Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-01

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 8.0)

The two line graphs illustrate changes in the percentage of households that owned three types of electrical appliances—washing machines, refrigerators and vacuum cleaners—and the average number of hours per week spent on housework in one country between 1920 and 2019.

Overall, ownership of all three appliances increased substantially over the period, with refrigerators and vacuum cleaners eventually becoming almost universal. In contrast, the amount of time spent on housework declined dramatically, falling from 50 hours per week to just 10 hours.

In 1920, washing machines were the most commonly owned appliance, being present in approximately 40% of households, while around 30% had a vacuum cleaner. Refrigerators, by comparison, were almost nonexistent, with ownership standing at only about 0%. Over the following decades, ownership of all three appliances rose. By 1960, refrigerators had experienced the most dramatic growth, reaching approximately 90%, while both washing machines and vacuum cleaners stood at around 70%.

After 1960, refrigerator ownership continued to increase, reaching 100% by 1980 and remaining at this level thereafter. Vacuum cleaner ownership also rose steadily, reaching 90% in 1980 and 100% by 2000. Washing-machine ownership followed a less consistent pattern: it increased to about 70% in 1960, fell slightly to 65% in 1980, and then recovered gradually to approximately 75% in 2019.

Meanwhile, the average amount of time spent doing housework decreased continuously throughout the period. Households spent around 50 hours per week on housework in 1920, but this figure fell to 35 hours in 1940 and 20 hours in 1960. It then declined more gradually, reaching approximately 15 hours in 1980 and 2000, before dropping to only 10 hours per week in 2019.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

You have provided a comprehensive and accurate summary of the data. You successfully identified the main trends, such as the inverse relationship between the rise in appliance ownership and the decline in housework hours. You covered all categories (washing machines, refrigerators, vacuum cleaners, and housework time) and made relevant comparisons throughout the response. The data points selected are accurate and support your descriptions well. The overview is clear and effectively highlights the key features of the charts, meeting all the requirements for a high band score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, a strong overview, and body paragraphs that group information effectively. You use a range of cohesive devices, such as 'In contrast,' 'By comparison,' and 'Meanwhile,' to link ideas smoothly. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the appliances from the housework data. The progression of ideas is logical, moving from general trends to specific data points, which makes the information easy to follow. The flow is natural and professional throughout.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a wide and flexible range of vocabulary, using precise terms such as 'universal,' 'nonexistent,' 'dramatic growth,' and 'recovered gradually.' The language is natural and appropriate for an academic report. You avoid repetition and use collocations effectively, such as 'experienced the most dramatic growth' and 'followed a less consistent pattern.' There are no noticeable errors in word choice or spelling, and the vocabulary is sophisticated enough to convey the information with precision.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

Your grammar is highly accurate, with a variety of complex sentence structures used throughout the text. You effectively use participial phrases ('being present in approximately 40%') and complex subordinate clauses to provide detail. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation and tense usage is excellent. There are no grammatical slips that impede communication, and the overall structure of the report is sophisticated and well-constructed.

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