The table below shows the household composition in a North American country from 1970 and 2003.

Household Composition North America 1970-2003 Table - IELTS Writing Task 1

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Write at least 150 words.

A student's answer to this task, and the feedback on it

Written by an IELTSX user under exam conditions and published unedited and anonymously. Band 9 · 176 words.

The table compares the proportions of different household types in a North American nation in 1970 and 2003.

[Overall, there was a significant shift toward non-family living arrangements.] While [married-couple households remained the most common] throughout the period, [their prevalence declined sharply], whereas [single-person and room-sharing households saw a substantial increase].

In 1970, [family households dominated the statistics], led by married couples at 70%. By 2003, [this figure had plummeted to 52%]. In contrast, other family structures remained relatively stable; mother-and-child households [increased slightly from 9% to 12%], and those consisting of a father and child [doubled from a mere 1% to 2%]. The 'other' family category [remained virtually unchanged], dipping from 11% to 10%.

Regarding non-family arrangements, the [proportion of individuals living alone surged], rising from 9% in 1970 to 24% by 2003. Similarly, [the percentage of room-sharing households more than tripled], growing from 3% to 11% over the same period. By 2003, these non-family categories accounted for [over a third of all households], a significant rise from the roughly 12% recorded thirty years earlier.

Examiner feedback

This is an exceptional Task 1 response that would likely achieve a Band 9. It demonstrates a sophisticated ability to group data logically, use high-level vocabulary for trends, and synthesize information (e.g., noting that non-family categories accounted for over a third by 2003).

Task Achievement - 9

- The response fully satisfies all requirements of the task, providing a comprehensive and accurate summary of the household composition data. - The overview is clearly identified and highlights the primary trend: the shift from family to non-family living arrangements. - All data points from the table are included and compared skillfully, with appropriate highlighting of the most significant changes (married couples vs. single-person households).

Coherence & Cohesion - 9

- Paragraphing is managed expertly, with a logical split between family-based and non-family-based arrangements. - Cohesion is used so naturally that it is almost unnoticeable; transitions like 'In contrast,' 'Regarding,' and 'Similarly' guide the reader effortlessly. - There is a very clear progression from the general overview to specific data analysis.

Lexical Resource - 9

- The vocabulary is sophisticated, precise, and varied (e.g., 'prevalence,' 'plummeted,' 'surged,' 'room-sharing households'). - Data description verbs and adverbs are used with a high degree of flexibility and naturalness. - There are no spelling or word-formation errors.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy - 9

- A wide range of structures is used with full flexibility, including complex subordinate clauses and perfect tenses to describe change over time. - Punctuation is flawless throughout the response. - The majority of sentences are error-free, demonstrating native-like control.

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