Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-09-03

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 chart illustrate the percentage of households living in owned and rented accomodation in England and Wales between 1918 and 2011.

Overall, there was a clear shift from renting to home ownership over the period. While renting was the dominant form of accomodation in 1918, the proportion of households owning their homes increased steadily and became the majority from 1971 onwards. The figures for both types of accommodation were equal in 1971.

In 1918, approximately 22% of households lived in owned accommodation, compared with around 78% in rented housing. The percentage of homeowners rose to about 32% in 1939 and remained at a similar level in 1953. It then increased more significantly, reaching approximately, 42% in 1961.

By 1971, the proportions of ownerships and renting had become equal, at 50% each. After this point, home ownership continued to rise, reaching around 60% in 1981 and 68% in 1991. It peaked at approximately 69% in 2001, before falling slighlty to about 64% in 2011.

In contrast, the proportion of rented households declined substantially after 1971. It fell from 50% in 1971 to around 40% in 1981, and then to just over 30% in 1991 and 2001 by 2011, renting had increased slightly to approximately 36%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response effectively addresses all parts of the task. You have provided a clear overview of the main trends and selected relevant data points to support your descriptions. The comparison between the two categories is well-handled, particularly the identification of the 1971 crossover point. The information is accurate and covers the entire period from 1918 to 2011. To reach a higher band, ensure that the distinction between the two categories is consistently maintained throughout the report, as the final sentence regarding the 2011 data for renting could be slightly more integrated into the overall trend analysis.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. You have used paragraphing effectively to separate the overview from the detailed data analysis. Cohesive devices such as 'In contrast', 'By 1971', and 'After this point' are used appropriately to guide the reader through the timeline. 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, meeting the requirements for a high band score in this criterion.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe trends, such as 'dominant form', 'increased steadily', and 'declined substantially'. There are a few minor spelling errors, such as 'accomodation' (should be 'accommodation') and 'slighlty' (should be 'slightly'). While these do not impede communication, they are noticeable. To improve, try to incorporate a slightly wider variety of synonyms for 'increase' and 'decrease' to avoid repetition and show more sophisticated control over lexical items.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. Most sentences are error-free, and the grammar is generally accurate. However, there is a subject-verb agreement error in the first sentence ('The bar chart illustrate' should be 'illustrates'). Additionally, there is a minor punctuation error in the third paragraph ('approximately, 42%') and a run-on sentence in the final paragraph ('...2001 by 2011, renting had...'). Despite these occasional slips, your control over complex structures is good.

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

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