Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-08-26

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 living in owned and rented housing from 1918 to 2011.

​Overall, home ownership saw a substantial increase over the century, eventually replacing rented accommodation as the dominant tenure type. By contrast, the proportion of rented households declined significantly, despite a slight resurgence in the final decade.

​In 1918, renting was by far the preferred option, with around 77% of households living in rented accommodation compared to just 22% who owned their home. This trend steadily shifted over the next few decades; by 1971, both housing sectors reached exact parity, with 50% of households renting and 50% owning.

​Following 1971, home ownership overtook renting to become the majority.

By 2001, owned accommodation peaked at roughly 69%, while rented properties dropped to a low of approximately 31%. However, this trend reversed slightly in 2011, when home ownership fell to 65% and rented accommodation rose to nearly 35%.

AI examiner evaluation

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 selected and reported the main features, such as the 1971 parity point and the peak in 2001. The data is accurately represented, and the comparison between the two categories is consistent throughout the report. The information is well-selected to highlight the significant shift in housing tenure over the period. No key features were omitted, and the summary is logically structured to guide the reader through the historical changes in England and Wales.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is well-organized with a logical progression of ideas. Each paragraph serves a clear purpose: the introduction sets the context, the overview summarizes the main trends, and the body paragraphs provide the necessary detail. Cohesive devices such as 'By contrast', 'Following 1971', and 'However' are used effectively to link sentences and ideas. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the flow of information is smooth, making the report easy to follow. There is no evidence of mechanical or repetitive use of cohesive devices.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the information precisely. Terms such as 'tenure type', 'parity', 'resurgence', and 'proportion' demonstrate a good level of lexical control. The vocabulary is appropriate for an academic report and is used accurately throughout the text. While the range is solid, incorporating a few more sophisticated collocations or varied synonyms for 'increase' and 'decrease' could elevate the response further. Overall, the lexical resource is precise and contributes to the clarity of the report.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The response displays a good variety of complex structures, such as the use of participial phrases ('with around 77% of households living...') and subordinate clauses. The grammar is highly accurate, with no significant errors that impede communication. Punctuation is used correctly, and the sentence structures are varied, which helps maintain the reader's interest. The majority of sentences are error-free, and the control over tense and subject-verb agreement is consistent throughout the text, reflecting a high level of grammatical competence.

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