The key to understanding a table is to use the clues given in the title,
the row and column headings and the units of measurement.
In our sample there is no title, but the column headings are Age
group, Female and Male. Under the age group we are given 5
different age range, under the female and male columns we are
provided numbers representing percentage
What are the most notable changes or change in trend in data between the
different age range of both female and male. Make a note of these features
as these you will write in your overview as a summary.
(more female than male cyclists for every age)
another important trend (younger people cycle more, except
for the over 60s).
Now combine all these into a sentence to give you the overview. Then we
start grouping the different age groups to write a coherent report. Since we
are given 5 different age range, we can club the first 3 age range in one
group and the last two age range into the second group.
1st grouping – age range (0-9), (10-19) (20-39) comparing figures of
females and males. This will make up your 1st body.
2nd grouping – age range (40-59), 60+ comparing figures of females and
males. This will make up your 2nd body.
Writing an Introduction : The first sentence introduces the chart, by
paraphrasing (not copying) the question. This becomes your 1st
paragraph.
Paragraph 1 : How to write a balanced introduction:
What is the visual (table/ graph/ chart/ diagram/ picture/ flow chart) + What it
does (provides information, illustrates, presents data/ shows comparison/
contrast) + What about (in this case proportion of people across different age
categories who rode bicycles) + Place (in this case one particular
town) + Time (in this case 2012) + Units are measured in percentage.( Since we
have already stated proportions we will not repeat percentage)
The table illustrates the proportion of people across different age categories
who rode bicycles in one particular town in 2012.
Or
The table shows comparison of females and males across different age
categories who rode bicycles in one particular town in 2012. Units are
measured in percentage.
The second paragraph begins the overview of the table by
describing the most important overall trend (more female than
male cyclists for every age) another important trend (younger
people cycle more, except for the over 60s).
Overall, the table clearly shows that a higher proportion of females
cycled in the given period compared to males across all ages. The
youngest age group (0-9 yrs.) also had the largest proportion of
cyclists. It can be clearly seen that with the increase of age there
was a decreased cycling activity for both males and females, with
the exception of the oldest age group (60+), which went against
this trend.
1st grouping = Body 1 – age range (0-9), (10-19) (20-39)
The first sentence begins the description of the detail by talking
about the youngest age group (girls cycled slightly more than boys),
commenting on the smallest gender difference.
The second sentence gives details of the 10-19 age group,
comparing figures for older boys and girls, and noting the
contrasting large gender difference.
The third sentence presents the figures for the next age group (20-
39), again with figures for each gender, noting the trend in gender
difference is the same as the previous group.
Firstly, aged 0-9 years, just over half of all young girls and boys rode bikes
in the town, with 52.5% and 51.2% respectively, amounting to the smallest
gender gap of any age group. In contrast, 43.6% of 10-19 year old girls
chose to ride bikes, while only 25.1% of boys did the same. This pattern
continued with the 20-39 age group, with 18.2% of young women cycling
compared to 10.8% of young men.
2nd grouping = Body 2 – age range (40-59), 60+ comparing figures of
females and males.
The first sentence continues with the next group, again with figures
for women and men, noting a smaller difference.
The next sentence gives the figures for the over 60s, noting that
these figures are higher than the previous two groups. No
conclusion is required for Task 1 writing.
The gender differences were less significant in middle aged cyclists
(40-59), with 13.7% (female) and 9.3% (male). Finally, the over 60s
reversed this trend with more cyclists than the previous two age groups,
with 19.8% and 14.6% respectively for females and males.
Completed report
The table shows comparison of females and males across different age
categories who rode bicycles in one particular town in 2012. Units are
measured in percentage.
Overall, the table clearly shows that a higher proportion of females cycled in
the given period compared to males across all ages. The youngest age group
(0-9 yrs.) also had the largest proportion of cyclists. It can be clearly seen
that with the increase of age there was a decreased cycling activity for both
males and females, with the exception of the oldest age group (60+), which
went against this trend.
Firstly, aged 0-9 years, just over half of all young girls and boys rode cycles
in the town, with 52.5% and 51.2% respectively, amounting to the smallest
gender gap of any age group. In contrast, 43.6% of 10-19 year old girls
chose to ride bikes, while only 25.1% of boys did the same. This pattern
continued with the 20-39 age group, with 18.2% of young women cycling
compared to 10.8% of young men.
The gender differences were less significant in middle aged cyclists (40-59),
with 13.7% (female) and 9.3% (male). Finally, the over 60s reversed this
trend with more cyclists than the previous two age groups, with 19.8% and
14.6% respectively for females and males.
