Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-07-26

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 6.5)

This chart illustrate about the expenditure of family's weekly income in a country in 1968 and in 2018.

Weekly expenses are shown by each category.

Food, clothing and footwear were the most expensive items in 1968, food took 35% while clothing and footwear took 10% of weekly income but in 2018 spending on food, clothing and footwear decreased by 50 percent.

Housing become more expensive during the time it also showing almost doubled the expense in 2018 as compared to the 1968.

Fuel and power represents very low variation between both years at almost stayed in the lowest expense bracket of 5 % only.

Spending on household goods remains consistent during both years at 8%.

Personal goods and transportation expenses are reported same in 1968 but in 2018 the transport spending increased by 10 percent more by the 1968 and spending on personal goods become lower than 1968.

Leisure were at 9% of weekly income but in 2018 it increased more then double and took 22% of weekly income and it become the most expensive item in 2018.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response covers the main features of the chart and makes relevant comparisons between 1968 and 2018. You successfully identified the shift in spending from food to leisure and housing. However, the overview is missing; a summary paragraph highlighting the most significant trends (e.g., the decline in food expenditure versus the rise in housing and leisure) is essential for a higher band. Additionally, some data points are slightly inaccurate, such as the claim that food spending decreased by 50 percent, which is a misinterpretation of the percentage point change. To improve, ensure you provide a clear overview and verify the accuracy of your data comparisons.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is organised into a single block of text, which makes it difficult to follow. You should use clear paragraphing to separate the introduction, overview, and body paragraphs. While you use some cohesive devices like 'but' and 'in 2018', the flow is somewhat mechanical. The progression of ideas is logical, but the lack of paragraph breaks and limited variety in linking words (e.g., 'also', 'and') hinders the overall coherence. To improve, group related categories together and use a wider range of transition signals to connect your sentences more fluidly.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'expenditure', 'weekly income', and 'consistent'. However, there are some word choice errors, such as 'it also showing' and 'more then double' (should be 'more than'). The vocabulary is functional but lacks the precision and variety required for higher bands. To improve, try to incorporate more sophisticated synonyms for 'increase' or 'decrease' (e.g., 'surged', 'plummeted', 'remained stable') and ensure correct usage of comparative structures.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Examples include 'This chart illustrate' (subject-verb agreement), 'Housing become' (tense error), and 'more then double' (spelling/usage). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with several run-on sentences that lack proper conjunctions or full stops. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to affect the clarity of your writing. Focus on mastering basic subject-verb agreement and verb tenses to improve your accuracy.

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