Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-03

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 illustrates weekly expenses spent by families in one country in 1968 and in 2018.

In the year 1968 there has been an highest amount spent on food showing 35 percent and fuel and power was the least amount spent approximately 7 percent. The income spent on household goods, personal good and transport has been constant of 16-17 percent with a moderate increase in spending on leisure of 9 percent. Housing, clothing and footwear have been second in spending of income of approximately 10 percent.

On the other hand in the 2018 income spent on leisure was 23 percent and personal goods were least spent on 4 percent followed by fuel and power. Overall the income spending in 2018 has been fluctuating. The only spending that remained dormant in 1968 and 2018 was income spent on household goods approximately 17-18 percent. The 3 major income spent on in 2018 was leisure 23 percent followed with housing 19 percent and lastly food 16 percent. The remaining have been within 15 percent of income spent.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers the main features of the data, identifying key trends such as the shift in spending on food and leisure. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial. For instance, the description of 1968 is slightly inaccurate regarding the 'highest amount' (food was 35%, but the text lacks a clear comparison of all categories). The grouping of data in the second paragraph is a bit disjointed, and some figures are presented without sufficient context or comparison. To reach a higher band, ensure that all key features are clearly highlighted and that comparisons between the two years are more explicitly drawn rather than just listing percentages.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the information. However, the logical progression is occasionally hindered by awkward phrasing and a lack of sophisticated cohesive devices. While some linking words like 'On the other hand' and 'Overall' are used, the transition between sentences is sometimes mechanical. The referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the phrase 'The remaining have been within 15 percent', which lacks a clear antecedent. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring each paragraph has a clear thematic focus would enhance the flow of the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the writer to convey the main points. There are some attempts at less common vocabulary, such as 'dormant' and 'fluctuating', though 'dormant' is used incorrectly in this context (it implies inactivity rather than stability). There are also minor errors in word choice, such as 'personal good' instead of 'personal goods'. To improve, focus on using vocabulary that is more precise for describing statistical trends, such as 'remained stable' instead of 'remained dormant', and ensure consistent use of plural forms for categories.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally distract the reader. Examples include 'there has been an highest amount' (incorrect article and tense), 'income spent on... has been constant of 16-17 percent' (preposition error), and 'The 3 major income spent on in 2018 was leisure' (awkward syntax). While these errors do not completely impede communication, they occur frequently enough to limit the score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and correct preposition usage would significantly improve the accuracy of your writing.

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