This is an IELTS writing task 1 sample answer essay on the topic of a table related to independent films released in the UK and Ireland by genre in 2012.
Tough one because there is so much data to describe in it!
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Dave
IELTS Essay Task 1: Independent Films Table
The table shows independent film releases by genre in the UK and Republic of Ireland in 2012.

The table gives information about films released independently according to genre in the UK and the Republic of Ireland in a single year, 2012. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that the vast majority of money was generated by comedy followed closely by horror, then more distantly biopic, and drama, while other genres earned far less. This contrasts with the total number of films in some areas as dramas, documentaries and comedies were most common.
Looking at the genres with the greatest disparity first of all, there were 70 documentaries and dramas released though their box office numbers accounted for just 2.9% and 8.3% of sales, respectively. A divergent trend can be seen for comedies and horror in particular with the former constituting 17.6% of all releases and 45.4% of sales and the latter at 9.5% and 20.2%
Differences in the remaining genres were more marginal as biopics were .7% of all releases and 9.1% of revenue. The totals for crime were proportionate at 4.7% each, action made up 2.7% of all releases and a slightly higher 4.1% of sales. Finally, thrillers were 8.8% of releases and just 1.3% of sales, romance stood at 3.4% and .8%, with other representing 5.4% of films and 3.2% of tickets sales tabulated.
Analysis
1. The table gives information about films released independently according to genre in the UK and the Republic of Ireland in a single year, 2012. 2. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that the vast majority of money was generated by comedy followed closely by horror, then more distantly biopic, and drama, while other genres earned far less. 3. This contrasts with the total number of films in some areas as dramas, documentaries and comedies were most common.
- Paraphrase what the table shows.
- Write a clear overview summarising the major trends and differences.
- Add an extra sentence to be sure that you have covered everything.
1. Looking at the genres with the greatest disparity first of all, there were 70 documentaries and dramas released though their box office numbers accounted for just 2.9% and 8.3% of sales, respectively. 2. A divergent trend can be seen for comedies and horror in particular with the former constituting 17.6% of all releases and 45.4% of sales and the latter at 9.5% and 20.2%
- Begin writing about the differences.
- Compare as much as possible.
1. Differences in the remaining genres were more marginal as biopics were .7% of all releases and 9.1% of revenue. 2. The totals for crime were proportionate at 4.7% each, action made up 2.7% of all releases and a slightly higher 4.1% of sales. 3. Finally, thrillers were 8.8% of releases and just 1.3% of sales, romance stood at 3.4% and .8%, with other representing 5.4% of films and 3.2% of tickets sales tabulated.
- Write about the rest of the information.
- Make sure you have detailed all the information.
- If you miss any, it will hurt your task achievement score.
Vocabulary
What do the words in bold below mean? Take some notes on a piece of paper to aid your memory:
The table gives information about films released independently according to genre in the UK and the Republic of Ireland in a single year, 2012. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that the vast majority of money was generated by comedy followed closely by horror, then more distantly biopic, and drama, while other genres earned far less. This contrasts with the total number of films in some areas as dramas, documentaries and comedies were most common.
Looking at the genres with the greatest disparity first of all, there were 70 documentaries and dramas released though their box office numbers accounted for just 2.9% and 8.3% of sales, respectively. A divergent trend can be seen for comedies and horror in particular with the former constituting 17.6% of all releases and 45.4% of sales and the latter at 9.5% and 20.2%
Differences in the remaining genres were more marginal as biopics were .7% of all releases and 9.1% of revenue. The totals for crime were proportionate at 4.7% each, action made up 2.7% of all releases and a slightly higher 4.1% of sales. Finally, thrillers were 8.8% of releases and just 1.3% of sales, romance stood at 3.4% and .8%, with other representing 5.4% of films and 3.2% of tickets sales tabulated.
