3 tips for *grouping* and *selecting* data in an ielts writing task 1 table

Summary

In this video, the speaker provides a guide on how to report data from a table comparing underground railway systems in six cities. They cover effective strategies for grouping data, such as comparing cities with similar characteristics (e.g., route length, passenger numbers) and simplifying less important details. The speaker emphasizes the importance of interpreting data and offering precise or rough figures based on relevance. Key tips include grouping similar categories, comparing the biggest numbers, and omitting less significant data. The video concludes with advice on writing a strong overview and introductory paragraph for such reports.

Takeaways

• 😀 Group data by city for clearer comparisons rather than by date, route length, and passenger count.
• 😀 When grouping data, focus on similarities between cities (e.g., route length, passenger count) to avoid unnecessary repetition.
• 😀 Highlight the most interesting or significant features of the data, such as the oldest or longest systems, or the highest passenger numbers.
• 😀 When reporting less important data, you can either omit it or provide a rough estimate (e.g., giving a range for route length).
• 😀 Use precise language for key statistics (e.g., exact passenger numbers for major systems like Paris and Tokyo), but less precise descriptions for less important data (e.g., 'less than 200 kilometers').
• 😀 You can group cities with similar characteristics (e.g., Kyoto and LA) to streamline the comparison and avoid redundancy.
• 😀 Avoid repetitive language; vary your terms such as 'passenger count' and 'passenger numbers' for better fluency.
• 😀 When comparing cities, avoid focusing solely on the largest or smallest number. Instead, consider multiple points of interest (e.g., Paris and Tokyo both have large passenger numbers).
• 😀 Use comparative structures like 'the smallest' or 'the longest' rather than pointing out individual comparisons in lengthy lists of data.
• 😀 The introductory paragraph should paraphrase the original question and provide a clear summary of the data before diving into detailed analysis.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video script?

The video explains how to write an IELTS Task 1 essay describing a table about underground railway systems in six cities, focusing on how to group and report data effectively.

What are the two suggested ways to organize the details paragraphs?

The first way is to organize by data type—opening dates, route lengths, and passenger numbers. The second way is to group data by city, discussing the oldest three systems first and the other three afterward.

Which method of grouping data does the speaker recommend, and why?

The speaker recommends grouping data by city because the table’s purpose is to compare the six cities’ underground systems, making this approach more logical and cohesive.

What is the key feature of London’s underground railway system according to the script?

London’s underground system is the oldest and longest of the six, having opened in 1863 and covering 394 kilometers.

Why does the speaker group Paris and Tokyo together?

Paris and Tokyo are grouped together because they share similar route lengths and passenger numbers, which helps reduce repetition and allows for meaningful comparisons.

What is the most interesting feature of the Paris and Tokyo underground systems?

Both systems have relatively short routes but the highest passenger numbers, at 1,927 million for Tokyo and 1,191 million for Paris.

How does the speaker suggest dealing with less important data?

Less important data can either be omitted or reported less precisely, for example by giving a rounded or approximate figure.

Why are Kyoto and Los Angeles discussed together in the script?

They are grouped because both have short routes and low passenger numbers, making them similar and easier to describe together.

What advice does the speaker give for varying language when describing data?

The speaker suggests using alternatives like 'the one in Tokyo' or 'Tokyo’s system' to avoid repetition, and using variations such as 'passenger count' and 'passenger numbers' appropriately.

What is the recommended structure for the overview paragraph?

The overview should summarize general trends across all six cities rather than focusing only on the biggest numbers, such as noting that the older systems have longer routes and carry more passengers than the newer ones.

What are the three key tips summarized at the end of the video?

The tips are: (1) group similar categories together, (2) use expressions like 'both are the largest' instead of ranking everything, and (3) omit or report less important data less precisely using rough numbers or ranges.

What common grammar or vocabulary points does the speaker highlight?

The speaker emphasizes using 'less than' for measurements (not 'fewer than') and choosing between singular 'passenger count' and plural 'passenger numbers' correctly.