Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-09-05

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 6.5)

The given bar chart demonstrates the proportion of households in owned as well as rented accommodation in England and Wales between 1918 and 2011.

According to the chart, initially, in 1918, the majority of households lived in rented accommodation, while a very small proportion of households lived in their own houses. But with the passage of time, the proportion of households in rented accommodation faced a gradual decline. In contrast, the percentage of households living in owned accommodation increased significantly.

In the beginning, a wide range of households lived in rented accommodation. Therefore, a minimum percentage of households were living in owned houses in 1918. After a few years, in 1939, more than 65% of households were in rented accommodation and almost 32% of households were in owned accommodation. Until 1953, it remained almost the same. Then, we observed that the proportion of households in rented accommodation dropped rapidly in the following years, falling to 50% in 1971 and then to around 31% in 2001. Conversely, the proportion of households in owned accommodation started to increase significantly, reaching approximately 69% in 2001.

Finally, in 2011, the percentage of households in owned accommodation declined slightly to around 65%, while the proportion of households in rented accommodation increased to approximately 35%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response effectively addresses the task by identifying the main trends and providing relevant data points. You have successfully highlighted the inverse relationship between owned and rented accommodation over the period. The overview is clear, and the key features are well-selected. To reach a higher band, ensure that you provide a more analytical comparison rather than just listing data chronologically. For instance, noting the specific point of intersection or the most dramatic period of change would strengthen the analysis. Overall, the response covers all parts of the prompt well.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The progression of ideas is easy to follow, moving chronologically through the data. You use cohesive devices such as 'In contrast', 'Conversely', and 'Then' to link ideas effectively. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the paragraphing could be improved by grouping the data more thematically rather than just by time periods. The referencing is generally clear, and the information is presented in a coherent manner throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the information clearly. Phrases like 'gradual decline', 'increased significantly', and 'dropped rapidly' are appropriate for describing trends. While the vocabulary is functional and accurate, it lacks the sophistication or 'less common' lexical items that would distinguish a higher band score. There are no significant errors in word choice or collocation that impede meaning, but the range is somewhat limited to standard descriptive terms. Incorporating more varied synonyms for 'increase' and 'decrease' would enhance the lexical quality.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response shows a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are error-free, and the grammar is generally accurate, which ensures clear communication. You have used a variety of structures, such as 'while a very small proportion of households lived in their own houses' and 'the proportion of households in rented accommodation dropped rapidly'. There are no major grammatical errors that cause confusion. To improve, you could experiment with more complex sentence forms, such as using participle clauses or more varied subordinating conjunctions to improve the flow and sophistication of your writing.

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

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