Pick out the main features of this table for your overview, write your report on a 20-minute timer, then compare it with a band-8 model answer.
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
The table below shows average house prices and monthly rents in six cities.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.
| City | Average price ($000) | Monthly rent ($) | Price rise since 2015 (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney | 1,100 | 2,400 | 38 |
| Toronto | 780 | 2,100 | 45 |
| Berlin | 520 | 1,300 | 62 |
| Istanbul | 210 | 600 | 95 |
| Tashkent | 95 | 350 | 70 |
| Lisbon | 360 | 1,450 | 88 |
GoPrep wrote this practice question in the style of the exam. It is not an official IELTS question.
An overview names the main trends or differences in one or two sentences, without numbers. These are the features a strong answer picks out:
Spend the first few minutes planning, then write.
0 words of 150 minimum
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Write your own answer first, then compare: how it answers the exact question, what each paragraph does, and which phrases you could borrow.
The table compares average house prices, monthly rents and the rise in prices since 2015 in six cities.
Overall, the most expensive cities had the smallest price increases, while the cheapest cities generally experienced the fastest growth. Sydney was the costliest place for both buying and renting.
Sydney had an average house price of $1,100,000 and a monthly rent of $2,400, but prices there had risen by only 38% since 2015, the lowest rise on the table. Toronto came second on both measures, at $780,000 and $2,100 per month, with a 45% increase.
Berlin and Lisbon occupied a middle position. Berlin's average price was $520,000 and its rent $1,300, whereas Lisbon was cheaper to buy in, at $360,000, but its rent was higher, at $1,450. Prices rose by 62% in Berlin and by 88% in Lisbon.
Istanbul and Tashkent were the most affordable. Istanbul's average price was $210,000 and its rent $600, while Tashkent had the lowest figures of all, at $95,000 and $350. Istanbul recorded the biggest increase in prices, at 95%, followed by Tashkent with 70%.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| average price | typical cost |
| monthly rent | payment per month |
| price rise | growth in cost |
| by far the most expensive | much higher than all others |
| the cheapest | lowest cost |
| soar | rise rapidly |
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