Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-08-26

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The bar charts and line graph below show the results of a survey conducted over a three-year period to discover what people who live in London think of the city.

Write a report for a university lecturer describing the information below.

What are the best things about living in London?

Student answer (Band 7.5)

The charts show the results of a three-year survey about the best and worst aspects of living in London, and whether these problems were considered major.

Overall, the range of shops was consistently the most popular positive feature, while the cost of living, traffic congestion and crime were the main disadvantages. Litter was also considered the most serious major problem.

Around 45% of people in Year 1 considered the range of shops the best thing about London, compared with about 43% in Year 3. Job opportunities fell slightly from 38% to 35%, while the proportion choosing a mixture of people remained stable at approximately 36%. In contrast, museums and art galleries increased from 29% to 35%. Nightlife also rose gradually, from 22% to 25%.

Regarding the worst aspects, the cost of living declined from about 57% in Year 1 to 50% in Year 3. Traffic congestion followed a similar pattern, falling from 56% to 49%, while crime dropped significantly from 56% to 40%. Housing costs remained fairly stable, whereas transport costs decreased from 35% to 27%.

Finally, litter was considered a major problem by 71% of respondents in Year 1, rising to 75% in Year 2 before falling to 65% in Year 3. Air pollution and noise both declined steadily.

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 trends and successfully highlighted key features from both the bar charts and the line graph. The data is accurately reported, and you have made relevant comparisons between the years. The selection of information is balanced, covering the positive aspects, negative aspects, and the specific data regarding litter as a major problem. The report is well-structured and fulfills the requirements of an academic task 1 response by presenting the information in a logical and objective manner.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs that group information thematically. The progression of ideas is smooth, and you use a variety of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'In contrast', 'Regarding', and 'Finally'. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate different aspects of the survey results. The referencing is clear, and the flow of information is easy to follow throughout the report, demonstrating a high level of coherence and cohesion.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic report. Phrases such as 'consistently the most popular', 'remained stable', 'declined steadily', and 'dropped significantly' show a good grasp of descriptive language for data interpretation. The vocabulary is precise and used accurately in context. While the range is sufficient and effective, incorporating a few more sophisticated collocations or varied synonyms for 'increase' and 'decrease' could elevate the response further, but the current usage is already quite strong and natural.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The response displays a high level of grammatical accuracy. You use a variety of sentence structures, including complex sentences, with confidence. Punctuation is used correctly, and there are no significant errors that impede communication. The control over tense and subject-verb agreement is consistent throughout the text. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the few minor slips are non-systematic and do not detract from the overall clarity of the report. This demonstrates a strong command of English grammar.

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