Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-09

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 8.5)

The chart compares how families allocated their weekly income across eight spending categories in 1968 and 2018.

Overall, spending on food, clothing and footwear, fuel and power, and personal goods decreased as a proportion of income over the fifty-year period, while expenditure on leisure, housing, and transport increased considerably. Spending on household goods remained relatively stable.

In 1968, food accounted for the largest share of family income, at around 35%, but by 2018 this figure had fallen sharply to approximately 17%. Similarly, clothing and footwear saw a considerable decline, dropping from roughly 10% in 1968 to just 5% in 2018. Fuel and power spending also fell slightly, from about 6% to 4%, and personal goods decreased marginally from 7% to 4% over the same period.

By contrast, leisure spending rose dramatically, more than doubling from around 9% in 1968 to approximately 22% in 2018, making it the largest spending category by the end of the period. Housing expenditure also increased substantially, nearly doubling from 10% to 19%, while transport costs rose from 8% to 14%. Spending on household goods remained relatively unchanged, at around 8% in both years.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5

The response is excellent. You have successfully identified all key features of the chart, including the significant shifts in spending patterns between 1968 and 2018. You provided a clear overview that highlights the main trends (decreases in necessities versus increases in leisure and housing) and supported these with accurate data points from the chart. The comparison between the two years is consistent and well-integrated throughout the report. You have fully addressed all parts of the task, ensuring that the reader understands the major changes without needing to refer back to the original image.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The response is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. You use an effective structure: an introduction, a concise overview, and two body paragraphs that group the data logically (declining categories vs. increasing categories). Cohesive devices such as 'Similarly', 'By contrast', and 'over the same period' are used naturally and effectively to link sentences and ideas. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different trends, making the information very easy to follow. The flow of information is smooth and professional.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.5

You demonstrate a wide and precise range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic report. Phrases such as 'allocated their weekly income', 'proportion of income', 'fallen sharply', and 'rose dramatically' show a sophisticated control of language. You avoid repetition by using varied verbs and adverbs to describe the trends. The vocabulary is not only accurate but also contributes to the formal tone required for Task 1. There are no errors in word choice or collocation, and the use of terminology is precise throughout the text.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5

The response exhibits a wide range of grammatical structures with full flexibility and accuracy. You effectively use complex sentences, such as 'In 1968, food accounted for the largest share of family income, at around 35%, but by 2018 this figure had fallen sharply to approximately 17%.' Punctuation is used correctly to manage clauses and lists. The grammar is error-free, and the control over tense and subject-verb agreement is perfect. The writing is fluent and demonstrates a high level of grammatical competence.

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