Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-22

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 compares the average proportion of weekly income spent by families in eight categories in 1968 and 2018.

Overall, spending on food was dominant in 1968, but leisure and housing became the largest categories in 2018. There was a sharp decrease in expenditure on food, fuel and power, clothing and footwear, and personal goods, while spending on housing, transport and leisure increased significantly.

In 1968, families spent the largest share of their income on food, at 35%. Housing, clothing and footwear, household goods, personal goods, transport and leisure each accounted for around 8% to 10% of weekly income, while fuel and power was the lowest at about 6%.In 2018, the pattern changed considerably. Food spending fell dramatically to about 17%.

In contrast, spending on leisure rose to about 22%, becoming the highest category, followed by housing at around 19% and transport at about 14%. Spending on clothing and footwear, fuel and power, and personal goods all fell to about 4% to 5% each. Household goods remained similar in both years at around 8%.

To sum up, in 50 years, families shifted their spending from basic necessities like food to leisure, housing and transport.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The student covers all parts of the task well, providing a clear overview and accurate details from the chart. Main features, such as the dominance of food in 1968 and the shift toward leisure and housing in 2018, are well selected and clearly reported. Data points are cited accurately throughout the response, such as 'food at 35%' in 1968 and 'leisure to about 22%' in 2018. The comparisons made between the two years are relevant and effectively highlight the changes in family spending habits over the 50-year period. All descriptors for Band 7.0 and parts of Band 8.0 are met, as the response is well-developed with only minor generalisations.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is logically organised and easy to follow. The introduction clearly paraphrases the prompt, and an effective overall trend is established right at the beginning. Paragraphing is used appropriately, with a logical division between the overview, the 1968 data, the 2018 data, and a concluding summary. Cohesive devices are used naturally and without being over-used, such as 'In 1968', 'In contrast', and 'To sum up'. Progression throughout the response is smooth and maintains a clear focus on the comparison between the two time periods.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The student demonstrates a sufficient and generally flexible range of vocabulary suitable for an Academic Task 1 response. Less common vocabulary items are used successfully, such as 'proportion', 'expenditure', 'dominant', and 'shifted'. Word choices are precise, and collocations are natural (e.g., 'sharp decrease', 'fell dramatically'). There are only occasional minor lexical slips, but overall the vocabulary is varied enough to convey precise numerical and comparative information effectively, fully aligning with Band 7.0 descriptors.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The response features a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures, showing control over clause coordination and subordination. Sentences such as 'There was a sharp decrease in expenditure on food, fuel and power, clothing and footwear, and personal goods, while spending on housing, transport and leisure increased significantly' demonstrate syntactic flexibility. The majority of sentences are error-free, with accurate punctuation and tense usage. Minor errors are virtually absent, placing the response solidly in the Band 8.0 range for grammatical accuracy and variety.

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

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