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 categories, the proportion of income spent is lower than it was before, with one exception of a household category 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 stable after fifty years with around 8%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response effectively covers all parts of the task. You have 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 key shifts between 1968 and 2018. You have also made relevant comparisons between categories and years. To reach a higher band, ensure that all data points are accurate; for instance, the chart shows transport at 8% in 1968, but your text mentions it alongside personal and household goods, which is slightly confusing. Overall, the information is well-selected and logically presented.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs focusing on the two years respectively. There is a clear progression of ideas throughout the text. Cohesive devices such as 'In 1968', 'Additionally', and 'In 2018' are used effectively to guide the reader. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the time periods. The referencing is generally clear, and the flow between sentences is smooth. The structure is coherent and supports the overall purpose of the report well.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the information with precision. Phrases like 'significant decrease', 'proportion of income', and 'remained stable' are used accurately. There is some awareness of style, and the vocabulary is appropriate for an academic report. While the range is adequate, incorporating more varied synonyms for 'share' or 'proportion' (such as 'expenditure allocation' or 'percentage of total spending') would enhance the lexical variety. There are no significant errors in word choice or spelling that impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. Most sentences are error-free, and your control over grammar and punctuation is good. For example, the use of subordinate clauses in 'as compared to transport, personal goods, and household goods with 8% for each category' is well-handled. There are very few grammatical slips, and the meaning is always clear. To move to a higher band, you could experiment with more sophisticated complex structures, such as using participle clauses or more varied comparative constructions to link the data points more fluidly.

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