Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-09-17

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 compares the proportions of households living in **owned and rented accommodation in England and Wales from 1918 to 2011**.

**Overall,** the chart indicates a substantial shift from rented accommodation towards home ownership over the period. While renting was considerably more prevalent in the early years, owner-occupied housing gradually became the dominant form of accommodation. The proportions were equal in 1971, after which home ownership remained higher than renting.

In **1918**, approximately **23%** of households lived in owned accommodation, whereas around **77%** rented their homes. The proportion of owner-occupied households increased gradually to **32% in both 1939 and 1953**, while the corresponding figure for rented accommodation declined to approximately **68%**. By **1961**, ownership had risen to around **41%**, compared with **59%** for renting.

In **1971**, the proportions of households in the two categories were identical, at **50% each**. Thereafter, the percentage of households living in owned accommodation continued to increase, reaching approximately **61% in 1981**, **69% in 1991**, and a peak of **70% in 2001**. During the same period, the proportion of rented households decreased progressively to around **40%, 31%, and 30%**, respectively.

By **2011**, there was a slight reversal in the trend, with home ownership declining to approximately **65%**, while the proportion of rented accommodation increased to around **35%**. Nevertheless, owned accommodation remained significantly more common than rented accommodation at the end of the period.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The student covers all parts of the task well, providing a clear overview and highlighting key trends and comparisons from the chart. Main features, such as the inversion of proportions between renting and owning, are accurately reported. Figures are generally well-selected and cited correctly (e.g., 23% in 1918, 50% in 1971), though there are slight discrepancies with the exact chart gridlines in later years (e.g., stating 70% in 2001 and 65% in 2011 where values are around 69% and 64%), which falls within acceptable tolerance guidelines. The response meets all requirements for a well-developed and grounded Task 1 report, earning a strong band score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response exhibits a clear and logical progression of information throughout. It is well-paragraphing, with a clear introductory sentence, an overview paragraph, and well-structured body paragraphs following a chronological sequence. Cohesive devices such as 'While', 'Whereas', 'By 1961', 'Thereafter', and 'Nevertheless' are used flexibly and appropriately to connect ideas and contrasting trends without being overly mechanical or intrusive. Paragraphing is used sufficiently to structure the response effectively, ensuring seamless navigation through the data.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

The student uses a sufficient and flexible range of vocabulary suited to an academic report, incorporating less common lexical items and collocations such as 'prevalent', 'owner-occupied housing', 'progressive decrease', and 'reversal in the trend'. Word choices are precise, and there are no spelling or word-formation errors. The student demonstrates good control over style, avoiding repetition by effectively alternating between 'owned accommodation', 'home ownership', and 'owner-occupied households'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The response displays a wide range of complex sentence structures, including subordinate clauses ('While renting was considerably more prevalent...', 'after which home ownership remained higher...') and participial phrases used accurately and naturally. The majority of sentences are error-free, with excellent control over punctuation and tense consistency when referring to historical data. Grammatical accuracy is maintained throughout, reflecting strong command over complex syntax required for a high band.

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