Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-21

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 7.5)

The bar chart compares how families in one country spent their weekly income on different categories in 1968 and 2018.

Overall, food represented by far the largest proportion of household expenditure in 1968, while leisure and housing accounted for the highest shares in 2018. Furthermore, spending on food, clothing and footwear, and personal goods declined considerably over the period.

In 1968, families spent the largest proportion of their weekly income on food, at approximately 35%. Leisure was the second-largest expense, accounting for around 22%, while housing and clothing and footwear both represented about 10%. By contrast, fuel and power was the smallest category, at roughly 6%.

By 2018, leisure had become the largest area of expenditure, at about 22%, followed by housing at approximately 18%. Although spending on food fell significantly to around 17%, transport increased from about 8% to 14%. Meanwhile, expenditure on clothing and footwear, fuel and power, and personal goods declined to relatively low levels, while household goods remained almost unchanged at around 7–8%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response effectively addresses the task by identifying the main features and trends. You have successfully compared the data between 1968 and 2018, highlighting significant shifts such as the decline in food expenditure and the rise in leisure spending. The overview is clear and provides a concise summary of the most notable changes. All categories are covered, and the data is used accurately to support your points. To reach a higher band, you could further synthesize the data by grouping categories more explicitly or highlighting more nuanced comparisons, such as the inversion of the top two spending categories over the fifty-year period.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is logically organized with a clear structure. Each paragraph has a distinct focus: the introduction, the overview, and the two body paragraphs detailing the data. Cohesive devices such as 'By contrast', 'Although', and 'Meanwhile' are used effectively to link ideas and guide the reader through the comparisons. The progression of information is smooth, moving from the general overview to specific details in a logical manner. Paragraphing is used appropriately, and referencing is clear throughout the text, ensuring that the reader can easily follow the comparison between the two years.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for a data-reporting task. Phrases such as 'accounted for the highest shares', 'declined considerably', and 'remained almost unchanged' are used accurately and naturally. The vocabulary is precise and contributes to the clarity of the report. While the range is sufficient, incorporating a few more sophisticated or varied synonyms for 'spending' or 'proportion' would enhance the lexical variety. Overall, the language is natural, and there are no errors in word choice or collocation that impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The response displays a good command of grammatical structures. You have successfully used a mix of simple and complex sentences, such as the concessive clause 'Although spending on food fell significantly to around 17%, transport increased from about 8% to 14%'. Punctuation is accurate, and the sentence structure is varied, which helps maintain the flow of the report. The grammar is largely error-free, with only minor slips that do not affect the clarity of the information. The control over tense and comparative structures is consistent throughout the response.

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