Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Summit Mastery · 2026-10-21

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 given table illustrates the proportions of changes in types of households in great britain in year between 1971 and 2007. From the cursory glance it is enough to make it clear that the there are three major types of family with some subdivisions.

Overall, dependent children accounted the highest propeortion ,followed by no children throughout the years whereas, lone parent and one person showed the least. In addition, there is no cuple who lived alone.

In 1971, dependent children recorded the highest proportion at 52%, followed by no children and non dependent children family recorded at 19%, 10%. while one person family and lone parent accounted at 6% and 4% respectivly. Family who had no children showed a graduall increment which accounted at 20% in 1981 and 23% in 1991.

Although,lone paraents recorded the the lowest proportions as compared to other types it recored the steadily increment at 4%,6%,10%, and 12% from 1971 to 2001 and remain same at 12% in 2007.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the broad pattern that dependent-child households were the largest category and report several relevant figures, including the 1971 values and the rise in lone-parent households to 12% by 2001. However, the overview is incomplete and includes the inaccurate claim that “there is no couple who lived alone”; the table does not report this. Important trends are also omitted or only partly covered: dependent-child households fell to 36% by 2007, one-person households rose to 12%, and the no-children category levelled off at 25%. The response therefore addresses the task only partially, with some relevant data but limited coverage and development. Select the main increases and decreases, compare their endpoints, and ensure every statement is supported by the table.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and paragraphs containing figures and trends. This gives the reader some organisation, and time markers such as “In 1971” help locate information. However, progression is limited because the final paragraph focuses only on lone-parent households, while several other categories are not followed through to 2007. Connections between ideas are sometimes awkward or inaccurate: “whereas” in the overview does not clearly link the categories, and “Although” at the start of the last paragraph leaves the contrast unfinished. Grouping the main rises together and the main falls together, then using clear comparisons, would create a more logical progression. Use cohesive devices to express precise relationships rather than adding them mechanically.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some task-relevant vocabulary, including “proportions,” “accounted,” “increment,” and “recorded,” and the reader can generally identify the household categories being discussed. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate, such as “proportions of changes,” “recorded the steadily increment,” and “family who had no children.” Spelling errors—including “propeortion,” “respectivly,” and “lone paraents”—also reduce accuracy and can interrupt reading. Aim for precise, natural phrases such as “the percentage of households,” “rose steadily,” and “households with no children.” Check spelling carefully and avoid repeating “recorded” when simpler verbs such as “stood at,” “rose,” or “fell” communicate the data more clearly.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple statements and more complex structures, for example, “Although, lone parents recorded…” and “Family who had no children showed…”. However, complex sentences are often faulty, and errors occur frequently enough to make some relationships difficult to follow. Examples include “the there are three major types,” “dependent children accounted the highest proportion,” and the incomplete construction “Although… it recorded…”. Articles, agreement, and sentence boundaries also need attention; for instance, “in great britain in year between 1971 and 2007” is not formed accurately. Practise building clear subject–verb sentences first, then add subordinate clauses with correct punctuation. For example: “Although lone-parent households were the smallest category in 1971, their share rose to 12% by 2001.”

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