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 bar graph illustrates the proportion of average weekly spending money by families in a particular nation during the time period between 1968 and 2018.

Overall, it can be seen that in the year, families spent most of their money on food, whereas in the year 2018, leisure activities gain more popularity.

To commence with, in the year 1968, families spent 35% of money on food from their incomes. Followed by this, 10% spent on house and clothes. Individuals spend 5%-10% of the money on remained categories.

On the other hand, in the year 2018, the figures were totally changed. The proportion of money spent on food dropped from 35% to around 18% in 2018. Same with fuel and power, clothing, and personal products, the ratios of these categories declined from 6%, 10%, and 8% to 4%, 5%, and 4%, respectively. However, people spent more money on housing, transport, and leisure, compared to 1968. They spent almost 20%, 14%, and 22% of their total income to housing, transport, and leisure, respectively.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response covers all key features of the chart and makes relevant comparisons between the two years. You successfully identified the main trends, such as the decline in food expenditure and the rise in leisure spending. However, the report could be improved by grouping the data more effectively. For example, you mention 'remained categories' in the first body paragraph without specifying them, which makes the information slightly vague. To reach a higher band, ensure that all data points mentioned are clearly linked to their specific categories and that the overview provides a more comprehensive summary of the most significant shifts across the entire period.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized into an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs. You use some cohesive devices such as 'On the other hand' and 'To commence with' to guide the reader. However, some transitions feel a bit mechanical or slightly unnatural, such as 'Followed by this'. Additionally, the referencing in the third paragraph is a bit repetitive. To improve, try to vary your linking words and ensure that the progression of ideas flows more smoothly between sentences. Using pronouns or synonyms to refer back to previously mentioned categories would also enhance the cohesion of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'proportion', 'expenditure' (implied), and 'ratios'. There are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'spending money' instead of 'expenditure' or 'spending', and 'remained categories' which should be 'remaining categories'. While you successfully use comparative language, the vocabulary is somewhat limited and relies on basic descriptors. To achieve a higher score, try to incorporate more precise academic collocations, such as 'accounted for', 'witnessed a significant decrease', or 'fluctuated', to describe the data trends with greater sophistication and variety.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this task. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'in the year' (missing the specific year), 'Individuals spend' (tense inconsistency, should be past tense), and 'Same with fuel and power' (fragmented sentence). While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focus on maintaining consistent tense usage when describing historical data and ensure that your sentences are complete and grammatically sound. Practicing the use of relative clauses could also help you combine ideas more effectively.

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