Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-09-07

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 chart compares the proportions of households living in owned and rented accommodation in England and Wales between 1918 and 2011.

Overall, the percentage of owner-occupied homes increased substantially over the period, while the proportion of rented accommodation declined. Home ownership reached its highest point in 2001 before falling slightly in the final year.

In 1918, the vast majority of households lived in rented accommodation, accounting for around 78% of the total, whereas only about 22% owned their homes. Over the following decades, the proportion of homeowners rose steadily. By 1971, the figures for ownership and renting had become equal at approximately 50% each.

The upward trend in home ownership continued after 1971. The percentage of households owning their homes climbed to about 60% in 1981 and then to nearly 70% in 1991. It peaked at roughly 69% in 2001, while the share of rented accommodation fell to its lowest level of around 31%.

However, a slight reversal occurred in the final decade. In 2011, the proportion of owner-occupied housing decreased to about 65%, whereas renting increased to approximately 36%. Despite this change, home ownership remained considerably more common than renting at the end of the period.

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AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response fully addresses the task requirements. 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 consistent throughout the report, and the identification of the crossover point in 1971 adds significant analytical value. The data is accurately reported, and the structure allows for a logical progression of information. There are no omissions of key features, and the summary effectively captures the overall shift from a rental-dominated market to one of home ownership, followed by a slight reversal.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, a concise overview, and two body paragraphs that group information chronologically and thematically. Cohesive devices such as 'whereas', 'over the following decades', and 'despite this change' are used effectively to link ideas and create a smooth flow. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the initial state from the subsequent developments and the final reversal. The progression of ideas is clear, and the referencing between the two categories is handled with precision, ensuring the reader can easily follow the comparison.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic report. Phrases such as 'proportions of households', 'owner-occupied homes', and 'slight reversal' show a level of sophistication. The use of 'accounted for' and 'peaked at' is accurate and fits the context of describing statistical trends. While the vocabulary is precise, it remains functional rather than highly idiomatic or varied. To reach the highest band, you could incorporate more diverse synonyms for 'increased' or 'decreased' to avoid repetition, though the current range is more than sufficient for a high score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The writing displays a high level of grammatical control. You have successfully used a variety of complex sentence structures, such as the use of subordinate clauses ('whereas renting increased...', 'despite this change, home ownership remained...'). The punctuation is accurate, and there are no significant errors that impede communication. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the tense usage is consistent with the historical data provided. The control over complex structures is consistent, making the text easy to read and professional in tone.

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