Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-03

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 provides data related to families who spent their weekly income in 1968 and 2018.

Overall, the expenditure of families on leisure, transport, and housing increased after five decades. In other cases, the proportion of income spent is less than before half a century, with one exception of a household with the same proportion after fifty years.

In 1968, the highest proportion of weekly income was spent on food, with 35%, followed by housing and clothing, each with a 20% share. Additionally, the share of leisure accounted for 9% as compared to transport, personal goods, and household goods with 8% for each category. Fuel and power had the lowest proportion, around 6%.

In 2018, there was a significant decrease in spending on food from 35% in 1968 to around 16% after five decades. Leisure accounted for around 22%, as compared to housing and transport with around 20% and around 15%, respectively. Personal goods and fuel had a joint share of around 5% each. Clothing had a share of 5%, while the household goods share remained unchanged after fifty years with around 8%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response covers all key features of the data well. You successfully identified the main trends, such as the significant decline in food expenditure and the rise in leisure spending. The overview is clear and highlights the most important shifts between 1968 and 2018. You made effective comparisons between the two years, which is essential for this task. The data is accurately reported, and the structure allows for a logical presentation of the information. To reach a higher band, ensure that all categories are consistently compared; for instance, the mention of 'personal goods' in 2018 could be more explicitly contrasted with its 1968 counterpart to strengthen the analytical aspect of the report.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs focusing on the specific years. The progression of ideas is smooth, and the use of cohesive devices such as 'In 1968', 'In 2018', and 'as compared to' helps guide the reader through the data. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the time periods. The referencing is generally clear, though some transitions could be more varied to avoid a slightly mechanical feel. Overall, the information is presented in a coherent manner that is easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the information accurately. Phrases like 'significant decrease', 'proportion of income', and 'remained unchanged' are used effectively. There is an attempt to use less common vocabulary, though some word choices could be more precise. For example, 'In other cases' is a bit vague when referring to spending categories. While the vocabulary is adequate for the task, incorporating more sophisticated synonyms for 'share' or 'proportion' (e.g., 'allocation', 'expenditure') would enhance the lexical variety and precision of your writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures with good control. Most sentences are error-free, and the punctuation is generally accurate. There are occasional minor slips, such as 'the proportion of income spent is less than before half a century', which is slightly awkward phrasing. However, these errors do not impede communication. You show a good grasp of comparative structures, which is vital for this task. To improve, try to incorporate a wider variety of complex sentence forms, such as using participle clauses to describe trends, to demonstrate greater grammatical flexibility.

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

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