Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-07

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 the proportion of a family's weekly income spent on 8 different categories in 1968 and 2018.

Overall, families in 1968 spent the largest portion of their income on food, while in 2018 leisure became the top expense. Additionally, spending on housing, transport and leisure increased over the 50-year period, whereas expenditure on other categories declined.

In 1968, food accounted for the highest proportion at around 35% of weekly income, far exceeding all other categories. By contrast, in 2018 this figure had dropped to approximately 17%. Similarly, spending on clothing and footwear, household goods, personal goods, and fuel and power all decreased. For example, expenditure on clothing fell from about 10% to 5%.

In contrast, there were significant increases in three areas. Housing rose from roughly 10% to 18%, transport increased from around 8% to 14%, and leisure saw the most dramatic rise, from approximately 9% to 22%, making it the biggest category in 2018.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response effectively addresses all parts of the task. You have provided a clear overview of the main trends, such as the shift from food to leisure as the primary expense, and successfully selected and reported key features. The comparisons between 1968 and 2018 are accurate and well-supported by the data provided in the chart. The information is logically grouped, and the distinction between categories that increased and those that decreased is clear. You have fully met the requirements of the prompt by summarizing the main features and making relevant comparisons throughout the report.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is well-organized with a clear logical progression. The introduction provides a concise summary, followed by a well-structured overview paragraph. The body paragraphs are logically divided into categories that decreased and those that increased, which helps the reader follow the comparison easily. Cohesive devices such as 'In contrast', 'Similarly', 'By contrast', and 'For example' are used effectively to link ideas and sentences. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different stages of your analysis, ensuring the flow of information remains smooth and coherent throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey information precisely. Phrases like 'accounted for the highest proportion', 'far exceeding', and 'dramatic rise' demonstrate a good command of academic language suitable for a Task 1 report. The vocabulary is accurate and appropriate for the context of describing statistical trends. While the range is solid, incorporating a few more varied synonyms for 'increased' or 'decreased' (such as 'surged' or 'diminished') could further enhance the sophistication of your writing. Overall, the lexical control is strong and supports clear communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The response displays a good variety of complex structures, such as the use of subordinate clauses ('while in 2018 leisure became...') and comparative structures. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation is excellent. The grammar is consistently accurate, which allows for a very smooth reading experience. You have successfully used a mix of simple and complex sentence forms to present the data clearly. There are no significant grammatical errors that impede communication, and the overall control of language is highly commendable for this task type.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.