Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.5 · 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 8.5)

The chart compares the percentages of households living in owned and rented accommodation in England and Wales from 1918 to 2011.

Overall, home ownership increased considerably over the period, while the proportion of households renting accommodation followed the opposite trend. The two figures were equal in 1971, after which ownership became the more common form of housing.

In 1918, renting was by far the most common arrangement, accounting for 78% of households, compared with only 22% who owned their homes. Over the following decades, the percentage of homeowners rose gradually, reaching 31% in 1939 and 32% in 1953. It then increased more rapidly to 42% in 1961 and 50% in 1971. During the same period, the proportion of rented homes fell from 78% to exactly 50%.

Home ownership continued to grow after 1971, reaching 58% in 1981 and 68% in 1991. It peaked at 69% in 2001, while renting fell to its lowest point of 31%. However, by 2011, the percentage of homeowners had declined slightly to 64%, whereas renting increased to 36%.

Overall, the figures show a clear long-term shift from rented to owner-occupied housing, despite a small reversal in the final decade.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5

The response is excellent. You have fully addressed all parts of the task by identifying the main trends and providing specific data points to support your descriptions. The overview is clear and effectively highlights the key shift in housing trends over the period. You have successfully selected and reported the main features, such as the crossover point in 1971 and the peak of ownership in 2001, while making relevant comparisons between the two categories throughout the text. The information is accurate and well-integrated, demonstrating a strong grasp of the data provided.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The response is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, moving from the introduction and overview to the chronological breakdown of the data. Cohesive devices such as 'while', 'after which', 'during the same period', and 'however' are used naturally and effectively to link sentences and clauses. The paragraphing is logical and contributes to the overall clarity of the report. There is no evidence of mechanical or repetitive use of linking words; the flow is smooth and professional throughout.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.0

You demonstrate a wide and precise range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic report. Phrases such as 'accounted for', 'followed the opposite trend', 'long-term shift', and 'owner-occupied housing' show a high level of lexical control. The vocabulary is used naturally and accurately to describe trends and data points. There are no noticeable errors in word choice or collocation, and the language is consistently sophisticated, which is well-suited to the task requirements.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5

The response displays a wide range of grammatical structures with high accuracy. You effectively use complex sentences, such as 'In 1918, renting was by far the most common arrangement, accounting for 78% of households, compared with only 22% who owned their homes.' Punctuation is used correctly throughout, and there are no grammatical errors that impede communication. The control over verb tenses and sentence construction is consistent, and the writing is error-free, reflecting a high level of grammatical competence.

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