Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-13
IELTS Writing Task 1 question
The charts below show the changes in ownership of electrical appliances and amount of time spent doing housework in households in one country between 1920 and 2019.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Percentage of households with electrical appliances (1920-2019)
Student answer (Band 7.5)
The two line graphs illustrate changes in the percentage of households owning washing machines, refrigerators and vacuum cleaners, as well as the average number of hours of housework completed per household each week, between 1920 and 2019.
In 1920, washing machines were the most common appliance, being owned by about 40% of households, while approximately 30% had a vacuum cleaner. Refrigerators were hardly used at all, with ownership at around 0%. By 1940, the figures for washing machines and refrigerators had risen to 60% and 50% respectively, while vacuum cleaners were owned by about half of households.
From 1960 onwards, refrigerator ownership increased sharply to 90% and reached 100% by 1980. Vacuum cleaner ownership also rose steadily, from 70% in 1960 to 90% in 1980, before reaching 100% in 2000. Washing-machine ownership fluctuated slightly, falling from 70% in 1960 to 65% in 1980, but then increased to approximately 75% in 2019.
Meanwhile, the average time spent on housework fell from 50 hours per week in 1920 to 35 hours in 1940 and 20 hours in 1960. It then declined gradually, reaching only about 10 hours per week by 2019.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 7.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.5 |
| Overall | 7.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5
The response effectively addresses all parts of the task. You have clearly identified the main trends for both appliance ownership and the decline in housework hours. The inclusion of specific data points, such as the 100% ownership of refrigerators by 1980 and the drop in housework from 50 to 10 hours, demonstrates a strong grasp of the data. The overview is well-integrated, and the comparison between the rise in appliances and the fall in housework time is logical. To reach a higher band, ensure that the relationship between the two charts is explicitly highlighted as a key feature in the introduction or overview.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5
The response is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a distinct focus: the introduction, the early period of appliance ownership, the later period, and the trend in housework hours. Cohesive devices such as 'meanwhile', 'from 1960 onwards', and 'by 1940' are used effectively to guide the reader through the timeline. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the information flows smoothly. The use of referencing is accurate, ensuring that the reader can easily follow the comparison between the different appliances and the time spent on housework.
Lexical Resource — Band 7.0
You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for a data-driven task. Phrases like 'increased sharply', 'fluctuated slightly', and 'declined gradually' are used accurately to describe trends. The vocabulary is precise and contributes to the clarity of the report. While the range is sufficient for the task, incorporating more sophisticated collocations or varied synonyms for 'increase' and 'decrease' would further enhance the lexical quality. The spelling is accurate throughout, and the word choices are consistently natural and appropriate for an academic context.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5
The response displays a high level of grammatical control. You have successfully used a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as the use of participial phrases ('being owned by about 40%') and subordinate clauses. The punctuation is accurate, and there are very few errors. The majority of sentences are error-free, which is a hallmark of a high-scoring response. The tense usage is consistent and appropriate for describing historical data. The clarity of your writing is excellent, and there are no instances where grammar impedes communication.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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