy to read and understand. Language is complex, but information is simply organised and presented so that the reader can follow easily it and grasp the content quickly.
For more free tips, see this page: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-1-lessons-and-tips/

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All the best

Liz

Comments

  1. Something in the table doesn’t make sense to me. Can you explain how it can be possible that children spend an average of 23% on electronic equipment but the figures for boys and girls are 18% and 5% respectively? Surely the average figure for children should be approximately half way between 18% and 5%? How can it be higher than the individual average expenditure for girls and boys?

    • What ever happens don’t try to assess the data in that way. I have known a chart with data that made no sense. It is not our task to decide if we think it is logical or possible. It is our task to report what we see – not interpret what we see.

  2. Krishu says

    Hi Liz, thank you so much for your help.
    I have one query regarding report writing. As far as I know, we should not state data in overall paragraph!! But you mentioned above! What is exactly true?

    • There is no such rule. As you explained in the Tips List (did you read them?), I often put totals from tables in the overview – otherwise, I don’t put data in the overview.

  3. The table illustrates the amount of income spent on food,electronics equipment,music and videos by adult and children in the uk in 1998. Units are measured in percentage.Overall, It can clearly be seen that children both genders spent the highest proportion of income with focus on their hobbies.Whilst, Adult spent the lowest proportion. Adult women was noticed to spend an increased proportion of their income on food as compared to any other items.while children spent their lowest spendings on food.

    To begin, Children both Sex where noticed to spend a remarkable higher percentage of their income on music as it most preferred with 38% for girls while 40% for boys.

  4. Farah says

    Hi Liz,

    Is it fine to put data in the overview?

  5. Edward Achaka says

    Hello Liz,thank you very much for your model answer and tips.It was helpful.Keep up the good work.

  6. The above table gives an information on the percentage of salary spent on four item in the year 1998 in Britain.
    Food received the highest percentage for adults while music was the highest for children.
    Followed by video for children while food and electronics had a lower percentage

  7. The table illustrates how adults and children spent their income in 4 common items ( food, electronic equipment, music and video).

    Overall, adults preferred food to other common items, while children spent their money in hobbies( music, electronic equipment, and video).

    Adults income in mainly spent in food( 25%) while other items gather only 11%. Women surpassed however men in their preference of food. Women’s income affected to food was 39% while men spent 14%.
    Considering items, videos are less interested to others common items for adults whereas children were greatly attracted by them.
    Children, boys and girls are greatly attracted by music than other items; their expenditure in it was around 34% while other items shared 18% only.

  8. Gozie says

    The table illustrate how adults and the children spent their income on four common items (food, electronic equipment, music and videos) in the UK in 1998. Information on consumers are group based on age and gender.

    Overall, adults, mostly women spent higher (39%) on food, than men (14%). The most consumer goods is food and the music, which children mostly boys and girls spent (38% and 40%) respectively compared to amount spent on music by adults.

    The percentage of the income spent by adults on music is relative constant (5%), as opposed to the amount paid on videos, not greater than 2%. Children, both boys and girls did spend more on videos (18% and 17% respectively ).

    On the other hand, the amount of income paid on remaining goods was higher in children mostly the girls and boys, ( 23% and 18% respectively ).

  9. The table below illustrates how adults and children spent income on four items (food, electronic equipment, music, and videos) in the UK in 1998.

    Overall, adults, especially women, spent much income on food. Children, on the other hand, didn’t pay as much for food as for electronic equipment and music. While similar amount of income was spent on music by both boys and girls, electronic equipment was particularly popular among boys.

    Although the money spent on food accounted for a quarter of expenditure, it was especially important to women (40%) compared with men (14%). In terms of electronic equipment, it was responsible for 10% of men’s expenditure and only 1% of women’s. Men and women both spent 5% on music, and 2% and 0.5% on videos respectively.

    Boys and girls spent similar amount of income on food (9% for boys and 11% for girls), music (38% and 40% respectively), and videos (18% and 17%). With regard to electronic equipment, boys spent almost four times more than girls (5%).

