Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Recent IELTS Exams (Canada & India) · 2026-08-26
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 7.5)
The pie charts compare the percentages of time that working adults spent on different activities during a typical day in 1958 and 2008.
Overall, working became the largest activity in both years, and the proportion of time spent working increased considerably in 2008. In contrast, sleeping and going out with friends or family decreased. Travelling to work and playing sports became more common in 2008.
In 1958, working accounted for 33% of the day, making it the largest proportion. Sleeping was the second most common activity, at 32%. Going out with friends or family represented 19%, while 8% of the day was spent relaxing at home. Only 2% of the day was used for travelling to work, and 6% was spent playing sports.
By 2008, the percentage of time spent working had risen to 42%, an increase of 9 percentage points. Sleeping fell to 25%, while relaxing at home increased from 8% to 13%. The time spent travelling to work also increased significantly, from 2% to 7%. However, going out with friends or family declined sharply from 19% to 6%. Playing sports increased slightly from 6% to 7%.
Overall, the charts show that working adults spent more time working and travelling in 2008, while they spent less time sleeping and socialising.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 7.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.5 |
| Overall | 7.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5
The response effectively addresses all parts of the task. You have provided a clear overview of the main trends and supported these with accurate data from the charts. The comparison between 1958 and 2008 is well-integrated, and you correctly identified key changes such as the rise in working hours and the decline in socialising. The selection of data is relevant, and the report is well-structured, ensuring that the reader can easily follow the comparison of the two years. No significant information is omitted, and the summary is balanced.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5
The response is logically organised, with a clear introduction, an overview paragraph, and two body paragraphs that group information effectively by year. Cohesive devices such as 'In contrast', 'By 2008', and 'However' are used appropriately to guide the reader through the comparisons. The progression of ideas is smooth, and each paragraph has a clear central focus. Paragraphing is used skilfully to separate the general trends from the specific data points, which enhances the overall readability of the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 7.0
You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for a data-reporting task. Phrases like 'accounted for', 'represented', 'declined sharply', and 'percentage points' are used accurately. The vocabulary is precise and contributes to a professional tone. While the range is sufficient for a high score, incorporating a few more sophisticated synonyms or collocations (e.g., 'a marginal increase' instead of 'increased slightly') could further elevate the lexical variety. Overall, the word choice is natural and error-free.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5
The writing displays a high level of grammatical accuracy with a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You have used a variety of verb tenses and structures correctly, such as 'working accounted for' and 'the time spent travelling to work also increased'. Punctuation is used correctly throughout, and there are no noticeable errors that impede communication. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the control over complex structures is consistent, which is indicative of a high level of proficiency.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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