Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-08-11

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 chart compares the proportions of households living in owned and rented accommodation in England and Wales between 1918 and 2011.

Overall, there was a clear shift from renting to home ownership over the period. While renting was by far the more common form of accommodation at the beginning, the proportions became equal in 1971, after which owning a home became dominant. The figures for the two types of accommodation were almost reversed by the end of the period.

In 1918, approximately 22% of households owned their homes, compared with about 78% that rented. The proportion of homeowners increased gradually to around 32% in 1939 and 1953, before rising more noticeably to 42% in 1961. By 1971, ownership had reached 50%, exactly matching the figure for rented accommodation.

After 1971, home ownership continued to rise, reaching approximately 60% in 1981 and 68% in 1991. It remained at roughly the same level in 2001, before falling slightly to around 64% in 2011. In contrast, the percentage of rented households declined steadily from 40% in 1981 to about 32% in 1991 and 2001, and then increased slightly to approximately 36% in 2011.

Thus, over the 93-year period, home ownership became substantially more prevalent, while renting declined overall.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response is excellent. It provides a clear overview of the main trends, noting the shift from renting to ownership and the crossover point in 1971. Key features are accurately selected and supported with specific data points from the chart. The comparison between the two categories is consistent throughout the report, and the information is presented logically. The summary effectively highlights the reversal of the trends by the end of the period. All parts of the prompt are addressed thoroughly, and the data is interpreted accurately without any significant omissions.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is well-structured with a clear introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs that logically group the data chronologically. Cohesive devices such as 'While', 'In contrast', and 'Thus' are used effectively to link ideas and guide the reader through the progression of the data. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the initial period from the later developments. The flow of information is smooth, and the relationship between the two categories is clearly maintained throughout the text, making the response very easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

The vocabulary is precise and appropriate for an academic report. The student uses a good range of topic-specific terminology such as 'proportions', 'prevalent', 'dominant', and 'accommodation'. The use of adverbs like 'gradually', 'noticeably', and 'steadily' adds nuance to the description of the trends. There are no noticeable errors in word choice or collocation, and the language is natural and sophisticated. The range is sufficient to convey the information clearly and effectively without repetition.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The response demonstrates a high level of grammatical control. A variety of complex sentence structures are used, such as the opening subordinate clause 'While renting was by far the more common form...' and the use of participle phrases like 'before rising more noticeably'. Punctuation is accurate, and there are no significant grammatical errors. The majority of sentences are error-free, and the control over tense and subject-verb agreement is consistent throughout the report. The writing is fluent and demonstrates a strong command of English grammar.

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