Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · IELTS Summit Mastery · 2026-09-12

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 7.0)

The table illustrates the percentages of people in Great Britain living in different types of households between 1971 and 2007.

Overall, it has been seen that the proportion of people living alone and in households with no children increased during the period. In contrast, the percentage of people living with dependent children decreased considerably.

In 1971, 52% of people lived in one-family households with dependent children. This was the highest figure in the table. However, the percentage fell steadily over the following years, reaching 47% in 1981, 41% in 1991, 39% in 2001, and finally 36% in 2007. On the other hand, households consisting of couples with no children showed an opposite trend. Their figure rose from 19% in 1971 to 25% in 2001, and then remained unchanged in 2007.

The proportion of one-person households also increased significantly, from 6% in 1971 to 12% in 2001, where it stayed until 2007. Similarly, the percentage of lone-parent households tripled from 4% to 12% over the same period. Finally, people living with non-dependent children accounted for around 9–11%, showing only minor fluctuations.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response covers all key features of the table comprehensively and provides relevant comparisons throughout. In the overview, the student successfully identifies the main overall trends, such as the increase in one-person and no-child households and the decrease in households with dependent children. The body paragraphs accurately select and report specific data points, such as the drop in one-family households with dependent children from 52% in 1971 to 36% in 2007, and the contrasting rise in other categories. All data points cited are accurate and support the overview effectively, demonstrating a clear understanding of the visual information provided. The response fulfils all requirements of an Academic Task 1 response to a high standard, earning a well-deserved Band 8.0.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organised with a clear overall progression. It begins with an introduction outlining the chart's purpose, moves to a well-constructed overview paragraph, and follows up with detailed body paragraphs grouping related data. Cohesive devices are used appropriately and naturally, with transition signals such as 'Overall', 'In contrast', 'However', 'On the other hand', and 'Similarly' helping to guide the reader smoothly through the comparisons. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and logically, with each paragraph focusing on a distinct aspect of the data. Referencing is clear and unambiguous throughout, demonstrating skillful management of cohesion and logical sequencing, easily meeting the criteria for a Band 8.0.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The student demonstrates a sufficient and appropriate range of vocabulary for this task, successfully employing functional reporting verbs and nouns such as 'proportion', 'percentage', 'trend', 'fluctuations', and 'tripled'. The language is mostly natural and precise, allowing the information to be conveyed clearly. While there is occasional reliance on simpler descriptive terms, the vocabulary used is precise enough to allow fluent reading without any awkwardness. Word choice and collocation are generally accurate, avoiding major errors, and qualifying terms like 'steadily', 'significantly', and 'considerably' are used correctly to describe the extent of change. This performance aligns comfortably with the Band 7.0 descriptor.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response exhibits a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures, incorporating subordinate clauses and varied introductory phrases effectively. Grammatical control is strong, with the majority of sentences being entirely error-free. The student handles past tense forms consistently and accurately when reporting historical data from the table, as seen in expressions like 'fell steadily', 'rose from', and 'remained unchanged'. Punctuation is accurate, and sentence boundaries are clear, ensuring that communication is never impeded. Although the range of complex grammatical structures is somewhat restricted compared to higher bands, the overall accuracy and good control over sentence patterns warrant a solid Band 7.0.

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

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