Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · IELTS Summit Mastery · 2026-09-26

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 documents changes in the percentage distribution of different household and family structures in Great Britain from 1971 to 2007.

Overall, the data reflects a prominent shift away from traditional nuclear family setups toward smaller household configurations. While families consisting of a couple with dependent children experienced a substantial decline, single-person households, childless couples, and lone-parent families all grew noticeably before stabilizing in the final years.

In 1871, more than half of the British population resided in households containing a couple with dependent children, at 52%. However, this figure fell consistently over the subsequent decades, dropping to 41% by 1991 and ultimately reaching a low of 36% in 2007. Conversely, households made up of a couple with non-dependent children remained remarkably stable throughout the 36-year period, hovering tightly between 9% and 11%.

In stark contrast to the decline in dependent-child households, other living arrangements witnessed significant upward trends. The proportion of individuals living alone doubled from 6% in 1971 to 12% in 2001, remaining unchanged in 2007. A similar exact doubling was recorded for lone-parent households, which surged from 4% to 12% over the same timeframe. Meanwhile, couples living without children saw steady growth, climbing from 19% at the start of the period to a peak of 25% by 2001, where it also leveled off until 2007.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 8.0

The student provides a well-organized and accurate summary of the main features shown in the table. All parts of the prompt are addressed, and relevant comparisons are successfully made throughout the essay, such as contrasting the decline in dependent-child households with the upward trends in single-person and lone-parent households. An effective overview is present in the second paragraph, highlighting the general shift toward smaller household configurations. Data points are cited correctly to support the claims, meeting the Band 8 descriptor well.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 8.0

The response is logically sequenced and easy to follow. Ideas are structured cohesively with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs that deal with specific data groups. Paragraphing is used appropriately. Cohesive devices such as 'Conversely', 'In stark contrast', and 'Meanwhile' are managed very well to guide the reader through the comparisons without being intrusive, fully satisfying the requirements for Band 8.

Lexical Resource: Band 8.0

The student demonstrates a wide and flexible lexical range suitable for an Academic Task 1 response. Vocabulary items such as 'percentage distribution', 'prominent shift', 'subsequent decades', and 'remarkably stable' are used naturally and precisely. There is an awareness of collocation and style, and minor flaws are virtually non-existent, aligning the response with a Band 8 level.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 8.0

The essay displays a wide range of complex grammatical structures used with a high degree of accuracy. The majority of sentences are error-free, and complex forms such as participle clauses ('dropping to 41% by 1991') and subordinate clauses are handled skilfully. There is only a single typographical/factual slip in paragraph three ('In 1871' instead of 1971), but this does not impede communication or detract from the overall high control of grammar and punctuation, fitting a Band 8 score.

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