Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-30

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 illustrates how families in one country allocated their weekly income to different categories in 1968 and 2018.

Overall, food accounted for the largest proportion of weekly household spending in 1968, while leisure became the largest category in 2018. In contrast, fuel and power accounted for the smallest proportion of spending in both years.

In 1968, families spent approximately 35% of their weekly income on food, compared with 17% in 2018. Spending on leisure increased considerably, from 8% in 1968 to approximately 22% in 2018. Similarly, expenditure on transport rose from about 7% to 13%.

In contrast, spending on personal goods decreased from around 8% in 1968 to 4% in 2018. Household goods remained unchanged at approximately 8% in both years. Clothing also saw a decline, from about 10% in 1968 to 5% in 2018. Fuel and power accounted for approximately 6% of spending in 1968, falling slightly to 4% in 2018.Finally, spending on housing increased significantly, from around 10% in 1968 to 18% in 2018.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

The student successfully addresses all parts of the task by providing a clear overview and reporting the main features of the chart with accurate data. Key trends and comparisons between 1968 and 2018 are highlighted effectively, such as the dramatic decrease in food spending and the rise in leisure and housing costs. The figures cited closely match the visual data provided. The response meets the minimum word count requirement and demonstrates a fully developed and well-supported understanding of the prompt, earning a strong band score for this criterion.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.5

The essay is logically organised with a clear overarching progression. It begins with an appropriate introductory sentence and a well-formulated overview paragraph. Body paragraphs are logically structured, grouping related categories together effectively. Cohesive devices such as 'In contrast', 'Similarly', and 'Finally' are used appropriately to guide the reader through comparisons. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and contributes to the overall clarity and readability of the response.

Lexical Resource: Band 7.0

The student demonstrates a sufficient and accurate range of vocabulary appropriate for an Academic Task 1 response. Words and phrases like 'allocated their weekly income', 'accounted for the largest proportion', 'expenditure on transport', and 'remained unchanged' show good lexical control and flexibility. There are no notable spelling or word-choice errors, and the vocabulary choices allow the writer to convey precise comparative details without difficulty.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.0

The response features a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures, including comparative clauses and introductory prepositional phrases. The majority of sentences are error-free, with accurate punctuation and tense usage throughout. While the grammatical structures are somewhat standard for Task 1, they are handled with a high degree of accuracy and control, allowing for smooth communication without any interference from grammatical slips.

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