Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.5 · Recent IELTS Exams (Canada & India) · 2026-07-27

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The pie charts below show how working adults in a particular country spent their time in 1958 and 2008.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

* Note: these aren’t the original diagrams given in the test, they were recreated for the purpose of demonstration.

Student answer (Band 8.5)

The two pie charts illustrate the proportion of time spent by working adults on various daily activities in a particular country across two distinct periods, namely 1958 and 2008.

Overall, working occupied the largest share of time in both years, with a noticeable increase by 2008. The most significant changes were seen in sleeping, which declined considerably, and working, which rose substantially over the fifty-year period.

In 1958, sleeping accounted for the largest proportion alongside working, at 32% and 33% respectively. Going out with friends and family represented 19% of the day, while relaxing at home occupied a relatively small portion at 8%. Travelling to work accounted for just 2% of adults’ time.

By 2008, working had risen dramatically to 42%, becoming the dominant activity. In contrast, sleeping declined significantly to 25%, suggesting that working adults had considerably less rest. Relaxing at home also increased slightly to 13%, while going out with friends and family fell to 6%. Notably, travelling to work rose to 7%, and playing sports emerged as a new category, accounting for 7% of adults’ daily time.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5

The response effectively covers all requirements of the task. You have provided a clear overview of the main trends and successfully selected and reported key features from both 1958 and 2008. The comparison between the two years is well-integrated, and the data is accurately represented. You successfully identified the most significant shifts, such as the rise in working hours and the decline in sleep, while also noting the emergence of new categories like sports. The information is well-balanced, and the response provides a comprehensive summary of the provided data without unnecessary detail.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The response is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph serves a distinct purpose: the introduction sets the context, the overview highlights the main trends, and the body paragraphs provide specific data points. You have used cohesive devices effectively, such as 'In contrast', 'Notably', and 'while', to link ideas and create a smooth flow. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the overview from the detailed analysis. The structure is coherent throughout, and the information is presented in a way that is easy for the reader to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.0

You have demonstrated a good range of vocabulary appropriate for an Academic Task 1 response. Phrases like 'proportion of time', 'distinct periods', 'dominant activity', and 'emerged as a new category' show a level of sophistication. The word choice is generally precise and fits the context of describing statistical data. There are no significant errors in collocation or spelling that impede communication. To reach a higher band, you could incorporate more varied synonyms for 'increase' and 'decrease' to avoid repetition, though your current usage is already quite effective for this task.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5

The response displays a high level of grammatical accuracy. You have used a variety of sentence structures, including complex sentences, effectively. For example, the use of participial phrases ('suggesting that...') and subordinate clauses ('while going out...') demonstrates good control. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and punctuation is used correctly throughout. The control over tense and subject-verb agreement is consistent. There are no major grammatical errors that distract the reader, and the writing is clear and professional.

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