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 across five distinct years 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 fully stabilizing in the final decade.

In 1971, 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 traditional nuclear families, other living arrangements witnessed significant upward trends. The proportion of individuals living alone doubled from 6% in 1971 to 12% in 2001, remaining completely unchanged in 2007. A similar exact tripling 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 has successfully covered all parts of the task, providing a comprehensive summary of the table regarding household and family structures in Great Britain from 1971 to 2007. The response features a clear, well-developed overview outlining the main trends, specifically the shift from traditional nuclear families to smaller configurations. Key data points and comparisons are accurately selected and reported, such as the decline in couples with dependent children from 52% to 36%, and the rise in lone-parent and single-person households. The data is entirely grounded in the provided stimulus without any misinterpretations or omissions that would detract from the quality of the response. This performance strongly satisfies the Band 8 descriptor for Task Achievement.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 8.5

The response demonstrates a clear logical organization and progression throughout. Information and ideas are expertly sequenced, starting with an introductory outline, moving into an effective overall summary paragraph, and followed by well-structured body paragraphs detailing specific trends. Cohesive devices are used flexibly and appropriately (e.g., 'Consequently,' 'In stark contrast,' 'Meanwhile'), and referencing is consistently clear. Paragraphing is managed skillfully, with each paragraph serving a distinct and unified purpose. The flow of information is completely natural, fitting comfortably into the criteria for a high band score.

Lexical Resource: Band 8.0

The student exhibits a wide, fluent, and flexible lexical range suitable for an academic writing task. Less common vocabulary items are used skillfully and with a strong awareness of style and collocation, such as 'percentage distribution,' 'nuclear family setups,' 'stabilizing,' and 'remarkably stable.' Word choices are precise, and there are no notable inaccuracies or inappropriate collocations. Spelling and word formation are entirely accurate throughout the response, reflecting a high level of lexical control that matches the requirements for Band 8.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 8.0

The response utilizes a wide range of complex grammatical structures with a high degree of flexibility and accuracy. The majority of sentences are error-free, and the few complex constructions attempted—such as participle clauses and subordinate clauses (e.g., 'dropping to 41% by 1991 and ultimately reaching a low of 36% in 2007')—are handled with complete control. Punctuation is accurate, and grammar errors are virtually non-existent. This level of syntactic variety and precision fully justifies a Band 8 score for grammatical range and accuracy.

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