Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-26

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 line charts illustrate the percentage of households in a single country owning three different electrical appliances (refrigerator, vacuum cleaner, and washing machine) and the average weekly hours spent on housework per household from 1920 to 2019.

​Overall, household ownership of all three appliances experienced significant growth, with refrigerators and vacuum cleaners reaching total saturation. Concurrently, the amount of time spent doing housework per week saw a dramatic decrease over the century.

​In 1920, vacuum cleaners were owned by 30% of households, while washing machines were present in 40%. Refrigerators were almost non-existent, recorded at just under 5%. However, refrigerator adoption grew exponentially over the following decades, reaching 90% by 1960 and achieving full 100% ownership by 1980, where it remained through 2019. Vacuum cleaner ownership rose steadily, reaching 100% by 2000. In contrast, washing machine ownership grew at a slower, steadier rate, rising from 40% in 1920 to around 70% in 1960, before slightly fluctuating and ending at approximately 75% in 2019.

​Conversely, weekly housework hours plummeted as appliance ownership rose. In 1920, households spent an average of 50 hours per week on domestic tasks like washing clothes, preparing meals, and cleaning. By 1960, this figure dropped to 20 hours per week. The decline continued at a more gradual pace over the subsequent decades, stabilizing at just over 10 hours per week by 2019.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

The response fully and accurately covers all parts of the task. The student provides a clear overview highlighting the main trends—namely, the significant increase in appliance ownership alongside a dramatic decrease in housework hours. Key data points from both charts are accurately reported and well-selected, such as the initial and final figures for vacuum cleaners, washing machines, and refrigerators, as well as the transition of refrigerators and vacuum cleaners to total saturation. The comparisons between the rising appliance adoption and falling housework hours are drawn effectively. There are no inaccuracies or missing major trends, demonstrating a strong command of Task Achievement that aligns well with the Band 8 descriptors.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 8.0

Information and ideas are logically sequenced with a clear overall progression throughout the response. The essay is appropriately divided into four paragraphs, starting with a clear introduction, followed by a succinct overview, a detailed body paragraph dedicated to appliance ownership, and a final body paragraph addressing housework hours. Cohesive devices are used naturally and flexibly, with effective transition words like "Conversely" and "However" guiding the reader smoothly between contrasting points. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, ensuring the logical structure is maintained without any noticeable faults.

Lexical Resource: Band 8.0

The student demonstrates a wide, fluent, and flexible range of vocabulary appropriate for an Academic Task 1 response. Less common lexical items and collocations are used skillfully, such as "total saturation," "exponentially," "plummeted," and "stabilizing." Word choices are precise, and there are virtually no inaccuracies in collocation or spelling throughout the text. The vocabulary supports smooth communication and reflects a level of control consistent with a high band score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 8.5

The response features a wide range of complex sentence structures used accurately and flexibly. The majority of sentences are completely error-free, showcasing excellent control over subordinate clauses, participial phrases, and complex verb tenses. Structures such as "while washing machines were present in 40%" and "dropping to 20 hours per week" demonstrate high-level syntactic variety. Grammatical control is exceptionally strong, justifying a top-tier band score.

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