Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-09-12

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 percentages of households living in owned and rented accommodation in England and Wales from 1918 to 2011.

Overall, the proportion of households living in their own homes increased steadily over the period, while the percentage of rented accommodation declined. The two figures became equal in 1971, after which home ownership became more common than renting.

In 1918, only about 23% of households owned their homes, compared with approximately 77% that lived in rented accommodation. The proportion of owner-occupied homes then rose to around 32% in both 1939 and 1953. By 1961, this figure had increased to about 41%, while the percentage of rented accommodation had fallen to 59%.

In 1971, the proportions of owned and rented accommodation were both 50%. After this point, home ownership continued to rise, reaching around 60% in 1981 and approximately 68% in 1991. It remained at about 69% in 2001 before falling slightly to 65% in 2011. In contrast, the percentage of rented homes decreased to around 31% in 2001, before increasing slightly to 35% in 2011.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The student successfully covers all parts of the task by providing a clear overview and selecting and reporting the main features of the chart. The introduction accurately paraphrases the prompt, and the body paragraphs effectively highlight key trends and make relevant comparisons, such as the inversion of proportions in 1971. Data points are cited accurately to support the descriptions. The response is well-developed and directly addresses all requirements of an Academic Task 1 without any irrelevant information or omissions, fitting comfortably within the Band 8 descriptor.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

Ideas are logically sequenced and progress naturally from a general overview into specific chronological details. Paragraphing is used effectively, with each paragraph serving a clear purpose. Cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'while', 'In 1918', 'By 1961', and 'In contrast' are managed well to guide the reader through the data smoothly and appropriately without feeling mechanical. Referencing is clear throughout the text, demonstrating strong control over structural cohesion.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

The student demonstrates a sufficient and flexible range of vocabulary suitable for describing statistical data and trends. Phrases such as 'proportion of households', 'owner-occupied homes', 'remained at about', and 'declined' are used accurately. There is successful use of less common items and collocation, and minor inaccuracies are absent. The lexical control allows for precision when reporting percentages and contrasting the two housing categories across the timeline.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The text displays a good variety of sentence structures, including complex sentences combining dependent clauses and introductory adverbial phrases (e.g., 'By 1961, this figure had increased to about 41%, while the percentage of rented accommodation had fallen to 59%'). The majority of sentences are error-free, and punctuation is handled well. Grammatical control is strong, with accurate tense usage matching the historical data provided in the chart.

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

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