Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-30

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 eight categories in 1968 and 2018.

Overall, spending patterns changed significantly over the 50-year period. In 1968, families spent the largest proportion of their income on food, while in 2018 housing and leisure became the biggest expenses. The percentages spent on food, clothing, fuel and personal goods decreased, whereas spending on housing, transport and leisure increased.

In 1968, food accounted for the highest share of weekly income, at about 35%. Housing and clothing and footwear each represented around 10%. Families also spent approximately 9% on leisure and personal goods, while transport and household goods were slightly lower. Fuel and power made up the smallest proportion, at around 6%.

By 2018, spending on food had fallen considerably to roughly 17%. Expenditure on clothing and footwear, fuel and power, and personal goods also declined to around 5%, 4% and 4% respectively. In contrast, housing increased to about 18 %, while transport rose to nearly 14%. Leisure saw the most notable growth, reaching just over 20 %, making it the largest spending category in 2018. Household goods also experienced a small increase to approximately 8%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response is excellent. You have successfully identified the main trends and provided a clear overview of the shifts in spending patterns between 1968 and 2018. All categories are addressed, and the comparisons are accurate and well-supported by the data provided. You have effectively highlighted the most significant changes, such as the decline in food expenditure and the rise in leisure costs, which demonstrates a strong ability to select and report key features as required by the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, a concise overview, and two body paragraphs that group information effectively by time period. Cohesive devices such as 'In contrast', 'whereas', and 'while' are used naturally to link ideas and contrast data points. The progression of information is smooth, and the paragraphing is appropriate, making the response very easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic report. Phrases like 'accounted for the highest share', 'expenditure on', and 'notable growth' are used accurately. The vocabulary is precise and contributes to the clarity of the report. To reach a higher band, you could incorporate slightly more sophisticated synonyms or collocations, but the current range is more than sufficient for a high-scoring response.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The grammar is highly accurate throughout the text. You use a variety of sentence structures, including complex sentences with subordinate clauses, effectively. Punctuation is used correctly, and there are no significant errors that impede communication. The control over tense usage (past simple for 1968 and present perfect/simple for 2018) is consistent and correct, reflecting a high level of grammatical competence.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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