Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Summit Mastery · 2026-09-07
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 provided representation of table chart demonstrates changes in the family types took place in Great Britain from 1971 to 2007.
Overall, majority of categories had growth between 1971 and 2007 except dependent children. Whereas non-dependent children moved steadily.
To begin with one person where it kept an upward trend from 1971 to 2001 at the percentages of 6%, 8%, 11% and 12% however, in the last, it had the same numbers as year 2001. Categories such as One-family households and Couple had disclosed no data. Whereas no children performed just like one person, it had higher percentages in its first 4 decades but achieved 25% in 2007.
Moving ahead to dependent children, this category had a continuous downward trend from 1971 to 2007 at 52%, 47%, 41%, 39% and 36% despite having the highest numbers among all. while non-dependent children kept a steadiness at 10% in its first 20 years then 11% in next decade and 9% in both 2001 and 2007.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the data, but the analysis is inconsistent. While you identify the downward trend for dependent children and the growth in other areas, the reporting of the data is sometimes inaccurate or confusing. For example, stating that 'One-family households and Couple had disclosed no data' is incorrect as these categories are clearly present in the table. Furthermore, the description of the 'one person' category is slightly muddled. To improve, ensure you accurately interpret all labels provided in the table and focus on selecting the most significant trends rather than listing every individual data point, which can lead to confusion.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or awkward, such as 'Moving ahead to' and 'To begin with'. Some sentences lack logical flow, particularly in the second paragraph where the transition between the overview and the body paragraphs is abrupt. The referencing is occasionally unclear, making it difficult to track which category is being discussed. Increasing the variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear, singular focus would significantly improve the coherence of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision required for higher bands. You rely on basic descriptors like 'had growth' or 'had the same numbers'. There are also some awkward collocations, such as 'disclosed no data' and 'kept a steadiness'. To reach a higher band, you should aim to use more academic vocabulary related to data description, such as 'experienced a significant increase', 'remained stable', or 'a downward trajectory'. Expanding your range of synonyms for 'increase' and 'decrease' will help you avoid repetition and demonstrate a more sophisticated command of the language.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Issues include missing articles (e.g., 'To begin with one person'), incorrect preposition usage, and awkward phrasing (e.g., 'in the last, it had the same numbers'). Subject-verb agreement and tense consistency also need attention. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. Focusing on proofreading for basic grammatical accuracy and ensuring that your complex sentences are constructed correctly will be beneficial.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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