Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-08-23

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 bar chart illustrates information regarding the proportion of homeowners and renters in England and Wales between 1918 and 2011.

Overall, renting was the dominant housing type in the early 20th century, whereas homeownership became the most prevalent choice by the end of the period. Additionally, while the percentage of homeowners experienced an overall upward trend over the decades, the proportion of renters showed a continuous decline.

Looking at the data in detail, in 1918, renting accounted for the vast majority of housing at approximately 77%, while homeownership stood at just 23%. Over the next several decades, the proportion of renters dropped steadily, falling below 50% around 1971. By 2001, renting had reached a low of roughly 31%, before experiencing a slight increase to 36% in 2011.

In stark contrast, the percentage of homeowners saw a significant rise over the same period. Starting at only 23% in 1918, the figure grew steadily to cross the 50% mark by 1971. Homeownership peaked in 2001 at approximately 69%, making it the primary form of tenure, before dipping marginally to 64% in 2011.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response is excellent. You have successfully identified the main trends and provided a clear overview of the data. You covered all parts of the task by contrasting the two categories (owned vs. rented) and highlighting key data points such as the 1971 crossover point and the peak in 2001. The information is well-selected, and the comparisons are relevant and accurate. You have fully addressed the prompt by summarizing the information effectively without unnecessary repetition. The inclusion of specific percentages adds precision to your report, which is exactly what is required for an Academic Task 1 response.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The response is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. You use paragraphing effectively to separate the overview from the detailed analysis. Cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'Additionally', 'Looking at the data in detail', and 'In stark contrast' are used naturally to guide the reader through the information. The flow between sentences is smooth, and the referencing is clear throughout the text. There is no evidence of mechanical or repetitive use of linking words, and the structure supports the reader's understanding of the data trends perfectly.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.0

You demonstrate a wide and flexible range of vocabulary. You use precise terminology such as 'prevalent', 'tenure', 'proportion', and 'stark contrast' appropriately. The collocations are natural, and there are no errors in word choice or spelling. You successfully avoid repetition by using synonyms like 'figure', 'proportion', and 'percentage' to refer to the data. The vocabulary is sophisticated and contributes to the overall professional tone of the report, meeting the criteria for a high band score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5

Your control over grammar is excellent. You use a variety of complex sentence structures, such as the participial phrase 'falling below 50% around 1971' and the concessive clause 'while the percentage of homeowners experienced...'. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the punctuation is used correctly to enhance clarity. There is a high level of flexibility in your sentence construction, and you maintain accuracy throughout the entire response. The grammar is sophisticated and supports the clear communication of the data.

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

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