Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-08-29

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 7.0)

The bar graph illustrates the proportions of households that owned and rented their homes in England and Wales over the period from 1918 to 2011.

Overall, the proportion of households living in rented accommodation was higher than that of owner-occupied homes until 1971, when two figures became equal. Thereafter, home ownership generally increased and remained higher than renting, although it experienced a slight decline by 2011.

In 1918, the percentage of households in the renting accommodation experienced the proportion of almost 77%. The figure for rented accommodation then declined to around 68% in 1939 and remained at a similar level in 1953, before falling further to approximately 69% in 1961. By contrast, the percentage of households living in owner-occupied accommodation increased gradually from 23% in 1918 to 40% in 1961. In 1971, the proportions of households in the two types of accommodation became equal, at around 50%.

Following this, the proportion of households living in rented accommodation continued to decline, falling from 40% in 1981 to 31% in 1991, where it remained unchanged in 2001. However, this figure then rose slightly to around 36% in 2011. In contrast, the percentage of owner-occupied households increased from 60% in 1981 to almost 68% in 1991 and reached a peak of 69% in 2001. By 2011, however, the proportion had fallen slightly to approximately 65%.

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 main trends and successfully selected key data points to support your description. The comparison between the two categories is well-integrated throughout the report. The identification of the 1971 crossover point is a strong feature that demonstrates a good grasp of the data. The information is accurate, and the report is well-structured to highlight the significant shifts over the period. No major omissions are noted, and the response is fully developed.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is logically organized, with a clear progression of ideas from the introduction to the overview and the body paragraphs. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate different time periods. Cohesive devices such as 'thereafter', 'by contrast', and 'following this' are used appropriately to guide the reader through the data. The referencing is clear, and the flow between sentences is smooth. The structure is coherent, and the information is presented in a way that is easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe trends, such as 'proportions', 'owner-occupied', 'remained unchanged', and 'reached a peak'. The vocabulary is generally precise and appropriate for an academic report. While there are some minor awkward phrasings, such as 'experienced the proportion of', the overall lexical control is good. The use of terminology related to the graph is accurate, and the range is adequate to convey the information clearly without repetition.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The response demonstrates a good variety of complex sentence structures, such as the use of subordinate clauses ('when two figures became equal') and participle phrases ('before falling further'). Most sentences are error-free, and the grammar is generally accurate. There are a few minor slips, such as 'the renting accommodation' (should be 'rented accommodation') and 'two figures' (should be 'the two figures'), but these do not impede communication. Punctuation is used correctly throughout the text.

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