Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.5 · Recent IELTS Exams (Canada & India) · 2026-09-19

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 pie charts compare the percentages of time that working adults in a particular country spent on different activities in 1958 and 2008.

Overall, working accounted for the largest proportion of adults’ time in both years, and this figure increased considerably by 2008. In contrast, the proportions spent sleeping and going out with friends or family declined. The amount of time spent travelling to work and relaxing at home increased, while playing sports appeared as a new activity in 2008.

In 1958, working represented 33% of the day, followed closely by sleeping at 32%. Going out with friends or family accounted for 19%, whereas relaxing at home made up only 8%. The smallest proportion was spent travelling to work, at just 2%.

By 2008, the percentage of time devoted to work had risen to 42%, making it clearly the largest category. Sleeping fell to 25%, a decrease of 7 percentage points, while socialising outside the home dropped sharply from 19% to 6%. In contrast, relaxing at home increased from 8% to 13%, and travelling to work rose from 2% to 7%. In addition, 7% of the day was spent playing sports in 2008, an activity not shown in the earlier chart.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5

The student has fully addressed all parts of the task by accurately reporting the main features and making relevant comparisons between the two years. An effective overview is provided, highlighting the main trends such as the increase in working time and the decrease in sleeping and socialising. The figures cited for both 1958 and 2008 (e.g., working at 33% and 42%, sleeping at 32% and 25%) are entirely accurate according to the provided visual data, and the emergence of playing sports in 2008 is correctly noted. The response covers all data points comprehensively and maintains a high level of factual accuracy throughout, meeting all requirements for the highest bands in this criterion.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The response is exceptionally well-organised with a clear logical progression throughout. Ideas are logically sequenced, moving naturally from an introductory summary and global overview in the first two paragraphs into detailed specific data points for 1958 and 2008 in the subsequent paragraphs. Paragraphing is used appropriately and effectively, with each paragraph having a distinct purpose. Cohesive devices such as 'In contrast', 'whereas', and 'By 2008' are used fluidly and unobtrusively to link sentences and ideas without mechanical repetition, ensuring smooth transitions between periods and categories.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.5

The student demonstrates a wide and flexible range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic report. Phrases such as 'accounted for the largest proportion', 'rose from 2% to 7%', and 'a decrease of 7 percentage points' are handled with natural, sophisticated control. Less common vocabulary items and collocation patterns are used accurately (e.g., 'devoted to work', 'socialising outside the home'). Word choices are precise, and there are no spelling or lexical errors present in the text.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5

The writer employs a wide range of complex sentence structures with full flexibility and accuracy. Excellent use is made of subordinate clauses, participial phrases, and varied subject-verb configurations (e.g., 'Sleeping fell to 25%, a decrease of 7 percentage points, while socialising outside the home dropped sharply...'). Punctuation is flawless, and control over tense consistency across the historical comparison is fully maintained. The response is entirely error-free, reflecting a very high level of grammatical mastery.

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

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