Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · IELTS Academic Practice Accelerator · 2026-09-27

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 8.0)

The table shows the average number of hours spent on the internet by European people in different age groups, comparing males and females.

Overall, it is clear that teenagers aged 16 to 20 spent the highest number of hours online for both genders. In contrast, internet usage generally decreased as age increased, with older age groups spending the least amount of time on the internet.

Looking at the younger age groups, 16 to 20-year-olds recorded the highest figures, with males spending 19 hours and females spending 18 hours online. For the 11 to 15 age bracket, males spent 8 hours compared to 6 hours for females. However, internet usage dropped significantly for those aged 21 to 25, with males averaging 7 hours and females averaging 5 hours.

Turning to the older age categories, internet use was much lower. People aged 26 to 30 spent an average of 4 hours online, regardless of gender. For the 31 to 50 age group, females spent slightly more time on the internet than males, at 4 hours and 3 hours respectively. Finally, individuals aged 51 and over recorded the lowest usage, with males spending 2 hours and females spending 3 hours.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 8.0

The student covers all parts of the task well, providing a clear overview and selecting key features from the table. The main trends are accurately identified, such as the peak in internet usage among 16 to 20-year-olds and the general decline in older age groups. Specific data points are correctly cited to support the descriptions, for instance, noting that males aged 16 to 20 spent 19 hours and females spent 18 hours online. The response meets all the requirements of an effective Academic Task 1 report without any missing data or significant misinterpretations of the provided figure.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 8.0

The text is logically organized with a clear progression from an introduction and overview to detailed body paragraphs. Information is well-sequenced, moving from the highest usage age groups to the older, lower usage categories. Cohesive devices are used naturally and effectively, such as 'In contrast,' 'Looking at the younger age groups,' and 'Turning to the older age categories,' which help guide the reader smoothly through the data. Paragraphing is used appropriately, with each paragraph serving a distinct and clear function in the overall structure.

Lexical Resource: Band 7.0

The student demonstrates a sufficient and appropriate range of vocabulary for this task, utilizing functional reporting language such as 'average number of hours,' 'internet usage generally decreased,' and 'regardless of gender.' Less common lexical items and collocations are attempted with good control, such as 'age bracket' and 'recorded the lowest usage.' Word choice is generally precise, and there are no notable spelling or lexical errors that impede communication, allowing the student to achieve a solid band score for this criterion.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 8.0

The writing features a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures, incorporating subordinate clauses and participial phrases smoothly (e.g., 'comparing males and females,' 'with males spending 19 hours and females spending 18 hours online'). The majority of sentences are error-free, and grammatical control is strong throughout, with accurate tense usage for reporting data and correct punctuation. While the range of complex structures could be slightly wider to reach the highest bands, the current control is secure and error-free.

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

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