Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.5 · 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 8.5)

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 8.5

The candidate has fully satisfied the requirements of Task 1 by providing a clear, well-structured summary of the main trends and features in the table. An effective overview is included in the second paragraph, highlighting the general shift away from traditional nuclear family setups toward smaller households. Key data points are accurately reported and appropriately contrasted, such as the decline in couples with dependent children from 52% in 1971 to 36% in 2007, and the upward trajectory of single-person and lone-parent households. All relevant comparisons are made without unnecessary mechanical listing of every single figure, demonstrating an adept selection of information.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 8.5

The response demonstrates a clear logical organization with a strong progression of ideas from introduction to overview and detailed body paragraphs. Paragraphing is used logically, separating different household types effectively. Cohesive devices are managed skilfully and naturally without being intrusive, utilizing transitional phrases such as 'Overall', 'However', 'Conversely', and 'In stark contrast to' to guide the reader seamlessly through the data comparisons.

Lexical Resource: Band 8.0

The candidate employs a wide and flexible range of vocabulary suited to an Academic Task 1 response. Less common lexical items and precise reporting verbs/phrases are used skilfully, including 'percentage distribution', 'prominent shift', 'substantially decline', and 'upward trends'. Word choices and collocations are accurate, with only rare minor instances where alternative phrasing could enhance precision further, demonstrating strong lexical control overall.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 8.0

A wide variety of complex sentence structures is used with a high degree of control and flexibility. The majority of sentences are completely error-free. The writer skilfully integrates participial phrases and subordinate clauses (e.g., 'While families consisting of a couple with dependent children experienced a substantial decline, single-person households... all grew noticeably'). Punctuation and grammatical markers are handled accurately throughout, supporting clear and sophisticated communication.

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