Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-07-31

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The chart below shows the number of households in the US by their annual income in 2007, 2011 and 2015.

Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant.

Student answer (Band 8.0)

The bar chart illustrates the number of US households, in millions categorized by their annual income in 2007,2011 and 2015.

Overall the highest number of households consistently earned between $25,000-$49,999 or $100,000 or more.moreover the fewest earned between $75,000-$99,999. Over the 8 year period there was a noticeable shift toward both the lowest and highest income brackets.

In 2007, approximately 27 millions households fell into the $25,000-$49,999 income range, making it the largest group This was followed closely by just over 25 million households earning less than $25,000. By contrast, only around 14 million households earned between $75,000 and $99,999, the smallest proportion.

Between 2007 and 2015, the most significant change was seen in the $100,000 or more category, which rose substantially from 29 million to approximately 33 million. Similarly, the number of households earning less than $25,000 also increased, reaching about 28 million in 2015. Meanwhile, the middle-income groups remained relatively stable, with only slight fluctuations. The $25,000-$49,999 and $50,000-$74,999 brackets saw minor increases, while the $75,000-$99,999 group stayed almost unchanged at around 15 million.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

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 summary. The comparison between the income brackets is accurate and well-supported by the figures provided. You successfully identified the significant shift toward the highest income bracket and the stability of the middle-income groups. The information is presented logically, and the key features of the chart are highlighted appropriately. To reach a higher band, ensure that all data points are cited with complete precision, as there were minor discrepancies in the interpretation of the specific numbers provided in the chart.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs. The progression of ideas is smooth, moving from general trends to specific data comparisons. You have used a range of cohesive devices such as 'In 2007', 'By contrast', 'Similarly', and 'Meanwhile' to link your ideas effectively. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate different aspects of the data. The flow of the text is natural, and the referencing is clear throughout. The structure is coherent, and the information is presented in a way that is easy for the reader to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the information accurately. Phrases like 'noticeable shift', 'income brackets', 'significant change', and 'slight fluctuations' demonstrate a good command of topic-specific language. While the vocabulary is generally precise, there is room to incorporate more sophisticated or less common lexical items to enhance the academic tone. The spelling is accurate, and word choice is generally appropriate for the context of a data report. The current range is adequate for the task and allows for clear communication of the trends observed in the chart.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The response displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are error-free, and the grammar is generally controlled. However, there are some minor punctuation errors, such as missing spaces after commas (e.g., '2007,2011') and a missing period after 'group'. Additionally, there is a minor capitalization error at the start of a sentence ('moreover'). Despite these small slips, the grammatical control is strong, and the errors do not impede communication. The use of complex structures is evident and generally accurate, contributing to the overall readability of the report.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.