The table below shows the consumer durables (telephone, refrigerator, etc.) owned in Britain from 1972 to 1983.

Same questionCompare 5 different answers (Band 6–7)

Sample Response

1

The given table shows data on householdhouseholds consumer items owned by British householdsowned by British during the period of 11 years starting in 1972commencing from 1972. It is clearly visible that the percentage of households who owned consumer durables increased significantlyhad seen a significant hike during this period. Television was the most popular consumer itemTelevision was most popular consumer item in this period while the dishwasher was the least common item. In detaildetails, television, vacuum cleaner, refrigerator and washing machine were owned by more than three-quarters of householdsthree-quarter house owners in Britain during 1972 to 1976. In subsequent years, the percentage of households owning these items had increased gradually and more than 90% of households owned televisions and refrigeratorsmore than 90% British owned these items at their home. For instance, refrigerators were owned by 73% of households73% households in 1972, which saw a steady increase in the coming years and reachedreached up to 94% in 1983. A similar trend could be observed for washing machine. On the contrary, central heating and telephones were owned by only one third and less than half of British households in 1972, but ownership of these items saw a steady increase too in later years and reached up to 64% and 77% respectively in 1983. Dishwashers were introduced in 1978 with 3% ownership and reached up to 5% in 1983, whereas data for videowhereas, data for video is provided only for 1983 with 18% ownership in Britain.

Overall assessment

Why this response received Band 7.0

The response gives a clear overview and selects several useful figures, with an effective progression from common appliances to less common items. Its main weakness is an overgeneralised claim about ownership levels, compounded by some awkward collocations and inconsistent tense choices. Prioritise checking each final-year figure against the table—especially washing machines and the missing vacuum-cleaner value—then express the comparisons in natural household-ownership language.

Band score breakdown

IELTS Writing Criteria Scores

TA

Task Achievement

7.0
Scoring rule

The response summarises the main pattern accurately: ownership of most consumer durables increased, television was already the most common, and dishwashers were rare. It includes useful figures, though it overgeneralises some items and does not mention missing 1983 vacuum-cleaner data.

Next step

Avoid claiming every major item exceeded 90% by 1983, since washing machines reached 80% and the vacuum-cleaner value is missing.

CC

Coherence and Cohesion

7.0
Scoring rule

The response is well organised with an overview and details grouped by high-ownership and lower-ownership items. Progression is clear, though the paragraph is dense.

Next step

Split the details into common appliances and less common or newer items.

LR

Lexical Resource

6.5
Scoring rule

Vocabulary range is good, including consumer durables and ownership, but some collocations are awkward, such as households consumer items, house owners and at their home.

Next step

Use household ownership, British households, rose steadily and owned in their homes.

GRA

Grammatical Range and Accuracy

6.5
Scoring rule

Grammar is mostly controlled, but article use, plural forms and tense choices are inconsistent.

Next step

Use simple past for completed years and avoid unnecessary past perfect forms.

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IELTS Academic Writing Task 1

The table below shows the consumer durables (telephone, refrigerator, etc.) owned in Britain from 1972 to 1983.

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