IELTS Writing Task 1: Population by Age Band Over Three Decades

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Writing Prompt

The table below shows the percentage of the population in three age bands in one country in 1980, 2000 and 2020. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

The rows list the age bands 0 to 14, 15 to 64, and 65 and over, and the columns give the percentage figures for 1980, 2000 and 2020. The proportion of children aged 0 to 14 fell steadily from 30 per cent in 1980 to 22 per cent in 2000 and then to 16 per cent in 2020. The working-age band of 15 to 64 remained the largest throughout, changing only slightly from 62 to 63 and then to 60 per cent. Meanwhile, the share of people aged 65 and over more than tripled over the period, rising from 8 per cent to 15 per cent and then to 24 per cent.

Show Band 8–9 model answer

The table compares the proportions of a country’s population in three age groups in 1980, 2000 and 2020.

Overall, there was a marked ageing of the population over the period. While the working-age group remained dominant, the share of children declined substantially, and the proportion of elderly people rose sharply.

In 1980, people aged 15 to 64 accounted for 62% of the population, making this by far the largest group. This figure changed only marginally to 63% in 2000 before falling slightly to 60% in 2020, indicating relative stability in the working-age share across the three decades.

By contrast, the youngest age band experienced a continuous fall. Children aged 0 to 14 represented 30% of the population in 1980, but their share dropped to 22% in 2000 and again to just 16% by 2020, almost halving over the period.

The most dramatic change occurred among those aged 65 and over. Starting at 8% in 1980, this group almost doubled to 15% by 2000 and then rose further to 24% in 2020. By the end of the period, the elderly accounted for a similar proportion of the population as children, highlighting a clear shift towards an older demographic structure.

Why this response works

This response would likely achieve a high band because it provides a clear overview of the main trends (ageing population, decline in children, stability of working-age group). All key data are accurately reported and compared without exaggeration or speculation. The structure is logical, progressing from overview to detailed description of each age band. Cohesive devices are used flexibly and naturally. Vocabulary is varied yet precise (e.g. “marked ageing,” “relative stability,” “demographic structure”), and sentence structures are complex but controlled, with no noticeable grammatical errors.