Source: Adapted from free practice material published by IELTS buddy. Reformatted here; the original lesson pages are worth visiting.
A gap-fill built on a real Task 1 table. The point isn't the vocabulary — it's seeing which words a Band 8 report reaches for when it has to compare five rows and four columns without listing twenty numbers.
Proportion of household income five European countries spend on food and drink, housing, clothing and entertainment:
| Country | Food and drink | Housing | Clothing | Entertainment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| France | 25% | 31% | 7% | 13% |
| Germany | 22% | 33% | 15% | 19% |
| UK | 27% | 37% | 11% | 11% |
| Turkey | 36% | 20% | 12% | 10% |
| Spain | 31% | 18% | 8% | 15% |
Word choices (each is used once):
a quarter on · However · it is evident that · much less on · ranging between · respectively · shows · the largest · the remaining · while
The table 1. ___ the amount of household income that five countries in Europe spend per month on four items. Overall, 2. __ all five countries spend the majority of their income on food and drink and housing, but 3. __ clothing and entertainment. Housing is 4. ___ expenditure item for France, Germany and the UK, with all of them spending around one third of their income on this, at 31%, 33% and 37%, 5. __. In contrast, they spend around 6. __ food and drink. 7. ___, this pattern is reversed for Turkey and Spain, who spend around a fifth of their income on housing, but approximately one third on food and drink. All five countries spend much less on 8. __ two items. Regarding clothing, France and Spain spend the least, at less than 10%, 9. ____ the other three countries spend around the same amount, 10. _______ 11% and 15%. At 19%, Germany spends the most on entertainment, whereas UK and Turkey spend approximately half this amount, with France and Spain between the two.
Answer Key
- shows
- it is evident that
- much less on
- the largest
- respectively
- a quarter on
- However
- the remaining
- while
- ranging between
The table 1. shows the amount of household income that five countries in Europe spend per month on four items. Overall, 2. it is evident that all five countries spend the majority of their income on food and drink and housing, but 3. much less on clothing and entertainment. Housing is 4. the largest expenditure item for France, Germany and the UK, with all of them spending around one third of their income on this, at 31%, 33% and 37%, 5. respectively. In contrast, they spend around 6. a quarter on food and drink. 7. However, this pattern is reversed for Turkey and Spain, who spend around a fifth of their income on housing, but approximately one third on food and drink. All five countries spend much less on 8. the remaining two items. Regarding clothing, France and Spain spend the least, at less than 10%, 9. while the other three countries spend around the same amount, 10. ranging between 11% and 15%. At 19%, Germany spends the most on entertainment, whereas UK and Turkey spend approximately half this amount, with France and Spain between the two.