PDF worksheet
Lesson
Writing Task 1: Write a strong overview
The overview is the most important paragraph in Task 1, and many Band 6 answers forget it. Learn what to include, then describe a table of internet use in three countries.
Why the overview matters
In Task 1, Task Achievement asks for "a clear overview of main trends, differences or stages". Without one, your score for that criterion is usually capped at Band 5, however good your English is.
What goes in an overview
- Two or three main features: the biggest trend, the highest and lowest, or the most striking difference.
- No numbers. Save the details for the body paragraphs.
- Start with Overall,… or In general,…
- Put it straight after the introduction (or at the end).
Too detailed: In 2000, 45% of households in Country A had internet access, compared with 12% in Country B.
An overview: Overall, internet access rose sharply in all three countries, and Country A had the highest figures throughout the period.
An overview: Overall, internet access rose sharply in all three countries, and Country A had the highest figures throughout the period.
A simple four-paragraph plan
| Paragraph | Content |
|---|---|
| Introduction | Paraphrase the task: what, where, when |
| Overview | Two or three main features, no numbers |
| Body 1 | Details and figures for the first group |
| Body 2 | Details and comparisons for the second group |
Practise freely
Questions 1–3
Look at the data, then choose the best answer.
| Country | 2000 | 2010 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Country A | 45% | 79% | 96% |
| Country B | 12% | 38% | 81% |
| Country C | 3% | 9% | 47% |
Percentage of households with internet access
-
Which sentence is the best overview?
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Which sentence describes a key feature rather than a detail?
-
Where should the overview usually go?
Questions 4–8
Complete the sentences about the table with a phrase from the box. Use each phrase once.
rosethe highestcompared withmore than doubledby far
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The proportion of households online in Country B from 12% to 38% between 2000 and 2010.
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Country A had figures in every year shown.
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In 2020, 47% of households in Country C were online, 96% in Country A.
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Country B's figure between 2010 and 2020, reaching 81%.
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In 2000, Country A was the most connected of the three countries.
Your turn: write the full report
The table shows the percentage of households with internet access in three countries in 2000, 2010 and 2020. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
| Country | 2000 | 2010 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Country A | 45% | 79% | 96% |
| Country B | 12% | 38% | 81% |
| Country C | 3% | 9% | 47% |
Write at least 150 words. Spend about 20 minutes on this task.
Check your answer
Model answer
The table compares the proportion of households that could access the internet in three countries at ten-year intervals between 2000 and 2020.
Overall, internet access grew considerably in all three countries over the period. Country A had the highest level of access throughout, while Country C lagged well behind the other two.
In 2000, 45% of households in Country A were already online, compared with just 12% in Country B and a mere 3% in Country C. By 2010, the figure for Country A had risen to 79%, and Country B had more than tripled to 38%. Country C, by contrast, had reached only 9%.
The following decade saw the most dramatic changes. Country B's figure more than doubled, climbing to 81%, which narrowed the gap with Country A, where almost every household (96%) was connected. Country C also made rapid progress, with access rising more than fivefold to 47%, although this was still roughly half the level of Country A.
(161 words)
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