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The table below shows personal saving as a percentage of personal income for selected countries in 1970, 1990 and 2010.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.
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Sample Answer 1
The table illustrates the proportion of personal savings as a percentage of personal income across seven countries—Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, and the USA—in the years 1990, 2000, and 2010.
It is clear from the data that savings generally declined across most countries over these three decades, with the exception of a few cases where savings either increased or remained relatively stable. The most notable reductions in savings occurred in Italy, Canada, and the USA, while France, Japan, and the UK showed some recovery in savings percentages by 2010.
Focusing on the 1990 data, Italy had the highest personal savings, with almost 30% of income allocated to savings. However, this figure fell significantly to 17.6% in 2000 and further to 11.4% by 2010. Japan and France also had relatively high savings rates in 1990, recording 17.6% and 18.7%, respectively, but these figures fluctuated over the years, with both countries reporting identical savings rates of 13.6% by 2010.
The USA, Canada, and the UK exhibited lower savings rates throughout the three decades. Canada’s savings jumped sharply from 5.6% in 1990 to 11.5% in 2000, only to plummet to 1.9% in 2010, marking the lowest figure in the dataset. Similarly, the USA saw a consistent decline, with savings reducing from 8.2% in 1990 to just 4.0% in 2010. Meanwhile, the UK experienced slight growth, with savings improving from 8.2% in 2000 to 11.1% by 2010.
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Sample Answer 2
The table compares the personal saving as a percentage of personal income across seven countries—Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, and the USA—during the years 1990, 2000, and 2010.
Overall, the data highlights a general decline in the savings rates in most countries over the years, with Italy and Canada experiencing the most noticeable drops. However, a few countries, including the UK and Japan, showed some improvement in savings by 2010 compared to their figures from earlier years.
In 1990, Italy recorded the highest savings rate, with nearly 30% of personal income set aside, but this figure decreased to 17.6% in 2000 and further to 11.4% by 2010. Canada’s saving pattern was unusual, as it doubled from 5.6% in 1990 to 11.5% in 2000 before plunging to a mere 1.9% by 2010, making it the lowest in the dataset. Similarly, the USA also saw a significant drop, with savings reducing steadily from 8.2% in 1990 to just 4.0% by 2010.
France, Germany, and Japan showed relatively stable trends in savings across the three decades. France and Japan ended with identical savings rates of 13.6% in 2010, despite initial fluctuations. The UK stood out with a consistent rise, growing from 8.2% in 2000 to 11.1% by 2010. In contrast, Germany maintained an almost steady rate, starting and ending near 12-14%, reflecting little change over the given years.
Sample Answer 3
The table presents data on personal saving as a percentage of personal income across seven nations—Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, and the USA—in the years 1990, 2000, and 2010.
It is evident that there was a general decline in savings rates over the years across most countries, with significant drops particularly noticeable in Italy, Canada, and the USA. However, certain nations, such as Japan, France, and the UK, displayed signs of improvement or stability in their savings behavior towards 2010.
In 1990, Italy recorded the highest rate of personal savings, close to 30%, but by 2010, this had fallen drastically to just over 11%. Similarly, Canada experienced a volatile trend, doubling its savings rate from 1990 to 2000, before dropping to a mere 1.9% in 2010, the lowest figure among all countries. The USA also followed a declining trend, with its savings rate decreasing consistently over the years to 4.0% by 2010.
On the other hand, France and Japan exhibited a relatively stable pattern, both reaching identical savings rates of 13.6% by 2010, despite some fluctuations in the earlier years. The UK was one of the few countries to report growth, increasing from 8.2% in 2000 to 11.1% in 2010. Meanwhile, Germany’s savings rate remained nearly constant throughout the period, showing little variation between 1990 and 2010.
Sample Answer 4
The table provides information on personal saving as a percentage of personal income across seven countries—Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, and the USA—for the years 1990, 2000, and 2010.
Overall, the data reveals that the savings rates generally declined across most countries over these three decades, with some fluctuations along the way. Italy, Canada, and the USA experienced the sharpest declines, whereas the UK and Japan managed to increase their savings towards the end of the period.
In 1990, Italy stood out with the highest personal savings rate, reaching close to 30%, but this figure reduced dramatically over the following years, reaching just above 11% in 2010. Canada also showed significant variation, with savings peaking at 11.5% in 2000, only to fall to a mere 1.9% by 2010, the lowest value across all nations. The USA followed a downward trend, seeing its savings drop from 8.2% in 1990 to 4.0% by 2010.
In contrast, the UK and Japan demonstrated improved savings rates by the end of the period. The UK recorded an increase from 8.2% in 2000 to 11.1% in 2010, while Japan’s savings recovered slightly, matching France’s 13.6% in 2010. Germany maintained a fairly consistent savings trend, with minimal change over the years, fluctuating only slightly between 1990 and 2010.
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