Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Summit Mastery · 2026-09-29

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 shows the changes in different types of household in Great Britain between 1971 to 2007.

Overall, the percentage of one-person households increased over the period. There were also changes in households with couples and children.

In 1971, 6% of people lived in one person households.

This figure increased steadily to 8% in 1981, 11% in 1991, 12% in both 2001 and 2007. The percentage of couple with no children also rose from 19% in 1971 to 28% in 2001, and remained at 28% in 2007.

By contrast, the percentage of couples with dependent children fell considerably, it was 47% in 1971, but decreased to 41% in 1981 and 31% in 1991. it then fall further to 29% in 2001 and 26% in 2007.

finally, households with non dependent children change only slightly from 10% to 9%. lone parent households increased from 8% in 1971 to 12 % in 2001 and 2007.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

The student attempts to cover the main features of the chart, providing a general overview and citing data for several household types, such as one-person households and couples. However, there are significant data inaccuracies when compared to the source table. For instance, the student states that the percentage of couples with no children rose to 28% in 2001 and 2007, whereas the correct figure is 25%. Similarly, the figures cited for couples with dependent children and lone parents depart from the actual table values. Furthermore, the overview is rather simplistic. Because of the inaccuracies in reporting data, this response falls into the Band 5.5 to 6.0 range, meeting minimum task requirements but containing noticeable factual discrepancies.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has an overall structure, beginning with an introduction and attempting to group information logically across paragraphs. However, paragraphing is somewhat disjointed, with very short, isolated sentences and paragraphs that disrupt the flow of information. Cohesive devices are used minimally (e.g., 'By contrast', 'finally'), and referencing is sometimes weak, making progression less than fully smooth. There is a tendency to list data points rather than synthesize them into a cohesive narrative. This fits the Band 6 descriptor where cohesion can be somewhat mechanical and referencing not always clear.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, employing common terms related to demographics such as 'percentage', 'households', and 'increased'. The student attempts some less common vocabulary ('steadily', 'considerably'), but also makes noticeable errors in word choice and data transcription. Furthermore, there are inaccuracies such as writing 'couple with no children' instead of the plural 'couples', and minor phrasing issues. The range is sufficient to communicate the general meaning, but vocabulary limitations and inaccuracies place this performance firmly at Band 5.5.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The student demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, such as 'The table shows the changes...' and 'By contrast, the percentage of couples with dependent children fell considerably...'. However, there are frequent grammatical errors and punctuation slips throughout the text. Examples include comma splices and run-on structures ('...considerably, it was 47%...'), capitalization errors ('finally'), tense consistency issues ('it then fall further'), and missing plural markers ('one person households'). These errors occasionally cause difficulty or hesitation for the reader, aligning well with the Band 5.5 descriptors.

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

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