Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · 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 7.0)

The bar chart compares the proportion of weekly spending allocated to various categories of expenditure by families in 1968 and 2018.

Overall, it is clear that the amount of money spent per week on food experienced a substantial decline over the period. In contrast, spending on leisure surged sharply in 2018.

In 1968, families tended to spend about 35% of their weekly income on food which was the highest figure. However, this figure faced a significant drop to around 17% in 2018. Spending on fuel and power, clothing and footwear, and personal goods diminished over time. For example, fuel and power spending fell from about 7% to 4%.

On the other hand, expenditure on leisure, transport, and housing showed constant growth. The most notable growth was in leisure, which rose from approximately 9% in 1968 to about 23% in 2018. The only category that remained unchangedvis household goods, which levelled off at around 8%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response effectively addresses the task by identifying the main features and providing relevant comparisons. You successfully highlighted the significant decline in food expenditure and the notable rise in leisure spending. The overview is clear and captures the key trends across the two years. All categories are mentioned, and the data is used accurately to support the points made. To reach a higher band, ensure that all comparisons are fully developed; for instance, while you mention the decline in fuel and power, providing a slightly more comprehensive comparison of all categories would strengthen the analysis. Overall, the response is well-focused and meets the requirements of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs. The progression of ideas is smooth, moving from general trends to specific data points. You make good use of cohesive devices such as 'In contrast', 'However', and 'On the other hand' to signal shifts in the narrative. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the declining categories from those that increased. The referencing is generally clear, though the transition between the final two sentences could be slightly smoother to improve the flow. Overall, the structure is coherent and easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey information with precision. Phrases like 'substantial decline', 'surged sharply', and 'levelled off' are used effectively and appropriately in the context of describing trends. There is a good awareness of collocation, and the vocabulary is varied enough to avoid repetition. While the range is adequate for the task, incorporating a few more sophisticated or less common lexical items related to data analysis could elevate the score further. There are no significant spelling or word-choice errors that impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The response displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You show control over grammatical forms, and the majority of your sentences are error-free. There is a minor typographical error ('unchangedvis'), which is a rare slip and does not affect the overall clarity of the message. Punctuation is generally accurate, and the use of complex structures, such as the opening subordinate clause, is handled well. To achieve a higher band, you could experiment with a wider variety of complex grammatical structures to demonstrate even greater flexibility.

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