Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Summit Mastery · 2026-10-23

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 percentage of change on the Great Britain's household types from 1971 to 2007.

Overall, no children households faced a large change throughout the years , accounted for the highest percentage in people choosing it. Whereas dependent children households faced the sharpest decrease.

Looking at the figures in detail, no childrean houses accounted the highest proportion of population in the Great Britain's types of households rising from 19% in 1971 to 25% in 2007. Lone parent had significantly changed through the years representing 4% in 1971 to 12% in 2007. One person households was ranked the third with a slight increasing in improvement with a 6 percentage points difference between the years.

In contrast, Dependent children households faced a sharp decrease in number of people chosing it , went from 52% in 1971 to 36% in 2007 . Non-dependent children households had shared a minor drop throughout the years going form 10 % to just 9%.

Despite the fact that dependent children households faced a major decrease of the population it remained the most choosen household in 2007.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify several important patterns: the share of households with dependent children fell from 52% to 36%, while one-person and lone-parent households rose, and you correctly note that dependent-children households remained the largest category in 2007. This gives the response a relevant overview and supporting figures. However, the claim that no-children households accounted for the highest percentage is inaccurate: dependent-children households were highest in every year. The overview also calls the change in no-children households “large,” although it rose by six percentage points, and the discussion omits the 2007 plateau for several categories. To strengthen the report, make the main comparison accurate and distinguish clearly between the largest category and the categories that increased.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, an overview, and separate paragraphs describing increases and decreases. Phrases such as “Looking at the figures in detail” and “In contrast” help signal the movement between sections, and the final sentence reinforces a key comparison. However, the overview’s inaccurate claim about no-children households being the largest weakens the progression, and the final point repeats information already given. Some linking is mechanical, while punctuation spacing and sentence boundaries are inconsistent. For example, the long sentence beginning “One person households was ranked the third” combines ranking and change awkwardly. Group the categories by trend, use transitions selectively, and ensure each paragraph develops a distinct comparison.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a reasonable range of task-related terms, including “percentage,” “proportion,” “sharp decrease,” and “minor drop,” so the main trends are generally understandable. There are also attempts at more formal reporting language. However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or unnatural, such as “percentage of change on,” “faced a large change,” and “slight increasing in improvement.” Repetition of “households” and “throughout the years” also limits flexibility. Spelling errors, including “childrean,” “chosing,” and “form,” reduce accuracy. Aim for precise chart language and natural collocations, such as “the proportion of households,” “rose steadily,” and “declined.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including a contrast introduced by “Whereas” and a concession beginning “Despite the fact that.” The overall meaning is usually recoverable, but errors in sentence construction and agreement are noticeable. For example, “One person households was ranked” has subject–verb disagreement, and “no childrean houses accounted the highest proportion” is missing a necessary preposition. The opening phrase “the percentage of change on the Great Britain's household types” also has faulty grammatical relationships and article use. Some punctuation is misplaced, including spaces before commas and full stops. Practise building clear subject–verb sentences and check articles, prepositions, agreement, and punctuation before submitting.

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