Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · IELTS Summit Mastery · 2026-09-01

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The graphs below show the percentage of people holding full driving licences in Great Britain by age and sex.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Full car driving licence holders: by sex and age

Student answer (Band 8.0)

The graphs compare the proportions of men and women in Great Britain who held full car driving licences in different age groups in 1975 and 2015.

Overall, licence ownership increased substantially among women over the period, while the figures for men changed relatively little. In both years, the highest proportions of licence holders were generally found among middle-aged people, whereas the youngest and oldest groups had lower rates.

In 1975, men were far more likely than women to possess a driving licence in every age category. Around 70% of males aged 17–20 held a licence, and this figure rose to approximately 90% among those aged between 30 and 59. Even in the oldest age group, about 60% of men had licences. By contrast, the percentage for women was much lower, at roughly 20% among 17–20-year-olds and only around 40–50% for most middle-aged groups. The proportion then fell sharply among women aged over 70.

By 2015, the gap between the sexes had narrowed considerably. Licence ownership among women increased in all age groups, reaching about 80–90% among those aged 30–59. Rates for younger women also rose markedly, while the figure for women aged 70 and above more than doubled. Male ownership remained high, at around 90% for most people between 30 and 69, although it declined slightly among the youngest group.

Overall, the most notable development was the sharp rise in female licence ownership, which brought women much closer to men by 2015.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response is excellent. You have clearly identified the main trends and provided a logical overview that contrasts the two years. You successfully selected key data points to support your descriptions, such as the specific percentages for the 17–20 age group and the 30–59 age range. The comparison between the sexes is handled well, and you correctly identified the narrowing of the gap by 2015. All parts of the prompt are addressed, and the information is accurate based on the provided graphs. The inclusion of a concluding summary reinforces the main findings effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a distinct focus: the introduction, the overview, the 1975 data, the 2015 data, and a final summary. Cohesive devices such as 'By contrast', 'In both years', and 'By 2015' are used naturally to guide the reader through the comparison. The paragraphing is skillful, and the transition between the two time periods is seamless. There is no evidence of mechanical or repetitive use of linking words, making the text very easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.0

You demonstrate a wide and precise range of vocabulary. Phrases like 'licence ownership increased substantially', 'narrowed considerably', and 'rose markedly' show a sophisticated control of language. You avoid repetition by using varied terminology for the data, such as 'proportions', 'figures', 'rates', and 'percentage'. The word choice is consistently accurate and appropriate for an academic report. There are no noticeable errors in spelling or collocation, and the vocabulary is used with a high degree of flexibility.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The response displays a wide range of grammatical structures with high accuracy. You effectively use complex sentences, such as 'The graphs compare the proportions of men and women... who held full car driving licences', and 'Licence ownership among women increased in all age groups, reaching about 80–90%...'. Punctuation is used correctly throughout, and there are no errors that impede communication. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the control over tense and subject-verb agreement is consistent throughout the report.

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