Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-07-30

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 graph depicts how families in one country spent their income of one week in 1968 and 2018. It is quite evident that in 1968 most of the families spend their salaries on food. On other hand in 2018 families like to spend their salaries for leisure activity.

It can be seen from the bar chart that families were more interested in food in 1968. They spend 35% of weekly income for food which was highest among other things they done. But in the year it decreased to about 22%. In 1986 families use equal percentage of income which was 10% for Housing and clothing and footwear. However, in 2018 percentage of income spend on Housing increased to around18% and income spend on Clothing and Footwear declined to 5%. Furthermore income spend on Fuel and power was around 7% and in 2018 it slightly dropped to around 3%. Moreover income spend o

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response attempts to address the task by comparing spending habits in 1968 and 2018. However, the report is incomplete; it cuts off mid-sentence at the end, failing to cover all categories presented in the chart. While the main features (food, housing) are identified, the lack of a complete overview and the abrupt ending significantly hinder the development of the response. To improve, ensure all data categories are addressed and provide a clear summary of the overall trends observed between the two years.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organised into paragraphs, but the progression of ideas is somewhat mechanical. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'On the other hand' and 'Furthermore', but they are sometimes used incorrectly or lack variety. The referencing is occasionally unclear, and the abrupt termination of the text disrupts the overall flow and logical structure of the response. Improving the use of linking words and ensuring a smooth transition between sentences would enhance the coherence of the writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but remains quite basic and repetitive. Phrases like 'spend their salaries' are used multiple times, and there is a lack of variety in reporting verbs or descriptive language. There are also minor errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'things they done' instead of 'things they did'. To achieve a higher band, try to incorporate more precise terminology related to data analysis, such as 'expenditure', 'proportion', or 'fluctuated'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response relies heavily on simple sentence structures. There are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with verb tenses (e.g., 'families spend' instead of 'families spent') and article usage. Some sentences are poorly constructed, such as 'In 1986 families use equal percentage', which contains both a tense error and a factual error regarding the year. While the meaning is generally understandable, the lack of complex structures and the presence of persistent errors limit the score in this criterion.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.