  10. The table gives information on expenditure by adults and children on 4 typical items in England in the year 1998.
    Overly, children had the largest expenditure in the year,on the contrary, adults spent least money and equal amount of money each .It is also markable that men,adults and women spent equal amount of money on music.
    Adults and men spent the least and equal income to purchase the 4 items having used 31% each.Children spent most in the year 1998 to purchase the common items having spent 84%,Which was closely followed with less of 1% by the boy’s.Moroever,women spent in average having purchased the the 4 items with 45.5% of their income.
    Furthermore, there was a marked expenditure in music by all the the people in England which went to a peak of 132%,this was the highest among all other items.on the other hand, people in England spent least on buying videos having used only 50.5%of their income on the named items. Only 0.5%of women used thimeir money to buy videos. There was minimal and equal expenditure by adults, men and women on music which accounted for just 5% on each of the 3 age groups.

  11. Maggie says

    The table illustrates the percentage of money earned by adults (men and women) and children (boys and girls) they choose to spent on four categories (food, electronic equipment, music and videos) in the United Kingdom in 1998.

    Overall the adults spent most of their income on food, while the children’s favourite expense was music. The least common items were videos and food for adults and children respectively.

    While comparing the differences between adults, women’s spending on food reached 39% which is more then double the expense made by men (14%). Electronic equipment was the second favourite expenditure of men (10%) but only 1% of women’s income was spent on these items. Both genders spent 5% on music.

    When it comes to children, the biggest difference between gender in spending is evident in the category of electronic equipment with 13% more income being spent by boys (18%) then girls (5%). However on food and music the girls spent 2% more then boys. (11% and 40% respectively).

  12. Gillian mukozho says

    The table depicts the percentage of wages spent by adults and children on 4 different commodities, food, electronic equipment,music and videos,in the year 1998 in the United kingdom.

    Overall music had a more substantial amount of money spent on it,whilst videos had the least expenditure.

    Generally, music had the highest expenses amongst the 2 groups,adults and children, with the girls spending almost half of their wages on it,whilst the adults all ranged relatively lowly.The second commodity with a large percentage of income used was on food where now the adults had the highest amount spent ,with women at 39%,whereas the children were as low as9%.

    The lowest expenditure was accured in the purchase of videos where adults had the least income spent of around 2%,with children gannering an average of almost a quarter of their wages. Electronic equipment had the adults spending low amounts of 5%, in contrast to the huge proportion of 23% by the children

  13. The table illustrates the percentage of income spent by the people in UK especially men, women n children (boys and girls)on food, music, electronic items and seeing videos during 1998.
    Mainly the adults,men and women using majority of their money for food where as, children for music and seeing videos.The girls spent a huge percentage of their income for music(40percentage) however the women spent the least amount of money (0.5 percentage ) on videos.
    Overall the money spent for electronic items and watching videos was less when compared to the expenditure of food and listening music of people in UK .

  14. Aýna says

    The table is being given illustration that amount of common items which were being spent on by adults and children in the UK during the 1998.
    Overal both adults and children demonstrate diverse of results in terms of spend on money for food, electronic equipment,music, and videos.According to the category that highly amount of money has been invested (40%) by girls in connect with listening to music however in comparison to lowest amount of salary (0,5%) has being been wasted by women in terms of watching videos.
    Accordingly women(39%)and adults (25%) show increasingly higher percentage than others in connect with consumtion of food.In terms of electronic device that adults (5%) and girls(5%) indicate the same result furthermore concerning the women(1%) has been given lowest result.
    It’s slightly demonstrated in the category that music increasingly has been used by children, (39%)boys,(38%) girls (40%) moreover it has been referred the exactly similar result concerning adults,(5%) women (5%) and men (5%).Finally it can be inferred from the table women(0,5%) spent more less money than others in terms of watching videos also children,(12%)boys,(18%) and girls (17%) wasted approximately same proportion of money on videos.

  15. Chijika says

    This table illustrates the propotion of income spent on food, electronic equipment,misic and ideos by adults and children of the United kingdom in the year 1998.

    Overall,a large some of the total income was spent on food and music respectively.The adults (men and women)spent more on food and the children (boys and girls)spent more on misic
    Both men and women spent only 5percent of the income on music whereas the almost 40percent of the total income was allocated to music by the children.
    While almost half of the adults total income was spent on food,the children’s highest expenditure was on music. Videos were the second item to be allocated a high percentage of 18 and 17 respectively by boys and girls.The adults though used a very minimal percentage
    of 0.5 and 2 ,the later being for the men.

