Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-08-03

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 6.5)

The bar chart illustrates the proportion of households in owned and rented homes in England and Wales from 1918 to 2011. Overall, the percentage of owned houses increased significantly over the period, while the percentage of rented houses decreased. Notably, in 1971, both types of housing were equally popular.

In 1918, renting was the most common way to live. Nearly 80% of households rented their homes, while only about 20% owned their accommodation. Over the next few decades, owning a house gradually became more popular. By 1939 and 1953, home ownership rose slightly to over 30%, and renting fell to just under 70%. By 1961, ownership climbed to about 40%. In 1971, the figures for both renting and owning met in the middle, standing at exactly 50% each.

After 1971, the trend shifted, and more people owned their homes than rented them. Home ownership continued to grow, reaching its highest point in 2001 at roughly 70%, while renting fell to around 30%. However, in 2011, there was a slight reversal in this long-term trend. The number of homeowners dropped to around 65%, and the percentage of people renting increased again to just over 35%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response effectively addresses all parts of the task. You have provided a clear overview of the main trends—the inverse relationship between owned and rented accommodation—and highlighted the significant crossover point in 1971. The data is well-selected, with specific figures used to support the description of the trends across the timeline. You have successfully identified the key features, such as the initial dominance of renting, the steady rise of home ownership, and the slight reversal observed in the final year (2011). The information is accurate and well-summarised, meeting the requirements for a high band score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organised, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs that follow a chronological progression, and a logical conclusion. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate different phases of the trend. Cohesive devices such as 'Notably', 'Over the next few decades', 'After 1971', and 'However' are used appropriately to guide the reader through the data. The progression of ideas is smooth, and the referencing (e.g., 'this long-term trend') is clear. The structure is coherent and easy to follow throughout.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the trends accurately, such as 'proportion', 'significantly', 'gradually', 'climbed', and 'reversal'. The word choices are precise and appropriate for an academic report. While the vocabulary is functional and accurate, it stays within a relatively standard range. To reach a higher band, you could incorporate more sophisticated collocations or varied synonyms for 'increased' and 'decreased' (e.g., 'surged', 'plummeted', 'witnessed a downward trajectory'). However, the current range is more than adequate for the task.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response demonstrates a good variety of complex structures, such as the use of subordinate clauses ('while the percentage of rented houses decreased') and participial phrases. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation is excellent. There is a consistent use of accurate verb tenses appropriate for describing past data. The grammar is flexible and supports the clear communication of the data points. There are no significant errors that impede meaning, and the overall control of language is strong.

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