Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · IELTS Summit Mastery · 2026-08-12

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 8.0)

The table compares the various changes in particular household types in Great Britain over a period from 1971 to 2007.

Overall, households with dependent children consistently had the highest proportion, although this figure declined considerably over the period. By contrast, the proportions of one-person, lone-parent and couple households with no children generally increased, while households with non-dependent children remained relatively stable.

Regarding couple households, those with dependent children had the highest proportion compared with the other household types, starting at 52%. However, this figure declined steadily throughout the period from 1971 to 2007, falling to 36%. In contrast, the proportion of couples with no children increased consistently, rising from 19% in 1971 to 25% in 2001, before remaining unchanged in 2007. Meanwhile, households consisting of couples with non-dependent children remained relatively stable, fluctuating between 9% and 11% over the period.

Turning to the remaining household types, both one-person and lone-parent households experienced an overall increase. The proportion of one-person households doubled from 6% in 1971 to 12% in 2001, where it remained unchanged in 2007. Similarly, lone-parent households rose considerably from just 4% to 12% over the same period.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response effectively summarizes the main trends and makes relevant comparisons. You have clearly identified the key features, such as the decline in couple households with dependent children and the growth in one-person and lone-parent households. The overview is concise and highlights the most significant shifts. All parts of the prompt are addressed, and the data is used accurately to support the points made. To reach a higher band, ensure that you explicitly mention all categories provided in the table, as the 'other' category was omitted, though this is a minor point given the clarity of the main trends presented.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs that group information thematically. Cohesive devices such as 'By contrast', 'Meanwhile', and 'Turning to' are used effectively to guide the reader through the data. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate different household types. The progression of ideas is smooth, and the relationship between the different data points is clearly established. The response is easy to follow and demonstrates a high level of control over the structure of the report.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic report, such as 'consistently', 'proportion', 'fluctuating', and 'remained relatively stable'. The word choice is precise and helps convey the trends accurately. There are no significant errors in spelling or word formation. To improve further, you could incorporate more sophisticated collocations or varied synonyms for 'increase' and 'decrease' to avoid repetition, although your current usage is already quite effective for this task type.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The response displays a variety of complex structures, such as the use of participial phrases ('consisting of couples') and subordinate clauses ('while households with non-dependent children remained...'). The majority of sentences are error-free, and the punctuation is used correctly throughout. The control over tense and subject-verb agreement is consistent. The writing is fluent and demonstrates a high level of grammatical accuracy, which allows for clear communication of the data without any ambiguity.

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

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