ELTS Writing Task 1 #142

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

The table below shows the results of a 20-year study into why adults in the UK attend arts events.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons
where relevant.

Write at least 150 words.

IELTS Exam Tip

Answers to writing task 1 are assessed according to how well you complete the task. Information that is
missing, wrong or irrelevant will lose marks.

Before you do task 1, ask these questions:

1) What is the subject of the table?

2) How is the subject divided (for example, male/female; year by year)?
3) What are the most interesting points about the table?
4) Can you give a general comment about the most interesting/important points?
5) Have you included figures to support your description?
6) Is the information you included accurate?
Model answer
The table illustrates four reasons why adults in the UK have attended arts events over the past twenty
years. The major reason over the whole twenty-year period was a desire to see a specific performer or
artist; while the least important reason was attending arts events for work-related reasons.

The percentage of people who attended events out of a desire to see a particular performer has remained
relatively stable throughout the twenty-year period; varying from 58% twenty years ago to 56% today.
On the other hand, the percentage of people accompanying children has shown a significant increase,
from 9% 20 years ago to just under a quarter today. As far as those who attended arts events because of
special occasions or celebrations are concerned, the percentage fell slightly from 27% 20 years ago to
20% a decade ago, dropping dramatically to 9% today.

There has been a slight increase in the percentage of people attending arts events for work or business,
from 6% 20 years ago to just over 10% today.

Overall, there has been a rise in people attending events in order to accompany children and for work-
related reasons, while fewer people choose to attend an arts event as a form of celebration.

(204 words)