Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-13

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 6.5)

The line graph illustrates the proportion of households with three appliances and the average number of hours of housework per week in one country from 1920 to 2019.

As can be seen from the first figure, the proportion of households with a refrigerator rose dramatically between 1920 and 1960, reaching 90%, having started at 0%. After that, it remained stable from 1982 to 2019. Meanwhile, the proportion of households with a vacuum cleaner increased steadily during most of the period, and in the last twenty years, there was no change, with almost all households using it.

The proportion of households with a washing machine fluctuated slightly in the first forty years. It grew slowly and then jumped from 40% to 70%. Then, it decreased slightly and rose again.

Turning to the second graph, in 1920, almost 50 hours were devoted to housework. However, the number of hours collapsed sharply from 1920 to 1960. For the next 20 years, it declined steadily and reached almost 15 hours, then remained constant again. It went down slightly again, and in the final year, the figure reached the bottom at 10 hours.

Overall, in the first chart, all three appliances followed an upward trend, while in the second graph, the number of hours of housework followed a downward trend.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The student successfully addresses all parts of the task by reporting the main features of both charts and making relevant comparisons. The overview accurately summarises the general trends, noting that the appliance ownership followed an upward trend while housework hours declined. Key data points, such as refrigerators starting at 0% and reaching 90%, and housework falling to 10 hours, are correctly selected and reported. However, some descriptions in the body paragraphs could be slightly more fully extended or synthesised to reach the highest band levels. Overall, the response meets all requirements for Task Achievement at a Band 7.0 level.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay displays a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Information is divided into logical paragraphs, with a dedicated introduction, distinct body paragraphs for the separate charts, and a clear concluding overview. Cohesive devices are used effectively to guide the reader through the data, as seen with phrases like 'As can be seen from the first figure', 'Meanwhile', and 'Turning to the second graph'. Referencing and substitution are handled well, ensuring that the relationships between time periods and data trends remain clear. Progression is smooth, earning a solid Band 7.0.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary with some flexibility and precision, suitable for an Academic Task 1 response. Appropriate reporting language and vocabulary related to trends are employed, such as 'proportion', 'rose dramatically', 'fluctuated slightly', 'collapsed sharply', and 'remained constant'. Less common lexical items are attempted with adequate awareness of style and collocation, although there are a few slightly awkward phrasings like 'reached the bottom at 10 hours'. Spelling and word choice are generally accurate and do not impede communication, placing the response firmly in the Band 6.5 to 7.0 range.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

A good mix of simple and complex sentence structures is used throughout the response. The student demonstrates good control over tense usage, shifting appropriately between past timeframes and present descriptions of the graphs (e.g., 'The line graph illustrates...' versus 'rose dramatically...'). Complex forms are integrated with a reasonable degree of accuracy, such as participial clauses ('having started at 0%'). While minor errors or slightly mechanical structures occasionally appear, the majority of sentences are grammatically sound and communication is never impeded. This performance corresponds well to a Band 7.0.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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