Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-08-19
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 illustrates the proportion of households in England and Wales residing in owned and rented accommodation from 1918 to 2011.
Overall, renting was the dominant form of housing in the early 20th century, but homeownership grew steadily over time. By 1971, both sectors held an equal share, after which homeownership became the majority choice.
In 1918, nearly 78% of households lived in rented properties, whereas only about 22% owned their homes. Over the next five decades, rented accommodation saw a continuous decline, reaching 50% in 1971. In contrast, homeownership increased steadily over the same timeframe, matching renting at 50% in 1971.
From 1981 onwards, homeownership surpassed renting as the primary housing option. It peaked at nearly 70% in 2001 before dropping slightly to around 65% in 2011. Conversely, the percentage of renters fell to a low of approximately 31% in 2001, followed by a minor increase to 35% in 2011.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 7.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.5 |
| Overall | 7.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5
The response effectively addresses all parts of the task. You have provided a clear overview of the trends and successfully highlighted the key features, such as the crossover point in 1971 and the peak of homeownership in 2001. The data is accurately reported, and the comparison between the two categories is well-integrated throughout the text. The information is logically selected to provide a concise summary of the chart, meeting the requirements for a high-level response by focusing on the most significant shifts rather than listing every data point.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5
The response is well-organized with a clear logical progression. You have used paragraphing effectively to separate the introduction, overview, and the two distinct time periods. Cohesive devices such as 'whereas', 'in contrast', 'from 1981 onwards', and 'conversely' are used naturally to link ideas and contrast the two housing trends. The flow of information is smooth, and the referencing is clear throughout, ensuring that the reader can easily follow the development of the data over the specified timeframe.
Lexical Resource — Band 7.0
You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the data with precision. Phrases such as 'dominant form of housing', 'continuous decline', 'surpassed renting', and 'primary housing option' demonstrate a good command of academic language. The word choices are accurate and appropriate for a report of this nature. While the vocabulary is effective, incorporating a few more sophisticated synonyms or collocations related to statistical trends could elevate the response further, but the current range is more than adequate for the task.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5
The response displays a good variety of complex sentence structures, such as the use of participial phrases ('reaching 50% in 1971') and subordinate clauses ('whereas only about 22% owned their homes'). The grammar is highly accurate, with no significant errors that impede communication. Punctuation is used correctly to manage the flow of information. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the control over tense and subject-verb agreement is consistent throughout the entire piece.
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