Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-07-31

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The chart below shows the percentage of households in owned and rented accommodation in England and Wales between 1918 and 2011.

Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant.

Student answer (Band 8.0)

The bar graph depicts the percentage distributions of families living in owned or rented accommodations in England and Wales from 1918 to 2011.

Overall, the percentage of households renting an accommodation experienced a steady decline, before a slight rise at the end. On the contrary, the proportion of families owning an accommodation witnessed a gradual increase, before a slight fall at the end.

The figures for the families living in a rented house or apartment stood at around 78% in 1918, whereas the proportion of households in owned accommodation accounted for just above 20%. The percentage of households living in owned and rented accommodations became equal in 1971 with 50% for each type.

After 1971, the proportion for households in owned accommodations exceeded households in rented accommodations. The figures for the households in owned accommodations steadily rose to around 70%, before falling to 63% in 2011 in contrast to families living in rented accommodations, which declined to just above 30% in 2010, before recovering to 35% in 2011.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

You have successfully identified the main trends and provided a clear overview of the data. You covered all parts of the task by comparing the two categories throughout the period. The selection of data points, such as the starting year (1918), the crossover point (1971), and the final year (2011), is appropriate and supports your summary well. The information is accurate and relevant. To reach a higher band, ensure that you consistently use precise terminology for the data, as 'rented an accommodation' is slightly less natural than 'rented accommodation'. Overall, this is a well-structured and accurate response that fully addresses the prompt.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

Your response is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. You use paragraphing effectively to separate the overview from the detailed body paragraphs. Cohesive devices such as 'On the contrary', 'whereas', and 'after 1971' are used appropriately to link information and guide the reader. The flow between sentences is smooth, and the referencing is clear. The structure is coherent throughout, and the use of linking words is neither mechanical nor repetitive. This meets the requirements for a high band in this criterion.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey information with precision. Phrases like 'percentage distributions', 'witnessed a gradual increase', and 'accounted for' are used effectively. While the vocabulary is generally accurate, there are minor issues with collocation, such as 'rented an accommodation' (usually 'rented accommodation' or 'rented housing'). You have successfully avoided repetition by using synonyms like 'figures', 'proportion', and 'percentage'. The vocabulary is appropriate for an academic task and does not impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

You use a variety of complex sentence structures, such as 'The figures for the families living in a rented house or apartment stood at around 78% in 1918, whereas the proportion of households in owned accommodation accounted for just above 20%.' Your control over grammar is strong, and the majority of your sentences are error-free. Punctuation is used correctly to manage complex clauses. There are no significant grammatical errors that hinder understanding. The mix of simple and complex structures is well-balanced, showing good flexibility.

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