Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · IELTS Momentum Workout · 2026-07-28

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The line graph below shows past and current overweight rates, as well as a projected future overweight rate in nine selected countries.

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

Past and projected future overweight rates in selected OECD countries

Student answer (Band 8.0)

The line graph compares past, current and projected future overweight rates in nine selected OECD countries between 1970 and 2020.

Overall, the proportion of overweight people is expected to increase in all countries. The USA has the highest rates through out the period, while Korea remains the country with the lowest percentage. Most other countries also show a gradual upward trend.

In 1970, the USA recorded the highest overweight rate at around 46%. After a slight decline to about 43% in 1980, the figure rose steadily and predicted to reach approximately 75% by 2020. Canada and England also experienced significant increases. Canada's rate climbed from about 47% in early 1990s to around 70% by the end of the period, while England is forecast to rise from roughly 30% to about 65%.

Spain and Austria followed similar patterns, increasing from around 40% to approximately 55-56 in 2020. Australia and Italy had lower figures, starting at about 35% and ending at around 45-47%. France showed only a moderate rise from nearly 30% to 36%. Korea had the lowest proportion throughout the period, although it is still expected to increase from about 25% to around 35% by 2020.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response effectively addresses the task by identifying the main trends and making relevant comparisons across the nine countries. You have successfully highlighted the overall upward trajectory and identified the extremes (USA and Korea). The data is accurately reported, and the inclusion of specific figures supports your observations well. To reach a higher band, ensure that all data points are clearly contextualised; for instance, when mentioning '55-56', it is important to specify that these are percentages to maintain clarity. Overall, the report is well-structured and covers all requirements of the prompt.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The essay is logically organised, with a clear introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs that group countries by their trends. Cohesive devices such as 'while', 'although', and 'followed similar patterns' are used effectively to link ideas. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the overview from the detailed analysis. The progression of ideas is smooth, and the information is easy to follow. To improve further, ensure that referencing remains consistent throughout the text to avoid any ambiguity when discussing multiple countries in a single sentence.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey information precisely, using terms like 'proportion', 'upward trend', 'forecast', and 'moderate rise'. The word choice is generally accurate and appropriate for an academic report. There are no significant spelling errors, and the vocabulary used is natural. To achieve a higher score, try to incorporate more varied synonyms for 'increase' (e.g., 'escalate', 'surge', or 'climb') and avoid repeating the same sentence structures when describing the data for different countries.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures with good control. Most sentences are error-free, though there are a few minor slips, such as 'predicted to reach' (should be 'is predicted to reach') and '55-56' (missing the percentage sign). Punctuation is generally accurate, and the grammatical errors present do not impede communication. To reach the next level, focus on ensuring that passive constructions are consistently formed and that units of measurement are consistently included when citing figures.

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