Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-20

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 8.5)

The line graphs compare how common three household appliances were between 1920 and 2019, and how many hours per week households spent on housework over the same period.

Overall, ownership of all three appliances rose considerably over the century, while the average time spent on housework fell sharply. Although washing machines were the most common appliance in the early period, refrigerators and vacuum cleaners eventually overtook them by 2019.

In 1920, washing machines were already present in around 40% of households, far ahead of refrigerators, which were owned by almost none, and vacuum cleaners, at roughly 30%. Ownership of all three appliances increased steadily over the next four decades, and by 1960 they had converged at around 70%. From this point, refrigerators rose most sharply, reaching almost 100% by 1980 and remaining at that level through to 2019. Vacuum cleaner ownership followed a similar, slightly slower trajectory, also approaching 100% by 2000. Washing machines, by contrast, dipped slightly in the 1980s before climbing again, ending the period at around 75% — notably lower than the other two appliances.

Meanwhile, the number of hours spent on housework per household fell dramatically, from around 50 hours per week in 1920 to just over 10 hours in 2019. The steepest decline occurred between 1920 and 1960, mirroring the period of fastest growth in appliance ownership, after which the decrease continued but at a much slower rate through to 2019.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5

The response is excellent. You have successfully identified all key features, including the trends for the three appliances and the inverse relationship with housework hours. The overview is clear and effectively synthesizes the main trends. You have made relevant comparisons, such as noting the convergence in 1960 and the contrasting trajectories of the appliances. The data is accurately reported, and the selection of information is balanced, ensuring all parts of the prompt are covered well. There are no omissions, and the analysis is logical and well-supported by the provided data points.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The response is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a distinct focus: the introduction, the overview, the appliance trends, and the housework hours. Cohesive devices such as 'Meanwhile', 'by contrast', and 'from this point' are used naturally and effectively to guide the reader through the data. The paragraphing is skillful, and the relationship between the two charts is clearly articulated. The flow of information is smooth, and there is no evidence of mechanical or repetitive use of linking words.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.5

You demonstrate a wide and precise range of vocabulary. Phrases such as 'rose considerably', 'fell sharply', 'converged', and 'steepest decline' are used accurately and in the correct context. The language is sophisticated and natural, showing a high level of control over collocations. There are no spelling errors, and the vocabulary choice is consistently appropriate for an academic report. The use of terms like 'trajectory' and 'mirroring' adds to the professional tone of the writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5

The response exhibits a wide range of grammatical structures with full flexibility and accuracy. You have successfully used complex sentences, such as 'Although washing machines were the most common appliance in the early period, refrigerators and vacuum cleaners eventually overtook them by 2019.' Punctuation is used correctly throughout, and there are no grammatical errors. The control over tense and aspect is consistent, and the sentence variety keeps the writing engaging and clear. This is an error-free piece of writing.

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