Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Summit Mastery · 2026-08-16

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The table below shows the change in some household types in Great Britain from 1971 to 2007.

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

PEOPLE IN HOUSEHOLDS BY TYPE OF HOUSEHOLD AND FAMILY

Student answer (Band 5.5)

The table illustrates the changes in the types of households in Britain between 1971 to 2007.

Overall, the percentages of households with one person, no children and lone parent were increased by the end of 2007, while the households with dependent children and non-dependent children decreased by the end of the period.

In 1972, the majority of households accounted to 52% with dependent children, while only 4% accounted for lone parent households. The individuals with non-dependent children and without children stood up 10% and 19% respectively, while 6% of households with one person in the same year.

In 2007, the dependent children and non-dependent children households decreased to 36% and 9% respectively, while the households with no children increased to 25%. The percentages of lone parent and one person households surged to threefold and doubled figures of the year 1971 by the end of the period. By the end of 2007 the people of Britain moved more towards nuclear family.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the table, identifying the key trends for each household type. However, there are some inaccuracies in the data reporting. For instance, the prompt states the data is from 1971, but you refer to 1972. Additionally, the claim that people moved towards a 'nuclear family' is an over-generalisation not supported by the data, which actually shows a decline in households with children. While the main trends are identified, the analysis lacks precision in comparing the figures, and the conclusion is slightly inaccurate based on the provided statistics.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs. Cohesive devices such as 'while', 'respectively', and 'by the end of' are used to link ideas. However, the progression of ideas is sometimes mechanical, and the referencing is occasionally unclear, such as when you mention 'surged to threefold' without clearly linking it back to the specific starting figures. The structure is sufficient to follow the argument, but it lacks the sophisticated flow required for a higher band.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'accounted for', 'surged', and 'respectively'. However, there are some awkward collocations and word choices, such as 'accounted to' instead of 'accounted for' and 'stood up 10%' instead of 'stood at 10%'. These errors do not impede communication, but they limit the precision of your writing. To improve, focus on using more precise reporting verbs and ensuring collocations are natural.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'were increased' (passive voice used incorrectly where active is needed) and 'doubled figures of the year 1971' (which is syntactically awkward). While these errors are noticeable, they do not prevent the reader from understanding the main points. You have attempted complex structures, but they are not always error-free, which keeps the score in the 6.0 range.

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

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