Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-12

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The graph below gives information on the numbers of participants for different activities at one social centre in Melbourne, Australia for the period 2000 to 2020.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

 

 

Student answer (Band 8.0)

The line graph illustrates changes in the number of people participating in five activities at a community centre in Melbourne, Australia, between 2000 and 2020.

Overall, the film club remained the most popular activity throughout the period, despite a slight decline initially. Table tennis experienced by far the most substantial growth, whereas amateur dramatics followed the opposite trend. Participation in musical performances also increased considerably, while martial arts fluctuated but ended at approximately the same level as in 2000.

In 2000, the film club had around 64 participants, making it considerably more popular than martial arts and amateur dramatics, at approximately 36 and 26 respectively. The number attending the film club fell gradually to 60 in 2010 before recovering to about 66 by 2020. Martial arts fluctuated between roughly 32 and 38 participants, finishing at 36.

Table tennis rose modestly from 16 participants in 2000 to 20 in 2010, after which it increased sharply, reaching approximately 54 by 2020. In contrast, amateur dramatics peaked at 28 in 2005 before declining steadily to just 6. Musical performances, which had no participants in 2000 and 2005, grew consistently thereafter to around 18 in 2020.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The student successfully covers all parts of the task by providing a clear overview and reporting the main features and trends of the five activities shown in the graph. Key data points are accurately selected and compared, such as the film club remaining the most popular, table tennis experiencing substantial growth, and amateur dramatics declining significantly. The response includes precise figures from the start and end of the period, meeting all requirements of an Academic Task 1 response without any unnecessary filler. The overview is well-integrated and highlights the most striking features effectively, aligning closely with the Band 8 descriptor for Task Achievement.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The response is logically organised, featuring a clear introduction, an effective overview paragraph, and well-structured body paragraphs that group information logically by activity trends and specific data. Information and ideas flow smoothly from one sentence to the next. Cohesive devices such as 'despite', 'whereas', 'in contrast', and 'after which' are used naturally and appropriately to guide the reader through the data comparisons. Paragraphing is used skillfully, with each paragraph serving a distinct and logical purpose in presenting the visual information. Cohesion is unobtrusive, supporting a seamless reading experience.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.0

The student demonstrates a wide, fluent, and flexible range of vocabulary appropriate for an Academic Task 1 response. Less common lexical items and phrasing—such as 'substantial growth', 'fluctuated', 'peaked', and 'declining steadily'—are used with good awareness of collocation and style. Word choices are precise, and there are virtually no inaccuracies in spelling or word formation. The student avoids repetitive phrasing by employing varied synonyms and descriptions for trends and changes over time, displaying a high level of lexical control that comfortably meets the requirements for a Band 8 score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The student exhibits a wide range of complex sentence structures, including participial phrases and subordinate clauses, used with a high degree of accuracy. Sentences such as 'Musical performances, which had no participants in 2000 and 2005, grew consistently thereafter...' demonstrate strong control over grammatical forms. The majority of sentences are completely error-free, and any complex structures attempted are handled securely. Punctuation is accurate throughout, assisting the logical flow of information. This high level of structural variety and grammatical precision corresponds directly to a Band 8 performance.

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