Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · IELTS Summit Mastery · 2026-09-22
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 6.0)
The table illustrates changes in the proportion of people living in different households in great Britain between 1971 to 2007.
Overall, the percentage of people living with dependent children decreased considerably, while the proportion of single person, lone-parent and couples with no children increased over the period given.
In 1971, couples with dependent children represented 52% in 1971. However, this figure fell continously to 36% in 2007. By comparison, couples without children rose from 19% in 1971 and then grew steadily to 25% in both 2001 and 2007.
The proportion of households with single person accounting for 6% in 1971 and then increased substantially by 12% in 2001, and remained unchanged in 2007. Likewise, lone-parents also rose from 4% to 12% over the same period.
Meanwhile, couples with non-dependent children started by 4% in 1971, and stood at 10% in 1991, and then increased slightly by 12% in both 2001 and 2007.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The student covers all parts of the task well, providing a clear overview and reporting the main features with relevant data comparisons. The opening summarises the overall trends accurately, noting that dependent-child households decreased while single-person, lone-parent, and childless couple households increased. Key figures are appropriately cited throughout the response. However, there are some minor data misinterpretations or inaccuracies in the final paragraph: the student writes that 'couples with non-dependent children started by 4% in 1971' (when the table shows 10%, confusing it with lone parents) and states that this group 'increased slightly by 12% in both 2001 and 2007' (when the figure remained at 9%). Despite these numerical slips, the overall progression is well-reported, satisfying the requirements for a Band 6.5 or 7.0 descriptor.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5
The response has a clear overall arrangement and logical progression throughout. It begins with a clear introduction and a well-formulated overview paragraph, followed by body paragraphs grouping related household types. Cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'In 1971', 'However', 'By comparison', and 'Meanwhile' are used appropriately to guide the reader through the data. Paragraphing is used sufficiently to structure the response effectively. Referencing is generally clear, though minor data confusion slightly disrupts the logical flow in the final paragraph. Overall, the structural progression meets the criteria for Band 7.0.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary suitable for an academic task, using terms such as 'proportion', 'percentage', 'decreased considerably', 'rose steadily', and 'remained unchanged'. There are, however, some lexical and collocation inaccuracies. For instance, the phrase 'households with single person' is awkward compared to 'single-person households', and the student incorrectly states that a figure 'increased substantially by 12%' rather than 'increased to 12%'. Additionally, 'great Britain' lacks a capital letter. While less common vocabulary is attempted, these errors indicate a Band 6.0 level of lexical control.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The student attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, using temporal clauses and comparative structures effectively (e.g., 'while the proportion of single person... increased over the period given'). There are several grammatical errors and awkward phrasings throughout the text, such as 'fell continously' (spelling), 'started by 4%' (preposition error), and missing articles or pluralisation issues in 'single person' and 'lone-parents'. Although these errors occur, they do not impede communication, allowing the response to comfortably secure a Band 6.0.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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