Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.5 · IELTS Academic Practice Accelerator · 2026-07-29

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The table gives information about the average hours spent on the Internet by European people of different age groups.

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

Student answer (Band 8.5)

The table summarises information about the mean number of hours that European people of various ages spent on the Internet.

Overall, people aged 16 to 20 spent the most time on the Internet while older adults spent the shortest period of time. On average, younger men tended to spend slightly more time online than women, although women recorded higher figures in the two oldest age groups.

Among the youngest participants, boys aged 11 to 15 spent an average of 8 hours online, compared with 6 hours for girls. Internet usage then rose sharply in the 16 to 20 age group reaching a peak of 19 hours for males and 18 hours for females. After this, the figures dropped considerably among those aged 21 to 25, falling to 7 hours for men and 5 hours for women.

The downward trend continued in the older age groups. Both genders aged 26–30 spent an average of 4 hours online. In contrast, females aged 31–50 spent slightly more time on the Internet than males, at 4 hours and 3 hours respectively. The lowest averages were seen among those aged 51 and above, with men spending 2 hours online compared with 3 hours for women.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5

The response effectively addresses all parts of the task. You have provided a clear overview of the main trends and successfully selected and reported key features, such as the peak in the 16-20 age group and the general downward trend thereafter. Comparisons between genders are made throughout, which is a requirement for this task. The data is accurately represented, and the information is well-supported by the figures provided in the table. The response is balanced and covers all age groups without omitting significant details, meeting the requirements for a high band score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs that group information by age categories. The progression of ideas is smooth, moving from the youngest to the oldest age groups. Cohesive devices such as 'In contrast', 'After this', and 'although' are used effectively to link sentences and ideas. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the overview from the detailed analysis, and the referencing is clear throughout the text, ensuring the reader can easily follow the comparison of data.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic report. Phrases like 'recorded higher figures', 'downward trend', and 'reached a peak' show a level of sophistication beyond basic reporting. The word choice is generally precise, and there are no significant errors in spelling or collocation. While the vocabulary is sufficient and accurate, incorporating a few more varied synonyms for 'spent' or 'figures' could elevate the response further, but the current range is more than adequate for the task.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5

The response displays a high level of grammatical control. You have used a variety of sentence structures, including complex sentences with subordinate clauses ('although women recorded...', 'compared with 6 hours for girls'). The majority of sentences are error-free, and the punctuation is used correctly to enhance clarity. There are no noticeable grammatical slips that impede communication. The control over tense and subject-verb agreement is consistent throughout the report, reflecting a strong command of English grammar.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.