Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-28

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 8.0)

The bar chart compares the proportion of weekly income that families in one country spent on eight different categories in 1968 and 2018.

Overall, there was a significant shift in spending patterns over the 50-year period. In 1968, food accounted for the largest share of expenditure, whereas in 2018, leisure and housing became the dominant categories. Spending on essentials such as food and clothing declined, while expenditure on transport and leisure increased considerably.

In 1968, families spent the highest proportion of their income on food, at around 35%. This figure fell dramatically to approximately 17% in 2018. Similarly, spending on clothing and footwear dropped from about 10% to 5%, and personal goods also decreased from roughly 9% to 4%. Fuel and power experienced a slight decline, falling from 6% to 4%.

By contrast, some categories saw notable increases. Housing expenditure nearly doubled, rising from 10% in 1968 to around 19% in 2018. Transport also showed a significant increase, climbing from 8% to 14%. The most striking growth was observed in leisure spending, which rose sharply from approximately 9% to 22%, making it the largest category in 2018.

Overall, the data illustrates a clear transition from spending on basic necessities towards greater investment in lifestyle and recreational activities.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response is excellent and fully addresses all parts of the task. You have provided a clear overview of the main trends, identifying the shift from basic necessities to leisure and housing. The data is accurately selected and reported, with effective comparisons made between 1968 and 2018. Key features, such as the dramatic decline in food expenditure and the sharp rise in leisure spending, are highlighted well. The information is logically grouped, and the response meets all requirements for a high-band performance by providing a comprehensive summary of the provided chart.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central focus, moving from an introduction and overview to specific details about declining and increasing categories. Cohesive devices such as 'whereas', 'similarly', 'by contrast', and 'the most striking growth' are used effectively to link ideas and guide the reader. Paragraphing is used appropriately, and the overall structure is coherent and easy to follow. There is a natural flow throughout the text, which is a hallmark of high-level writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You have demonstrated a wide and flexible range of vocabulary. The use of precise reporting verbs and descriptors such as 'accounted for', 'declined considerably', 'fell dramatically', and 'notable increases' shows a strong command of language. The vocabulary is not only accurate but also appropriate for an academic report. There are no spelling errors, and the word choices are sophisticated enough to convey the data clearly and concisely. The range of vocabulary is sufficient to allow for precision and flexibility in describing the trends.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5

The response exhibits a wide range of grammatical structures with high accuracy. You have successfully used a mix of simple and complex sentences, such as 'In 1968, food accounted for the largest share of expenditure, whereas in 2018, leisure and housing became the dominant categories.' Punctuation is used correctly throughout, and there are virtually no grammatical errors. The control over sentence structure is consistent, and the writing is error-free, which demonstrates a high level of grammatical competence suitable for a top-band score.

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