W24: Task 1 table

Tables look scary because they're full of numbers. There's no picture to show you the trend, so you have to find it yourself. But tables follow the same rules as every Task 1: find the main features, group similar items, and select the important numbers. The trick is to read the table in two directions.

Why this matters

With a table, it's very tempting to copy every number. The examiner wants to see that you can turn raw numbers into a clear story. That's a key skill for band 7.

Read in two directions

1. Across each row: how did each item change over time?
2. Down each column: which item was highest and lowest in each year?

Then look for the big story: biggest, smallest, fastest growth, any exceptions.

The data

The table shows the number of visitors (in thousands) to five attractions in a city in 2015, 2020 and 2025.

Finding the story

• Across rows: most attractions fell sharply in 2020, then recovered by 2025.
• Exception: the botanical garden grew in every period, and more than doubled overall.
• Down columns: the theme park was the most visited in 2015 and 2025.
• Recovery: the theme park and museum ended higher than in 2015; the zoo and fort didn't fully recover.

Model answer (about 185 words)

The table shows visitor numbers, in thousands, for five attractions in a city in 2015, 2020 and 2025.

Overall, four of the five attractions experienced a sharp drop in visitors in 2020, followed by a recovery by 2025. The botanical garden was the only exception, with numbers rising throughout the period. The theme park was the most popular attraction in both 2015 and 2025.

The theme park attracted 600,000 visitors in 2015, but this figure fell by more than half to 250,000 in 2020. It then recovered strongly to 700,000, the highest figure in the table. The museum followed a similar pattern, dropping to 300,000 before rising to 520,000, above its 2015 level.

The zoo and the historic fort also fell considerably in 2020, but neither returned fully to its original level, ending at 360,000 and 280,000 respectively. In contrast, the botanical garden grew steadily, from 120,000 to 150,000 and then to 260,000 in 2025, more than doubling its visitor numbers over the decade.

Why this answer works

• The overview gives the pattern (drop, then recovery), the exception, and the top attraction.
• Grouping: the two that recovered fully together; the two that didn't, with the exception.
• Not every number: about 12 of 15 figures are used, each with a purpose.
• Units: "in thousands" is explained once, then figures are written in full, like 600,000.

Tips for tables

• Write the units correctly. If the table says thousands, 600 means 600,000.
• Use respectively to give two numbers in one sentence: "...ending at 360,000 and 280,000 respectively."
• Rank items: the most visited, the second most popular, the least visited.

Try it yourself

Write one sentence comparing the museum and zoo in 2025.

Sample answer: "By 2025, the museum attracted 520,000 visitors, considerably more than the zoo, which had 360,000."

Honest note

With a big table, you can't mention every number. That's fine and expected. Choosing well is part of the skill being tested.

Your task today

Take a Cambridge table task. Before writing, write three bullet points: one pattern, one exception, one ranking. Build your overview from these.