Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · IELTS Summit Mastery · 2026-08-25

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The graph below shows the perceived danger and actual likelihood of being a victim of crime.

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

Perceived and actual likelihood of being a victim of crime: by crime type

Student answer (Band 8.0)

The bar chart compares the perceived and actual likelihood of becoming a victim of three types of crime—burglary, car crime and violent crime—in 2009/10 and 2010/11.

Overall, it is clear that people consistently overestimated their chances of becoming victims of crime. In both years, perceived figures were considerably higher than the actual percentages. Car crime had the highest perceived and actual likelihood, whereas burglary had the lowest actual rate.

In 2009/10, approximately 15% of people believed they were likely to experience burglary, compared with only around 2% who actually became victims. For car crime, the perceived figure was considerably higher, at about 21%, while the actual proportion was roughly 5%. Similarly, around 16% perceived violent crime as a likely risk, although the actual figure was only about 3.5%.

A similar pattern can be seen in 2010/11. The perceived likelihood of burglary fell slightly to approximately 13%, while the actual rate increased marginally to about 3%. Perceptions of car crime declined to around 17%, whereas the actual figure remained close to 5%. Finally, the perceived likelihood of violent crime decreased to approximately 14%, while the actual percentage rose slightly to about 4%.

Overall, although perceptions became somewhat more realistic in the second year, there was still a substantial gap between perceived and actual crime rates.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response is excellent and fully addresses all parts of the task. You have provided a clear overview of the main trends, noting the consistent overestimation of crime risk. The selection of data is accurate, and you have effectively compared the perceived and actual likelihoods across both years and all three crime categories. The inclusion of specific data points, such as the 15% versus 2% for burglary in 2009/10, demonstrates a strong ability to highlight key features without becoming bogged down in unnecessary detail. The report is well-structured and fulfills all requirements of an Academic Task 1 response.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The response is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a distinct focus: the introduction, the overall trend, the first year's data, the second year's data, and a concluding summary. You have used cohesive devices effectively, such as 'In both years', 'Similarly', and 'Finally', to guide the reader through the data. The paragraphing is skillful and contributes to the overall clarity of the report. The flow between sentences is natural, and there is no evidence of mechanical or repetitive linking.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.0

You have demonstrated a wide and flexible range of vocabulary, which is used with precision. Phrases such as 'consistently overestimated', 'actual proportion', and 'substantial gap' are used appropriately in the context of data analysis. You avoid repetition by using varied synonyms for 'likelihood' and 'rate'. The control of collocations is strong, and there are no noticeable errors in word choice. The vocabulary is sophisticated enough to convey the information clearly and professionally, meeting the criteria for a high band score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The response exhibits a wide range of grammatical structures with high accuracy. You have successfully used complex sentences, such as 'Although perceptions became somewhat more realistic in the second year, there was still a substantial gap...', which demonstrates good control over subordinate clauses. Punctuation is used correctly throughout, and the majority of sentences are error-free. The use of comparative structures is consistent and accurate. There are no grammatical slips that impede communication, and the overall control of language is very high.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.