Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · 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 8.0)

e bar chart compares the proportion of weekly household income that families in one country spent on eight different categories in 1968 and 2018.

Overall, food accounted for by far the largest share of family expenditure in 1968, whereas leisure became the biggest area of spending in 2018. Over the 50-year period, spending on food, clothing, fuel and personal goods declined, while housing, transport and leisure took up larger proportions.

In 1968, families spent 35% of their weekly income on food, which was considerably more than any other category. Housing and clothing and footwear each represented 10%, while leisure accounted for about 9%. Household goods, personal goods and transport were all around 8%, and fuel and power made up approximately 6%.

By 2018, the proportion spent on food had almost halved, falling to 17%. In contrast, leisure rose sharply to 22%, making it the largest expenditure category. Housing also increased substantially, from 10% to 19%, while transport rose from 8% to 14%. Spending on household goods remained relatively stable at around 8%. Meanwhile, expenditure on clothing and footwear fell to 5%, and both fuel and power and personal goods declined to approximately 4% each.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response is excellent. You have successfully identified the main features and provided a clear overview of the trends. You selected relevant data points to support your descriptions, such as the shift in food expenditure from 35% to 17% and the rise in leisure spending. The comparison between the two years is consistent and accurate throughout the report. You have fully addressed all parts of the task, ensuring that the key changes are highlighted effectively. The information is well-organized, and the data is presented in a way that makes the trends easy to follow for the reader.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, a concise overview, and two well-structured body paragraphs. The use of cohesive devices is natural and effective; for example, 'In contrast', 'Meanwhile', and 'By 2018' help guide the reader through the chronological and thematic shifts. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the initial state from the subsequent changes. The progression of ideas is smooth, and there is a clear sense of logical flow from the general overview to the specific details of the data provided in the chart.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a strong command of vocabulary, using precise terms such as 'expenditure', 'proportion', 'accounted for', and 'sharply'. The range of vocabulary is sufficient to convey the information with precision and flexibility. There are no noticeable errors in word choice or collocation, and the language used is appropriate for an academic report. You successfully avoid repetition by using varied synonyms for 'spending' and 'categories', which enhances the overall quality of the writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The grammar is highly accurate, with a variety of complex sentence structures used effectively. You demonstrate good control over tense usage, switching appropriately between the past tense for 1968 and the present perfect or simple past for the 50-year comparison. Punctuation is used correctly, and there are no significant grammatical errors that impede communication. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the structure is sophisticated enough to meet the requirements for a high band score.

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