top of page

The table below shows the literacy rates by region and gender for 2000-2004. (Task 1 Table Band 9)

Updated: Jun 28

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.


The table below shows the estimated literacy rates by region and gender for 2000-2004.


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


Write at least 150 words.


Task 1 Table Chart Band 9 Sample (The table shows the estimated literacy rates by region and gender for 2000-2004.)

Get your personalised IELTS Essay Feedback from a former examiner


Download IELTS eBooks, get everything you need to achieve a high band score



Sample Report 1

The table offers an insightful exploration of global literacy, differentiated by gender and region. It strikingly reveals a universal trend of superior male literacy rates, with Europe leading at near-total literacy, whilst Africa trails with the lowest rates and a disconcerting gender gap.


With the global literacy rate at 82.2%, it outperforms Asia and Africa, but lags behind the other regions. A closer inspection unravels a gender disparity, with male literacy worldwide standing at 87.2%, a substantial ten percentage points ahead of the female counterpart. Europe's exemplary 98.8% literacy rate stands supreme amongst continents, and its exceptional literacy rates of 99.2% for males and 98.5% for females reinforce its dominant position.


In stark contrast, Africa, grappling with a mere 62.5% literacy rate, exhibits the most substantial literacy challenges, further exacerbated by an immense gender gap. The male literacy rate in Africa at 71.6% far exceeds the 53.9% female rate, constituting a 20-percentage-point divide, unparalleled in other continents. Worth noting, America and Oceania present nearly identical literacy rates, marking considerable accomplishments in this field.


Download IELTS eBooks, get everything you need to achieve a high band score



Sample Report 2

The table provides a comprehensive depiction of global literacy rates, stratified by gender and distributed across various continents.


The data clearly illustrates a global literacy trend favouring men, with Europe leading by boasting near-total literacy rates, while Africa, with the lowest literacy rates, struggles with a substantial gender disparity.


At 82.2%, the global literacy rate surpasses those of Asia and Africa, yet trails behind the other three regions, with a marked gender discrepancy revealing a global male literacy rate of 87.2%, a full 10 percentage points ahead of the female rate. Among all regions, Europe stands out, boasting an impressive 98.8% literacy rate and leading figures for both genders - 99.2% for males and 98.5% for females - reinforcing its premier position in global literacy.


Conversely, Africa confronts substantial literacy challenges, indicated by an overall literacy rate of a meagre 62.5% and further complicated by an expansive gender literacy gap with male literacy at 71.6% significantly surpassing the female rate of 53.9%, resulting in a 20-percentage-point divide, the widest among all continents. Parallel to this, America and Oceania display near-equal literacy rates, highlighting their laudable strides in this sector.



Sample Report 3

The table illustrates information about the percentage of literacy in various continents in relation to overall global literacy. It also shows how the literacy rate is distributed between men and women globally.


The average rate of literacy among men is greater than that among women worldwide, and among the five areas, Europe has the highest percentage. The rate in Africa, however, is far lower than in the other four areas, and the female literacy disparity in this area is also excessively wide.


Global literacy is 82.2 percent, which is higher than that of Asia and Africa, but lower than the other three regions. Also, the world rate of male education is 87.2 percent, which is 10 percentage point higher than that of female. However, with 98.8 percent, Europe has the highest education rate than that of the other four continents, it also contains the leading 99.2 and 98.5 percent education for male and female, respectably.


On the other hand, with only 62.5 percent, Africa has the lowest literacy rate and its gender gap in education is also too high. Africa’s male literacy is 71.6 percent, whereas the female experience only 53.9 percent, a roughly 20 percentage point gap which is significantly higher than any of the other four continents. Meanwhile, America and Oceania register almost the same rate of education.


Get your personalised IELTS Essay Feedback from a former examiner


Download IELTS eBooks, get everything you need to achieve a high band score

bottom of page