Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Recent IELTS Exams (Canada & India) · 2026-08-15

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 8.0)

The two pie charts compare how working adults in a particular country spent their time on different activities in 1958 and 2008.

Overall, working accounted for the largest proportion of the day in both years, and the amount of time spent working increased considerably over the 50-year period. In contrast, sleeping and socialising with friends or family took up smaller proportions in 2008. There were also notable increases in travelling to work and relaxing at home, while playing sports appeared as a new activity in 2008.

In 1958, working represented 33% of the day, making it the largest category, closely followed by sleeping at 32%. Going out with friends or family accounted for 19%, while relaxing at home made up only 8%. Travelling to work occupied the smallest share, at just 2%.

By 2008, the proportion of time spent working had risen to 42%, an increase of 9 percentage points. Sleeping, however, fell from 32% to 25%. Time spent relaxing at home increased from 8% to 13%, while travelling to work rose substantially from 2% to 7%. Socializing experienced the most significant decline, dropping from 19% to 6%. In addition, 7% of the day was spent playing sports in 2008.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response is excellent. You have successfully identified the main features and provided a clear overview of the trends between 1958 and 2008. You accurately selected key data points, such as the rise in working hours and the decline in socialising, to support your summary. The comparison between the two years is well-integrated, and you correctly identified the emergence of 'playing sports' as a new category in 2008. All parts of the prompt are addressed thoroughly, and the information is presented in a logical, analytical manner that fully satisfies the requirements of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is well-structured with a clear introduction, an overview paragraph, and two body paragraphs that group the data logically. The progression of ideas is smooth, moving from general trends to specific data comparisons. You use a variety of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'In contrast', 'By 2008', and 'In addition', which help guide the reader through the information without being repetitive. The paragraphing is logical, and each paragraph has a clear focus, making the overall response very easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a strong command of vocabulary, using precise terms such as 'accounted for', 'proportion', 'substantial', and 'significant decline'. The language is natural and appropriate for an academic report. You avoid repetition by using varied phrasing to describe changes in data, such as 'risen to', 'fell from', and 'dropping'. There are no noticeable errors in word choice or spelling, and the vocabulary is sufficiently varied to convey the information with precision and clarity.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The response displays a high level of grammatical control. You use a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as 'While playing sports appeared as a new activity in 2008' and 'Time spent relaxing at home increased from 8% to 13%, while travelling to work rose substantially from 2% to 7%'. Punctuation is accurate throughout, and there are no grammatical errors that impede communication. The majority of your sentences are error-free, reflecting a high level of accuracy and flexibility in your writing.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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