Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.5 · IELTS Momentum Workout · 2026-07-31

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 8.5)

The line graph illustrates past and projected proportions of overweight people in nine selected OECD countries between 1970 and 2020.Overall, overweight rates increased in all countries over the period. The USA consistently recorded the highest proportions and is expected to maintain this position by 2020, whereas Korea had the lowest figures throughout. Most countries are projected to experience further growth, although the pace varies considerably. In the USA, the proportion of overweight people stood at approximately 45% in 1970. After a slight decline in the late 1970s, the figure rose steadily, reaching around 60% by 2000. It is then forecast to climb sharply to roughly 75% in 2020, remaining the highest among all the countries shown. Canada followed a similar upward trend, increasing from about 45% in the late 1980s to nearly 70% by the end of the period. England also experienced significant growth, rising from around 43% to approximately 64% by 2020. Spain showed a more moderate increase, with its overweight rate expected to rise from roughly 43% to 55% over the same period. Austria and Italy recorded relatively stable figures around the 40% mark before climbing gradually to the mid-40s by 2020. France increased steadily from about 30% to approximately 44%, while Australia rose from around 30% to 45%. Korea remained the least affected country, despite a gradual increase from roughly 25% in the mid-1990s to about 35% by 2020.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

You have provided a comprehensive summary of the data, effectively identifying the main trends and making relevant comparisons. You successfully highlighted the USA as the highest and Korea as the lowest throughout the period, which provides a clear overview. The inclusion of specific data points for the start and end of the period for each country demonstrates a good grasp of the information. To reach a higher band, ensure that the 'overview' paragraph is distinct and perhaps more analytical regarding the overall trajectory of the groups (e.g., grouping countries with similar growth patterns) rather than just listing individual country data in the body paragraphs.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, a concise overview, and well-structured body paragraphs. You use cohesive devices such as 'whereas', 'although', and 'in addition' effectively to link ideas. The progression of information is smooth, moving from the highest rates to the lowest. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the general trends from the specific country details. To improve further, ensure that the transition between the overview and the detailed body paragraphs is even more seamless, perhaps by using a more explicit linking phrase to introduce the detailed analysis.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for an Academic Task 1 response. Phrases like 'consistently recorded', 'maintain this position', 'climb sharply', and 'least affected' are used accurately and naturally. There is a good variety of verbs and adverbs to describe trends, such as 'rose steadily' and 'climbing gradually'. The vocabulary is precise enough to convey the information clearly without repetition. To achieve a higher score, you could incorporate more sophisticated collocations or academic synonyms to describe the data, such as 'upward trajectory' or 'marginal increase'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5

Your control of grammar is strong, with a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You use subordinate clauses effectively (e.g., 'although the pace varies considerably') and maintain consistent tense usage throughout the report. Punctuation is generally accurate, aiding the readability of the text. There are very few grammatical errors, and those that exist do not impede communication. To reach the highest band, you could experiment with a wider variety of complex structures, such as using more passive voice constructions or participle phrases to vary the sentence rhythm further.

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