Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Recent IELTS Exams (Canada & India) · 2026-09-28

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 illustrate the percentage of time working adults in a single country allocated to six different activities during the years 1958 and 2008.

Overall, working and sleeping consumed the largest share of adults' daily schedules in both years. Over the 50-year period, working adults spent significantly more time on work, home relaxation, and commuting, while the time spent on sleeping and socializing saw a dramatic decline.

In 1958, working occupied the largest portion of the day at 33%, followed closely by sleeping at 32%. Socializing (going out with friends and family) was the third most popular way to spend time, accounting for 19%. By contrast, relaxing at home (8%), other hobbies/sports (6%), and travelling to work (2%) made up the smallest proportions of the daily routine.By 2008, the time dedicated to work rose by 9%, reaching a dominant 42% of the day.

Conversely, time spent sleeping dropped to a quarter of the day (25%). The most drastic decline occurred in social outings, which plummeted by 13 percentage points to just 6%. In terms of leisure and commuting, adults spent more time relaxing at home (growing to 13%) and traveling to work, which more than tripled to 7%. Time allocated to sports and hobbies remained relatively stable, seeing a marginal rise to 7%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The student successfully addresses all parts of the task by reporting the main features and making relevant comparisons across both years. The overview clearly highlights the dominant categories (working and sleeping) and the primary shifts over the 50-year period. Data points are accurately cited from the charts, such as working rising to 42% in 2008 and socializing dropping significantly. The response includes a well-structured breakdown of the figures without unnecessary repetition or irrelevant details. However, there is a minor contradiction in the text regarding the 1958 data: the paragraph mentions 'other hobbies/sports (6%)', but the transcription shows sports at 7% only in 2008, while the 1958 chart had no sports category listed. Despite this minor factual slip, the overall coverage and selection of data are strong, earning a solid Band 7.5.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.5

The response is logically organized with a clear progression from an introductory statement to an overarching summary, followed by detailed body paragraphs for 1958 and 2008 respectively. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate different time periods. Cohesive devices are employed naturally and flexibly, such as 'Overall', 'By contrast', and 'Conversely', which help guide the reader through the comparisons. Referencing is clear throughout the text, ensuring that figures and categories are easily linked to the correct years and trends.

Lexical Resource: Band 7.5

The student demonstrates a wide and flexible range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic report. Phrases such as 'allocated to', 'consumed the largest share', 'dramatic decline', and 'plummeted' show an ability to use less common lexical items with good control over collocation and register. Word choices are precise, allowing the writer to convey changes in data effectively (e.g., 'more than tripled', 'marginal rise'). There are virtually no lexical errors, and the vocabulary significantly enhances the clarity and professional tone of the writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.5

The writing exhibits a wide range of complex grammatical structures, including participial phrases ('accounting for 19%', 'growing to 13%') and subordinate clauses. The majority of sentences are error-free, and the control of grammar and punctuation is strong throughout. Complex forms are integrated smoothly without causing awkwardness or loss of meaning. Minor slips are virtually absent, demonstrating a high level of grammatical accuracy that aligns well with the Band 8 descriptor.

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

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