  16. The table shows the percentage of income on 4 common items(food,electronic equipment,music and videos) which grown-ups and minors in the UK spent their earnings on,in the year 1998.

    Overall,cgildren had the highest purchase rate of nearly all the goods except for food,while adults used less of their income on almost every item apart from food.

    To be specific,women spent 39% of their money on food as compared to men,boys and girls who exhausted virtually the same percentage of their income(14%,11% and9% respectively) on the same item.In terms of electronic equipment,boys spent almost a fifth of their earnings, whereas the amount spent by women was just 1% on the same good.Both men and girls used 10% and 5% of their income on electronic equipment.

    Both boys and girls spent much of their income on music(40% and38% respectively),whilst adults spent only a twentieth of their pay on the same item.Lokewise,both boys and girls used 18% and 17% of their income respectively on videos,however both men and women spent less than a fifth of their earnings on videos.

  17. Sanelisiwe says

    The table illustrates salary expenditure among four categories namely food, electronic equipment, music and videos inthe UK in 1998 between adults and children.

    Overally,adults had the highest expenditure on food and drastically low on the rest of the items. However, the opposite is true with children,where instead,salaries were mostly spent on music compared to the rest of the items.
    Total expenditure for adults was marked at 36% on all items (25%+5%+5%+1%) and women accounted for the most on food (39%) whilst 1%,5% and 0,5% they spent on electronic equipment, music and videos respectively. As for the men they spent 14% on food which was also their highest expenditure in all categories and they had a dramatically low expenditure of 2% on videos.

    As for the children,there was a remarkably huge difference of 34% on music with adults and the lowest difference being 11% seen on video spending.40% spent on music by the girls was the highest percentage in all items whereas the least was the 5% they spent on electronic equipment.

  18. The table shows the money that adults and children in the UK employed on food and miscellaneous (electronics, music and videos) during 1998.

    Overall, adults bought more food with their income than children in the period given. Both men and women spent a higher percentage of their wage on buying food while children were more driven to pay it off on music.

    In terms of adults, they invested a 25% of their salary on food. Nevertheless, women are shown to have spent more (39%) than men (14%). Whereas men used a. 10% to buy electronic equipment, women expended it on music.

    In contrast, music holds the biggest proportion of expense when it comes to children (39%) for both boys and girls. Furthermore, they invested approximately the same amount in video (18%, 17% respectively), as opposed to food and electronic equipment, where girls contributed more of their allowance (11%) and boys did it in electronic equipment with a 18%.

  19. Saad Sobh says

    The table compares the proportions of the income of (men, women, boys, and girls) that were spent on for different aspects, namely food, electronic equipment, music and videos, in Britain in the year 1998.
    Overall, the percentages that adults allocated to food exceed by far the figure for any other item, while children expenditures on music or electronic equipment were highest. Moreover, adults spent a lower proportion of their income as opposed to children.
    Regarding adults, on average they allocated ¼ of their incomes to food, while electronic equipment, music, or videos received by far little interest, at 5 %, 5 % and 1% respectively. Women adults spent just under 40% of their money on food, which is almost three times as much as men’s figure. By contrast, men dedicated 10% of their money to electronic equipment, whereas women’s proportion was quite minimal (1%). Likewise, men’s spending on videos is four times as much as that for women. The only exception was music, where the figure for both genders is exactly the same (5%).
    In terms of children, typical child spent just under 40 % and 25% of their money on music and electronic equipment respectively. Food and videos category were quite less popular at just over one-tenth of the total income for each. With regards to boys’ and girls’ figures similarities, food, music and videos received almost the same percentage at 9% 38 % and 18% for boys and 11 %, 40% and 17 % for girls. The greatest gap can be seen in electronic equipment, where boys spent approximately four times as much as girls did, at 18 % and 50 % respectively.

    • Saad Sobh says

      The table compares the proportions of the incomes of (men, women, boys, and girls) spent on four different aspects, namely food, electronic equipment, music and videos, in Britain in the year 1998.

      Overall, the percentages that adults allocated to food exceed by far the figures for any other item, while children expenditures on music or electronic equipment were highest. Moreover, adults spent a lower proportion of their income as opposed to children.

