Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · 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 7.0)

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

In 1918, approximately 23% of households lived in owned accommodation, while 76% lived in rented accommodation. In 1939 and 1953, the percentage of households living in owned accommodation was around 31%, while rented accommodation accounted for approximately 68%.

In 1961, the proportion of households living in owned accommodation increased to 40%, whereas 59% lived in rented accommodation. By 1971, the percentages for both owned and rented accommodation were equal, at 50%. This shows that between 1961 and 1971, more households gradually began to buy their own homes instead of renting.

In 1991, the percentage of households living in owned accommodation increased to 60%, while the figure for rented accommodation decreased to 40%. This represents a significant increase in home ownership and a corresponding decrease in rented accommodation. In 2001, the percentage of households living in owned accommodation increased further, while the proportion living in rented accommodation continued to decline.

Finally, in 2011, approximately 63% of households lived in owned accommodation, compared with 35% in rented accommodation. Overall, the chart shows a clear increase in home ownership and a substantial decrease in rented accommodation over the period.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response covers all parts of the task well. You have successfully identified the main trends, such as the inversion of the two categories between 1961 and 1971, and provided a clear overview at the end. The data is accurately reported, and the comparison between owned and rented accommodation is consistent throughout the text. To reach a higher band, you could aim to group the data more analytically rather than listing it chronologically, perhaps by highlighting the most significant periods of change or contrasting the start and end points more dynamically.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a concluding summary. Each paragraph focuses on a specific time period, which helps the reader follow the progression of the data. Cohesive devices such as 'while', 'whereas', 'by', and 'in contrast' are used effectively to link ideas. The paragraphing is appropriate and contributes to the overall clarity of the report. The flow is smooth, and the progression of information is easy to follow throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the trends, such as 'accounted for', 'proportion', 'increased further', and 'substantial decrease'. The language is precise and appropriate for an academic report. While the vocabulary is accurate, it is somewhat functional. To achieve a higher score, you could incorporate more varied synonyms or more sophisticated collocations to describe the movements in the data, such as 'a steady climb', 'a marginal decline', or 'a dramatic shift'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The response demonstrates a good control of grammatical structures. You have used a mix of simple and complex sentences effectively, such as 'In 1918, approximately 23% of households lived in owned accommodation, while 76% lived in rented accommodation.' The punctuation is accurate, and there are very few grammatical errors. The sentences are clear and easy to read. To improve further, you could experiment with more complex sentence structures, such as using participle clauses or more varied subordinating conjunctions to enhance the sophistication of your writing.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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