Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-07-27

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 6.0)

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

Overall, the proportion of weekly income spending on food was highest in 1968 and the lowest percentage of spending income on fuel and power. While in 2018 the highest percentage of spending weekly income on leisure and housing.

The percentage of spending weekly income on food in 1968 that was 35% while in 2018 that is above the 15%. The percentage of spending weekly income on housing in 1968 that was 10% and in 2018 that is above the 15%. The proportion of spending weekly income on fuel and power in 1968 that was above the 5% and in 2018 that is below the 5%. The percentage of spending weekly income on clothing and footware in 1968 that was 10% and in 2018 that is 5%. The proportion of spending weekly income on household goods in 1968 that was above the 5% and in 2018 that is same. The percentage of personal good in 1968 that was almost 8% and in 2018 that is below the 5%. The percentage of transport and leisure in 1968 that was approximately 8% and other was almost 9% and in 2018 that is almost 14% and in leisure that is above the 20%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response covers the main features of the chart and makes relevant comparisons between the two years. However, the reporting of data is somewhat repetitive and lacks analytical depth. While you identify the highest and lowest spending categories, the description of the data points is overly mechanical, often listing figures without grouping them effectively to highlight trends. To improve, focus on synthesising the data—for example, grouping categories that increased (housing, leisure) versus those that decreased (food, clothing). The overview is present but could be more clearly articulated to better summarise the significant shifts in spending habits over the fifty-year period.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organised into an introduction, an overview, and a body paragraph. However, the progression of ideas within the body paragraph is quite repetitive, as each sentence follows an identical structure: 'The percentage of... in 1968 that was... and in 2018 that is...'. This makes the writing feel mechanical rather than fluid. While you use some cohesive devices like 'while' and 'overall', the lack of varied linking words and the repetitive sentence structure hinder the flow of information. Using a wider range of cohesive devices and varying the way you introduce comparisons would significantly improve the coherence of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but remains quite limited and repetitive. You frequently use the phrase 'percentage of spending weekly income on', which becomes monotonous. There is little attempt to use a wider range of vocabulary to describe trends or data, such as 'expenditure', 'allocated to', 'witnessed a decline', or 'remained stable'. While the meaning is clear and there are no significant spelling errors, the lack of lexical variety prevents the response from reaching a higher band. Incorporating more precise terminology related to statistics and financial trends would enhance your score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response relies heavily on simple sentence structures, which are often grammatically flawed. There are frequent issues with verb tense consistency (e.g., 'that was 35% while in 2018 that is above the 15%') and awkward phrasing, such as 'the lowest percentage of spending income on fuel and power' (missing a verb). Many sentences are missing articles or contain redundant words. While the meaning is generally understandable, the lack of complex sentence structures and the persistent grammatical errors in tense and word order limit the range and accuracy of your writing. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and consistent tense usage is essential.

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