The question
The table below gives information about average working hours, paid holiday and hourly pay in six occupations in one country in 2024.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.
| Occupation | Average working hours per week | Paid holiday (days per year) | Average hourly pay (US$) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Doctors | 52 | 28 | 58 |
| Software developers | 40 | 25 | 46 |
| Teachers | 47 | 45 | 29 |
| Nurses | 44 | 27 | 27 |
| Construction workers | 45 | 21 | 24 |
| Retail assistants | 34 | 20 | 14 |
Key features to report
- Overview: doctors worked the longest hours and were the best paid; retail assistants had the shortest hours, least holiday and lowest pay; teachers had by far the most holiday.
- Doctors worked 52 hours a week and earned $58 an hour, more than four times the $14 earned by retail assistants, who worked only 34 hours.
- Software developers were the second highest earners ($46) despite a standard 40-hour week.
- Teachers, nurses and construction workers worked 44 to 47 hours a week but earned only $24 to $29 an hour.
- Teachers received 45 days of paid holiday, more than double retail assistants (20 days) and construction workers (21 days); the others had 25 to 28 days.
Model answer
190 words · written by Abroadway to show band 9 features (not an official IELTS sample)
The table compares six occupations in one country in 2024 in terms of average weekly working hours, the amount of paid holiday per year and average hourly pay.
Overall, doctors worked the longest hours but were also the best paid, while retail assistants were at the opposite end of the scale on all three measures. Teachers stood out for having by far the most generous holiday entitlement.
Doctors worked an average of 52 hours per week and earned $58 an hour, more than four times as much as retail assistants, who earned only $14 and worked the shortest week, at 34 hours. Software developers were the second highest earners at $46 an hour, despite working a standard 40-hour week, the second shortest of the six jobs.
Teachers, nurses and construction workers all worked between 44 and 47 hours a week, yet their pay was considerably lower, ranging from $24 to $29 an hour. In terms of paid holiday, teachers received 45 days a year, more than double the figure for retail assistants (20 days) and construction workers (21 days). The remaining occupations were entitled to between 25 and 28 days.
Useful language
- occupations
- hourly pay
- paid holiday
- working hours
- doctors
- retail assistants
- entitlement
- overall
Step-by-step method in the free lesson Tables: selecting the key data.
Write your own report and get a band estimate
Free, no account needed. Aim for 20 minutes and at least 150 words.