Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · IELTS Summit Mastery · 2026-09-13

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 percentage distribution of people living in different household and family types in Great Britain, spanning from 1971 to 2007.

Overall, a noticeable trend is that households comprising couples with dependent children declined steadily throughout the period. In contrast, the percentage of one-person households, couples without children, and lone-parent families increased, indicating a significant change in family structure over the 36-year period.

In 1971, couples with dependent children accounted for the largest proportion of households, at 52%. However, this figure fell consistently, reaching 47% in 1981, 41% in 1991, 39% in 2001, and finally 36% in 2007. In contrast, couples with no children experienced a gradual increase in the percentage, from 19% in 1971 to 20% in 1981 and 23% in 1991, before reaching 25% in 2001 and remaining same after that. Meanwhile, the proportion of couples with non-dependent children witnessed slight fluctuations between 9% and 11%.

Similarly, the percentage of one-person households

doubled from 6% in 1971 to 12% in 2001, which remained unchanged in 2007. Likewise, lone-person households figure surged from 6% in 1971 to 10% in 1991, before reaching 12% in both years, 2001 and 2007.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response successfully covers all the key features of the provided data regarding household types in Great Britain from 1971 to 2007. The introduction accurately paraphrases the prompt, and the overview clearly identifies the main overall trends, such as the decline in couples with dependent children and the increase in one-person and lone-parent households. The student selects and reports relevant numerical data, including specific percentages for 1971, 2001, and 2007, and makes effective comparisons throughout the text (e.g., contrasting couples with children against couples without children). The information is well-selected and fully supports the summary, satisfying the requirements for Task Achievement at a high level.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is logically organized with a clear overall progression from the introduction to the overview and body paragraphs. Information is logically sequenced, moving smoothly from general trends to specific supporting figures. Paragraphing is used effectively and appropriately to group related ideas. Cohesive devices are managed well, using appropriate transition markers such as 'Overall', 'In contrast', and 'Similarly' to guide the reader through the data. Referencing is generally clear, contributing to the overall readability and cohesion of the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The student demonstrates a sufficient and appropriate range of vocabulary for Task 1, utilizing precise terms such as 'percentage distribution', 'family structure', 'proportion', and 'fluctuations'. Less common lexical items are attempted with some awareness of style and collocation, as seen in expressions like 'declined steadily' and 'experienced a gradual increase'. There are a few minor vocabulary or phrasing slips, such as 'remaining same' (missing an article) and 'lone-person households figure surged' (where 'lone-parent' was likely intended based on standard demographic terms), but these do not impede communication, placing the response solidly in the band 7 range.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The writing exhibits a good variety of complex sentence structures, including subordinate clauses ('while the proportion of couples... witnessed slight fluctuations', 'before reaching 25% in 2001'). There are frequent error-free sentences, and the student demonstrates good overall control of grammar and punctuation. Minor errors do occur, such as 'remaining same after that' (omitting 'the') and a slightly awkward phrasing in the final sentence ('lone-person households figure surged'). However, the majority of sentences are accurate and grammatical control is strong, fully justifying a band 7.0 score.

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