Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-08-22

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 living in owned and rented accommodation in England and Wales between 1918 and 2011.

Overall, rented accommodation accounted for the highest proportion of households at the beginning of the period, while home ownership was considerably lower. However, over time, the percentage of households living in owned accommodation increased, whereas the figure for rented accommodation declined. The two categories were equal at 50% in 1971.

In 1918, households living in rented accommodation accounted for the largest proportion, at approximately 78%, while only around 22% lived in owned accommodation. Over the following decades, the percentage of households renting their homes gradually declined, reaching 50% in 1971. In contrast, the proportion of households living in owned accommodation increased steadily from about 22% to 50% during the same period.

After 1971, home ownership continued to rise and reached its peak of approximately 69% in 2001, before falling slightly to around 64% in 2011. By contrast, the percentage of households living in rented accommodation decreased to about 31% in 2001 and then rose moderately to approximately 36% at the end of the period.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully addresses the task requirements. You have provided a clear overview of the main trends and successfully selected key data points to illustrate the changes over time. The comparison between the two categories is consistent throughout the report, and the identification of the 1971 crossover point is a strong analytical feature. All parts of the prompt are covered, and the information is accurately reported from the chart. The structure is logical, and the summary of the peak and subsequent decline in home ownership is well-handled, ensuring the reader gains a comprehensive understanding of the data trends.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is well-organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a distinct focus: the introduction, the overall trend, the first period (1918–1971), and the final period (1971–2011). You use cohesive devices such as 'In contrast', 'Over the following decades', and 'By contrast' effectively to link sentences and paragraphs. The flow of information is smooth, and the referencing is clear throughout. The paragraphing is logical and contributes to the overall readability of the report, meeting the requirements for a high band score in this criterion.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for a data description task. Phrases such as 'accounted for the highest proportion', 'declined', 'increased steadily', and 'rose moderately' are used accurately. The vocabulary is precise and allows for a clear description of the trends. While the range is sufficient and effective, it could be further enhanced by incorporating slightly more sophisticated collocations or varied synonyms to describe the movements of the data, which would elevate the response to a higher level of lexical sophistication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The response exhibits a high level of grammatical accuracy. You use a variety of sentence structures, including complex sentences, with confidence. Punctuation is used correctly, and there are no significant errors that impede communication. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the control over tense usage—specifically the past tense for historical data—is consistent. The grammatical range is sufficient to convey the information clearly and professionally, meeting the criteria for a strong performance.

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