Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-11-10

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The chart below gives information about how families in one country spent their weekly income in 1968 and in 2018.

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

1968 and 2018: average weekly spending by families

Student answer (Band 5.0)

The given bar chart illustrates that information regarding families spent their weekly income in diffrente categories between 1968 and 2018.

Overall,it is evident that food recorded the higest figures, whereas fule and power acounted for the lowest. Furthermore, leisure and housing remained relatively stable throughout the period.

Looking at the detail food recorded approximately 35% prcentage spent of weekly income its is higest in 1968 to 2018 compare that was decrease around half percantage. This was followed by leisure and housing is similat at the both time periods, which stood 23% and 9% respectivelly 1968 to 2018.

Turning to the renmaining categories, household goods and persinal goods and also transport is comparatevely same increase in 1968 and decrease at 2018 in few percentage. By contrast, fuel and power is lowest figure in 1968 and 2018 around

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You identify the broad topic and attempt an overview, noting that food was highest and fuel and power lowest. However, the overview is partly inaccurate: leisure and housing did not remain stable, as leisure rose from about 9% to 22% and housing from 10% to 19%. Several details are also unclear or incorrect; for example, leisure and housing were not similar in both years, and the figures given as 23% and 9% do not clearly match the chart. The final sentence is unfinished, and key comparisons such as the rise in transport and the fall in clothing are not reported clearly. The response is also below the required 150 words. To improve, give a precise overview and select accurate figures to support the main changes.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic paragraph structure: an introduction, an overview, and two detail paragraphs. Linking phrases such as “Overall,” “Looking at the detail,” and “By contrast” show an attempt to guide the reader. However, progression is difficult to follow because several comparisons are compressed into unclear sentences, particularly the discussion of leisure and housing and the “remaining categories.” The final paragraph ends abruptly, leaving the comparison incomplete. Some linking is also mechanical rather than showing clear relationships between the figures. Organise the details into clearer groups—for example, categories that rose, those that fell, and those that stayed similar—and use complete sentences so each comparison is easy to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant chart vocabulary, including “bar chart,” “weekly income,” “figures,” “decrease,” and “categories,” so the topic is generally recognisable. However, the range is limited and several spelling and word-choice errors make parts difficult to understand: “diffrente,” “higest,” “fule,” “acounted,” and “persinal goods.” Phrases such as “23% and 9% respectively 1968 to 2018” and “comparatively same increase” are not natural or precise ways to describe data. Use standard terms consistently, such as “accounted for,” “rose,” “fell,” and “remained unchanged,” and check spelling. More precise vocabulary for proportions and trends would help you report the chart clearly.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt a few complex structures, including “Overall, it is evident that…” and “whereas…,” but most sentences contain grammatical problems that make the relationships between ideas unclear. For example, “food recorded approximately 35% percentage spent of weekly income” lacks a clear grammatical structure, while “leisure and housing is similar” has an agreement error and an incomplete comparison. The sentence beginning “Turning to the remaining categories” also lacks a clear main clause, and the final sentence is unfinished. Sentence forms are mostly simple or attempted complex forms that are not controlled consistently. Practise complete subject–verb structures, accurate past-tense reporting, and punctuation; then check that every sentence has a clear main verb and finishes the comparison it begins.

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