Answers
gives information about illustrates
independently on its own
according to by
genre type of film
in a single year over 1 year
Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that overall
vast majority most of
generated created
comedy funny movie
followed closely by right after it
horror scary movie
distantly far behind
biopic movie about a person
drama serious movie
earned far less made less money
contrasts shows the difference
documentaries about reality
common popular
looking at the genres with the greatest disparity first of all considering the kinds of films showing the biggest differences to begin with
box office numbers money earned
accounted for constituted
respectively in turn
divergent trend different pattern
in particular especially
former constituting first one mentioned making up
latter last one mentioned
remaining left
marginal small
revenue money earned
proportionate equal
slightly higher a bit above
thrillers exciting movies
romance love story
stood at was at
representing standing at
tabulated added up
Pronunciation
gɪvz ˌɪnfəˈmeɪʃən əˈbaʊt
ˌɪndɪˈpɛndəntli
əˈkɔːdɪŋ tuː
ˈ(d)ʒɑːŋrə
ɪn ə ˈsɪŋgl jɪə
ˈlʊkɪŋ frɒm ən ˈəʊvərɔːl pəˈspɛktɪv, ɪt ɪz ˈrɛdɪli əˈpærənt ðæt
vɑːst məˈʤɒrɪti
ˈʤɛnəreɪtɪd
ˈkɒmɪdi
ˈfɒləʊd ˈkləʊsli baɪ
ˈhɒrə
ˈdɪstəntli ˈbaɪəʊ pɪk
ˈdrɑːmə
ɜːnd fɑː lɛs
ˈkɒntrɑːsts
ˌdɒkjʊˈmɛntəriz
ˈkɒmən
ˈlʊkɪŋ æt ði ˈ(d)ʒɑːŋrəz wɪð ðə ˈgreɪtɪst dɪsˈpærɪti fɜːst ɒv ɔːl
bɒks ˈɒfɪs ˈnʌmbəz
əˈkaʊntɪd fɔː
rɪsˈpɛktɪvli
daɪˈvɜːʤənt trɛnd
ɪn pəˈtɪkjʊlə
ˈfɔːmə ˈkɒnstɪtjuːtɪŋ
ˈlætə
rɪˈmeɪnɪŋ
ˈmɑːʤɪnəl
ˈrɛvɪnjuː
prəˈpɔːʃnɪt
ˈslaɪtli ˈhaɪə
ˈθrɪləz
rəʊˈmæns
stʊd æt
ˌrɛprɪˈzɛntɪŋ
ˈtæbjʊleɪtɪd
Vocabulary Practice
Remember and fill in the blanks:
The table g_____________________t films released i___________________y a__________________o g______e in the UK and the Republic of Ireland i_________________r, 2012. L______________________________________________t the v_______________y of money was g______________d by c_________y f_________________y h_________r, then more d__________y b__________c, and d________a, while other genres e_________________s. This c____________s with the total number of films in some areas as dramas, d__________________s and comedies were most c_________n.
L__________________________________________________________l, there were 70 documentaries and dramas released though their b____________________s a________________r just 2.9% and 8.3% of sales, r_____________y. A d___________________d can be seen for comedies and horror i________________r with the f_________r c__________________g 17.6% of all releases and 45.4% of sales and the l_______r at 9.5% and 20.2%
Differences in the r________________g genres were more m____________l as biopics were .7% of all releases and 9.1% of r__________e. The totals for crime were p____________________e at 4.7% each, action made up 2.7% of all releases and a s________________r 4.1% of sales. Finally, t_____________s were 8.8% of releases and just 1.3% of sales, r__________e s__________t 3.4% and .8%, with other r___________g 5.4% of films and 3.2% of tickets sales t___________d.
Listening Practice
Listen to the related topic below and practice with these activities:
Reading Practice
Read more and use these ideas to practice:
https://www.esquire.com/uk/culture/film/a32684275/best-indie-movies/
Speaking Practice
Practice with the following related questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:
Film/Movie Star
- Who is your favourite film star?
- Would you like to be a film star?
- Have you ever met a film star in person?
- Are film stars popular in your country?
Writing Practice
Practice with the related process below and then check with my sample answer:

Great method to enhance the knowledge of pupils
Thank you, Manpreet!
Thank you very much, Dave!
I have a question about the usage of “as” in your response (“This contrasts with the total number of films in some areas AS dramas, documentaries and comedies were most common”, and “Differences in the remaining genres were marginal AS biopics were 0.7 of all releases”). Is the meaning of “as” here similar to “while”? Or is it more like “because”? I think “because” doesn’t make sense in the first case…
Hi, usually it is used as a synonym for because but in the first sentence you are write that is more just for contrast and more similar to ‘while’.
Thank you very much, Dave!
You’re welcome!
Thank you for your great work! I have a question about the number in this sentence “there were 23.6 documentaries and dramas released”. Is it supposed to be 35 because 23.6 is the percentage?
You’re welcome – thanks for noticing that – updated!