Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · IELTS Summit Mastery · 2026-08-05

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The table below shows the change in some household types in Great Britain from 1971 to 2007.

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

PEOPLE IN HOUSEHOLDS BY TYPE OF HOUSEHOLD AND FAMILY

Student answer (Band 6.5)

The table illustrates the variation in some household categories in Great Britain across 1971 to 2007.

Overall, one-person homes were doubled in this period, while in one-family households, dependent children type declined but the lone parent houses soared by one-third.

In 1971, there was only 6% for one-person type, but later this figure rose to 8% in 1981 and 11% in 1991, before finishing at 12% in both 2001 and 2007. On the other hand, one-family households showed a different data, where couples with no children showed a minimal increment from 19% in 1971, 20% in 1981 and 23% in 1991, before finally ending at 25% in both 2001 and 2007. Furthermore, the dependent children fell from 52% in 1971 to 47% in 1981, before falling further to 41% in 1991, 39% in 2001 and 36% in 2007. Additionally, the non-dependent children remained almost stable, accounting for 10% in both 1971 and 1981, before increasing to 11% in 1991 and finally settling at 9% in both 2001 and 2007.

By contrast, the lone parent households were only 4% in 1971, but later rose to 6% in 1981 and 10% in 1991, before finally growing to 12% in both 2001 and 2007.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response effectively identifies the main trends and provides a clear overview. You successfully selected key data points to support your descriptions, such as the decline in dependent children and the rise in lone-parent households. However, the overview is slightly inaccurate; you stated one-person homes 'doubled', but the data shows an increase from 6% to 12%, which is indeed a doubling. The comparison is generally well-handled. To reach a higher band, ensure that the overview captures the most significant trends more precisely and avoid minor inaccuracies in data interpretation. Overall, the task is well-addressed with a clear focus on the main features.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs that group information by household type. The use of cohesive devices such as 'On the other hand', 'Furthermore', and 'By contrast' helps guide the reader through the data. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate different categories. The progression of ideas is clear, although some transitions could be more sophisticated. The referencing is generally clear, and the overall structure supports the flow of information effectively throughout the report.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the information clearly. Phrases like 'minimal increment', 'soared', and 'accounting for' are used effectively. However, there are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'one-person homes were doubled' (passive voice is slightly awkward here; 'doubled' is an intransitive verb) and 'showed a different data' (data is uncountable, so 'different data' is incorrect). Expanding your range of synonyms for 'increase' and 'decrease' would further enhance your score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While most sentences are clear, there are some grammatical slips, such as 'there was only 6% for one-person type' (should be 'the one-person household category accounted for 6%') and 'one-family households showed a different data'. Punctuation is generally accurate, and the errors present do not impede communication. To improve, focus on using more varied complex structures and ensuring subject-verb agreement and correct preposition usage.

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

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