Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Recent IELTS Exams (Canada & India) · 2026-08-27

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 7.5)

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

Overall, working accounted for the largest proportion of the day in both years, and this figure increased considerably over the period of time. By contrast, the amount of time spent sleeping and socialising decreased. There were also notable increase in the proportions of time devoted to travelling to work, relaxing at home and playing sports.

In 1958, working occupied 33% of the day, closely followed by sleeping at 32%. Going out with friends or family accounted for a further 19%, while 8% of the day was spent relaxing at home. Only 2% of the day was devoted to travelling to work, and playing sports made up the remaining 6%.

By 2008, the proportion of time spent working had risen to 42%, an increase of 9 percentage points. Sleeping, on the other hand, fell to 25%, while the figure for going out with friends or family dropped dramatically to 6%. Time spent relaxing at home increased from 8% to 13%. Similarly, travelling to work rose from 2% to 7%, while the proprtion spent playing sports edged up slightly to 7%.

Overall, the figures indicate that working adults in 2008 spent more of their day working and commuting, while they devoted less time in sleeping and socialising than their counterparts in 1958.

AI examiner evaluation

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, such as the increase in working hours and the decrease in sleeping and socialising. The data is well-selected, and you have made relevant comparisons between the two years, such as noting the 9 percentage point increase in working time. The information is accurate and fully supports the summary provided. To reach a higher band, ensure that all minor trends are fully integrated into the narrative flow, but overall, this is a very strong performance that covers all requirements well.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is logically organised with a clear structure. Each paragraph has a distinct focus: an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs detailing the data. You have used cohesive devices effectively, such as 'By contrast', 'In 1958', 'By 2008', and 'Similarly', which help the reader follow the progression of ideas. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the years. The flow is smooth, and the relationship between the ideas is clear throughout the text, making it easy to read and follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the information precisely. Phrases like 'accounted for the largest proportion', 'devoted to', and 'edged up slightly' demonstrate a good command of language. There is an awareness of style and collocation appropriate for an academic report. While there is a minor spelling error ('proprtion'), it does not impede communication. The range is adequate to describe the trends accurately and with some flexibility, meeting the requirements for a high band score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The response demonstrates a good variety of complex structures, such as the use of participial phrases ('closely followed by...') and subordinate clauses. The majority of sentences are error-free, and your control over grammar and punctuation is strong. There is a minor grammatical slip in the second paragraph ('There were also notable increase'), where a plural noun was required. However, these are rare and do not detract from the overall clarity or the complexity of the writing. The sentence structures are varied and sophisticated.

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

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