Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Recent IELTS Exams (Canada & India) · 2026-09-14

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 allocated their time to six daily activities in 1958 and 2008.

Overall, working and sleeping occupied the largest proportions of the day in both years. Over the 50-year period, adults spent considerably more time working, travelling to work, relaxing at home, and playing sports, while the time devoted to sleeping and socialising with friends and family declined markedly.

In 1958, working accounted for the largest share of the day at 33%, closely followed by sleeping at 32%. Going out with friends and family represented a significant 19%, whereas relaxing at home made up only 8%. Adults spent just 2% of their day travelling to work, while playing sports occupied the remaining 6%.

By 2008, the proportion of time spent working had risen substantially to 42%, making it by far the dominant activity. Time spent sleeping fell to 25%, a decrease of seven percentage points. Similarly, going out with friends and family dropped sharply from 19% to 6%. In contrast, relaxing at home increased from 8% to 13%, while travelling to work more than tripled, rising from 2% to 7%. Finally, playing sports experienced a slight increase

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully satisfies the requirements of Task 1 by providing a clear and comprehensive overview of the two pie charts. The student successfully identifies and reports the main features, such as the dominance of working and sleeping in both years, and makes relevant comparisons throughout the text, such as contrasting the increase in working hours with the decrease in sleeping and socialising. Data is accurately selected and cited to support the key points, including precise figures like 33%, 32%, and 42%. The overview in the second paragraph effectively sets out the general trends without unnecessary detail. All parts of the prompt are thoroughly covered, demonstrating a well-developed response that aligns strongly with the Band 8 descriptors.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organised with a clear and effective progression. It begins with an introductory paragraph, followed by a clear overall summary, and then divides the body information chronologically into 1958 and 2008 paragraphs. Cohesive devices such as 'while', 'whereas', 'In contrast', and 'Similarly' are used naturally and accurately to link ideas and establish relationships between the data points. Paragraphing is used appropriately, ensuring each section has a distinct focus. Referencing is clear throughout, and the information flows smoothly from one sentence to the next without causing any confusion for the reader.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

The student demonstrates a wide, fluent, and flexible range of vocabulary appropriate for an Academic Task 1 response. Less common lexical items and phrases are used skillfully, such as 'allocated their time', 'occupied the largest proportions', 'declined markedly', 'rose substantially', and 'more than tripled'. Word choice and collocations are generally precise, with only very occasional minor inaccuracies. Spelling and word formation are entirely accurate throughout the text, allowing the reader to navigate the data smoothly. This performance sits comfortably within the Band 8 criteria for lexical resource.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The response features a wide range of complex sentence structures used with a high degree of accuracy. The majority of sentences are error-free, and the writer demonstrates good control over tense usage, subordination, and participial phrases (e.g., 'making it by far the dominant activity', 'rising from 2% to 7%'). Punctuation is handled correctly throughout. While the final sentence is slightly truncated ('Finally, playing sports experienced a slight increase'), this isolated slip does not disrupt the overall clarity or grammatical competence demonstrated across the rest of the writing. The grammar comfortably meets Band 8 standards.

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

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