Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-07-29

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The chart below gives information about how families in one country spent their weekly income in 1968 and in 2018.

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

1968 and 2018: average weekly spending by families

Student answer (Band 7.0)

The provided horizontal bar graph compares the proportion of average weekly spending by families in a country on eight various categories in 1968 and 2018.

In 1968, food stood at 35%, which was the highest proportion among all. It dramatically decreased approximately 17% in 2018. Housing as well as clothing and footwear categories were at one-tenth in 1968, while 2018, housing showed rapid growth almost double (19%). Leisure recorded nearly 22%, making it the largest expenditure category in 2018, which was at 9% in 1968.

Amount spent of household goods was at around 8% in both years. Regarding personal goods constituted at 8% in 1968, after 50 years it became the lowest category and reached at under 5%. The expenditure on fuel and power dropped slightly from around 6% in 1968 to 4%, which was turned the lowest category in 2018. There was a noticeable growth in the figures of transport and it reached at approximately 14% in 2018.

Overall, food and leisure were the highest categories in 1968 as well as 2018 respectively. Families spent same money on household good in both years. In 2018, clothing and footwear as well as personal goods decreased considerably.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

You have successfully identified the main features and provided a clear comparison between the two years. You covered all categories and highlighted the most significant trends, such as the decline in food expenditure and the rise in leisure and housing costs. The overview is clear and effectively summarises the key shifts. To reach a higher band, ensure that all data points are described with complete accuracy; for instance, stating that food 'dramatically decreased approximately 17%' is slightly ambiguous—it is better to state it fell from 35% to 18%. Overall, you have addressed the requirements of the task well.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The response is logically organised, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a concluding overview. You use a range of cohesive devices such as 'Regarding', 'In 1968', and 'Overall' to guide the reader. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the paragraphing could be improved by grouping related categories more effectively. For example, the final paragraph repeats information already mentioned in the body, which is unnecessary. Improving the flow between sentences would help achieve a higher score.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'proportion', 'expenditure', and 'noticeable growth'. There are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'which was turned the lowest category', which is grammatically awkward. Additionally, some phrasing is repetitive, such as the frequent use of 'at' before percentages. To improve, try to vary your verbs and avoid redundant prepositions. The vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly, but lacks the precision and sophistication required for the higher bands.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While your meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as 'Amount spent of household goods was at around 8%' (should be 'The amount spent on...') and 'Regarding personal goods constituted at 8%' (which is a fragmented structure). There are also issues with article usage and prepositional phrases. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and correct preposition usage will significantly improve your accuracy.

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