Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-08-16

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 7.5)

The bar chart compares the percentages of households that owned and rented accommodation in England and Wales between 1918 and 2011.

Overall, home ownership increased considerably over the period, while the proportion of rented households declined. The two figures became equal in 1971, after which ownership remained higher than renting.

In 1918, only about 22% of households owned their homes, whereas approximately 78% rented them. By 1939, the ownership rate had risen to 32%, while renting fell to 68%. These figures remained almost unchanged in 1953. However, ownership increased to around 42% in 1961, accompanied by a decline in renting to 58%.

In 1971, the proportions of homeowners and renters were both 50%. After that, home ownership continued to rise, reaching about 60% in 1981 and 68% in 1991. It peaked at approximately 69% in 2001 before falling slightly to 65% in 2011. In contrast, renting decreased to 40% in 1981 and around 31% in 2001, before rising slightly to 35% in 2011.

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 main trends and successfully selected key data points to support your description. The comparison between the two categories is consistent throughout the report, and the identification of the 1971 crossover point is a strong feature. The information is accurate and well-summarised, meeting the requirements for a Band 8.0 performance by covering all key features without unnecessary detail.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organised with a clear introduction, a concise overview, and two body paragraphs that group information chronologically. Cohesive devices such as 'whereas', 'however', 'in contrast', and 'after that' are used effectively to guide the reader through the data. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the early period from the later developments. The progression of ideas is smooth and logical, making the text very easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic report. Phrases like 'proportion of rented households', 'ownership rate', and 'accompanied by a decline' show a solid command of topic-specific language. While the vocabulary is accurate and sufficient, it could be further elevated with more sophisticated collocations or varied synonyms to reach the highest band. However, the current usage is precise and error-free, which is well-suited for a Band 7.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The response displays a good variety of complex sentence structures, such as the use of subordinate clauses ('while the proportion of rented households declined') and participial phrases ('accompanied by a decline in renting'). The grammar is highly accurate, with no significant errors that impede communication. Punctuation is used correctly throughout. The control over tense and sentence structure is consistent, reflecting a strong command of English grammar.

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