      Regarding adults, on average they allocated ¼ of their incomes to food, while electronic equipment, music, or videos received by far little interest, at 5 %, 5 % and 1% respectively. Women adults spent just under 40% of their money on food, which is almost three times as much as men’s figure. By contrast, men dedicated 10% of their money to electronic equipment, whereas women’s proportion was quite minimal (1%). Likewise, men’s spending on videos is four times as much as that of women. The only exception was music, where the figure for both genders is exactly the same (5%).

      In terms of children, a typical child spent just under 40 % and 25% of their money on music and electronic equipment respectively. Food and videos categories were quite less popular, at just over one-tenth of the total income for each. With regards to boys’ and girls’ figures similarities, food, music and videos received almost the same percentage at 9% 38 % and 18% for boys and 11 %, 40% and 17 % for girls. The greatest gap can be seen in electronic equipment, where boys spent approximately four times as much as girls did, at 18 % and 5 % respectively.

  20. Claudia says

    The table above show, expressed in percentages, the income spent by adults and children on food, electronic equipment, music and videos in UK in 1998. Both adults and children groups ared ivedes into male and female categories.

    Overall, it can be seen that those who spent more on music and videos were children, specially on music where percentages around 40% are seen. By contrast, those items were the ones on which adults spent the least, with as los percentages as 0.5%. Adults spent the most in food.

    Items like music and videos showed a significant difference between adults and children, where percentages ranging from 0.5% to 40% are seen. It is remarkable that this difference is significantly higher regarding music, whose spent went down from 40% girls’ money to 5% adults’, either men or women.

    By contrast, the rest of the items: food and electronic equipment, had more variable values, ranging from 9% to 39% and 1% to 23%,respectively. It is noticeable that while 39% of women spent money on food, only 1% bought electronic devices. However, men spent more of the latter items than women during both childhood and adulthood with 18% and 10%, respectively, compared with only 5% of girls and 1% of women doing the same in that period.

  21. Jagseer Sandhu says

    The tabular chart depicts the information about the money spent by children as well as adult people on four distict items in England in 1998
    It is vivid from the table that only 1% money was spent by women on electronic equipment whereas,the same amount of money was spent by aduts on videos However,similar amount of money was spent on electronic items by adults and girls and it was accounted by 5% whilst, only 1 percent difference was expierenced spending a expenditure on videos by boys and girls and boys were more interestes to speant the monet on videos as compared to boys
    On delving deeper into the illustration it is evident that majority of the women spent the income on food which was noticed by 39% Further analysis,same amount of money was spent by men women and adults on music ,it is a common item,by 5% Girls and children both spent a large amount of money on music which was accounted by 40% and 39% respectively
    Overall, it can be seen that women were not interested to spent the money on videos rather than other common items

  22. Edward Achaka says

    We observed from the table that in the year 1998,a huge percentage (25%) of adult’s income was spent on food while a relatively low percentage (1%) went on videos.Of the large portion of income spent on food,the percentage spent by women was approximately thrice that of men.
    Children,on the other hand,spent a relatively large amount(40%) of their income on music and directed a small percentage to food.
    . On the overall,the percentage of income spent by adults and children on music and videos increased from adults to children while that of food was variable.

  23. Peter Aliagu says

    Thank you so much for the information.

  24. Sadia Jameel says

    The table gives information about the percentage of salary spent by British adults and children over 4 products including food, music, videos and electronic equipment in a single year (1998). Each age group is also segregated according to gender.

    Overall, it can be seen that food received the highest percentage by adults while children preferred the rest of the fields with largest share for music.

    Adults spent a quarter of their income over food, out which women were 39% and men 14%. The budget for electronic equipment and music bared a share of 5% each. While music was equally popular in both genders, electronics were 10 times more in men. Videos received the least amount of 1 %.

    In case of children the highest percentage went to music which was 39% with almost equal representation by both genders. Electronics was the next popular category which got 23% of the income, with significantly more proportion of boys. Videos received 12% of the total with approximately similar contribution by each gender. Food was the least popular category which got only 10% of the share with slight female dominance. It is interesting to note that all items posses almost similar representation in both genders irrespective of age groups.

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