Cambridge 17 Writing Task 1 Test 3 - Sample Answers (Band 9 to 4-5)

The table compares how families in one country allocated their weekly income across eight spending categories in 1968 and 2018.

Overall, spending on food fell dramatically over the fifty-year period and no longer dominates family budgets as it once did, while housing, transport, and leisure all claimed substantially larger shares by 2018, reflecting a broad shift from spending on necessities towards spending on housing and discretionary activities.

In 1968, food accounted for the largest single share of weekly income at 35%, more than double any other category, while housing took just 10%. By 2018, however, food's share had fallen to only 17%, overtaken by housing, which had nearly doubled to 18%, becoming the largest category of spending.

Leisure spending nearly tripled in relative terms, rising from 8% to 17%, and transport spending rose similarly, from 8% to 14%, while clothing and footwear fell by half, from 10% to 5%. Fuel and power also declined slightly, from 6% to 4%, and personal goods remained the only category to stay entirely unchanged at 4% across both years.

The table shows how families in one country spent their weekly income in 1968 compared with 2018, across eight spending categories.

Overall, spending on food decreased significantly over the period, while spending on housing, transport, and leisure all increased considerably, showing a shift away from basic necessities towards housing and leisure activities.

In 1968, food took up the largest portion of income at 35%, much more than any other category. By 2018, this had fallen to 17%, and housing had become the largest category instead, rising from 10% to 18%.

Leisure spending increased greatly, from 8% to 17%, and transport also rose, from 8% to 14%. Clothing and footwear fell from 10% to 5%, while personal goods stayed the same at 4% in both years. Overall, these figures suggest that families in 2018 had considerably more disposable income to spend on discretionary activities than families did fifty years earlier in 1968.

The table shows how families spent their weekly income in 1968 and 2018 across different categories.

Overall, families spent much less on food in 2018 than in 1968, and more on housing, transport, and leisure.

In 1968, food was the biggest expense at 35%. By 2018, this had gone down a lot to 17%, and housing had increased from 10% to 18%, becoming the biggest expense instead.

Leisure spending went up from 8% to 17%, and transport went up from 8% to 14%. Clothing went down from 10% to 5%, and personal goods stayed at 4% in both years. Overall, these changes suggest that families in 2018 had more money available to spend on things other than basic necessities, compared to families in 1968, who spent a much bigger share of their income simply on food and had less left over for transport, leisure, or other activities, such as holidays or entertainment.

The table show how family spend their weekly income in 1968 and 2018 across different category.

Overall, family spend much less on food in 2018 than in 1968, and more on housing, transport, and leisure.

In 1968, food was the biggest expense at 35%. By 2018, this have gone down a lot to 17%, and housing have increase from 10% to 18%, becoming the biggest expense instead.

Leisure spending go up from 8% to 17%, and transport go up from 8% to 14%. Clothing go down from 10% to 5%, and personal good stay at 4% in both year. Overall, this change suggest that family in 2018 have more money available to spend on thing other than basic necessity, compared to family in 1968, who spend a much bigger share of their income simply on food and have less left over for transport, leisure, or other activity, such as holiday or entertainment.