Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-08-18

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 percentage of households in owned and rented accommodation in England and Wales between 1918 and 2011.

Overall, the proportion of households in owned accommodation increased significantly over the period, while the proportion in rented accommodation declined, with the two figures crossing over the 1970s.

In 1918, only around 23% of households owned their homes, while a much higher 77% lived in rented accommodation. By 1961, the proportion of owned households had rose to around 41%, while rented accommodation had fallen to about 59%. By 1971, the two figures had become almost equal, at roughly 51% each. After this point, the trend reversed completely owned accommodation continued to rise, reaching the top of around 70% in 2001, whereas rented accommodation fell to its lowest point of about 32% in same year. By 2011, owned accommodation dropped slightly to 65%, while rented accommodation had risen marginally to 37%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response effectively identifies the main trends and provides a clear overview of the data. You have successfully highlighted the key crossover point in the 1970s and contrasted the long-term trajectories of owned and rented accommodation. All parts of the prompt are addressed, and the data is used accurately to support the summary. To reach a higher band, ensure that you consistently provide specific data points for all key years mentioned, as the description of the 2001 data is slightly cluttered. Overall, the report is well-focused and meets the requirements of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, an overview paragraph, and a detailed body paragraph. The progression of ideas is smooth, moving chronologically through the data. You have used cohesive devices such as 'while', 'whereas', and 'after this point' effectively to link contrasting information. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the information is presented in a way that is easy to follow. To improve, ensure that the transition between the overview and the body paragraph is slightly more distinct to enhance the overall flow.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the trends, such as 'proportion', 'declined', 'reversed', and 'marginally'. The language is precise and appropriate for an academic report. There are no significant errors in word choice or collocation. To achieve a higher score, you could incorporate more sophisticated synonyms or collocations to describe the shifts in data, such as 'a steady climb' or 'a significant downturn', rather than relying on basic verbs like 'rose' or 'fell'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The response demonstrates a good control of complex sentence structures, such as the use of subordinate clauses starting with 'while' and 'whereas'. However, there are a few grammatical slips, such as 'the proportion of owned households had rose' (should be 'had risen') and 'in same year' (missing the article 'the'). Despite these minor errors, the majority of your sentences are error-free, and the meaning is always clear. Focusing on verb tense consistency and article usage will help you reach the next band level.

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

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