Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.5 · IELTS Summit Mastery · 2026-09-17
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 7.5)
The table shows the percentages of people in different types of households in Great Britain between 1971 and 2007.
Overall, the proportion of people living in one-person households, childless couples and lone-parent households increased over the period. In contrast, the percentage of people in households with dependent children declined. Couples with dependent children remained the largest household type throughout the period.
Looking first at the categories that increased, the percentage of people living alone rose from 6% in 1971 to 12% in 2001, where it remained unchanged in 2007. Similarly, the figure for couples without children increased steadily from 19% to 25% over the period. The proportion of lone-parent households also rose considerably, from 4% in 1971 to 12% in 2001, before remaining stable in 2007.
In contrast, the percentage of people living in households with dependent children fell steadily throughout the period, from 52% in 1971 to 36% in 2007. Despite this decline, this category had the highest proportion in every year shown. Meanwhile, the figure for households with non-dependent children remained relatively stable, fluctuating between 9% and 11% over the period.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 7.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.5 |
| Overall | 7.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5
The response fully satisfies the requirements of Academic Task 1. The student provides a clear overview highlighting the main general trends (increases in one-person households, childless couples, and lone parents versus a decline in households with dependent children) and accurately selects and reports key features from the table. Data points are appropriately cited to support descriptions, such as noting that one-person households rose from 6% in 1971 to 12% in 2001 and remained stable. Key comparisons are also made, such as identifying that households with dependent children remained the largest group throughout the period despite their overall decline. No important data anomalies or inaccuracies are present, and the response meets all criteria for a high band score in this category.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5
The report displays a clear logical organization and progression from start to finish. An appropriate introductory sentence is followed by a concise overview paragraph, which neatly sets up the body paragraphs. Body paragraphs are logically grouped by trends (categories that increased versus categories that decreased). Cohesive devices are used effectively and naturally without being mechanical, employing transitional phrases such as 'Looking first at', 'Similarly', and 'In contrast'. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, ensuring the response is easy to follow and reads smoothly.
Lexical Resource — Band 7.0
The student demonstrates a sufficient and flexible range of vocabulary appropriate for an Academic Task 1 response. Less common lexical items and phrasing are used accurately, such as 'proportion', 'fluctuating', 'remain stable', and 'rose considerably'. Word choices and collocations are generally natural, and there are no noticeable spelling or word-choice errors that impede communication. While the vocabulary is not overly sophisticated in a literary sense, it meets the criteria for Band 7 by demonstrating good control and variety in describing statistical trends.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5
The response exhibits a strong variety of complex sentence structures used accurately throughout. The majority of sentences are error-free, showcasing good control of grammar and punctuation. Examples of complex structures include subordinate clauses and participial phrases used seamlessly, such as 'In contrast, the percentage of people living in households with dependent children fell steadily throughout the period...'. Minor errors are absent, and tense control (past simple for historical data) is handled consistently and correctly, warranting a high band score for grammatical control.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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