Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)
The graph illustrates the comparison of families' weekly expenditures in 1968 and 2018 in one country.
Overall, the graph is very diverse with respect to the spendin by families on their household, whereas the graph shows the peak in the food in 1968 and the lowest peak in the personal goods and fuel and power in 2018.
Firstly, In 1968, families were used to spend most of their weekly spending in food which is about 35% of the weekly income. where as, poeple used to spend least in the fuel and power, which is about 6% followed by the Household goods, Personal goods and Transport with about 8%, after that 9% in leisures and with 10% in their Hosing and Clothing and footware of their income.
On the Other, In 2018, families spend most of their income in Leisure with the 22% and least spent in the Fuel and power and Personal goods with the about 4% of their weekly income. families used to spend samely in the Household goods as they spent in 1968 with the about 7%.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response covers the main features of the data, identifying key trends such as the shift in spending from food to leisure. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial. The description of the 1968 data is cluttered with a list of percentages that lacks clear synthesis. Furthermore, there are inaccuracies in the reporting of data; for instance, the student claims household goods remained the same at 7%, whereas the chart shows a slight increase. The overview is present but lacks a clear, high-level summary of the most significant changes. To improve, focus on grouping data points logically rather than listing them, and ensure all figures are transcribed accurately from the visual prompt.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or inaccurate. Phrases like 'On the Other' are used incorrectly to introduce a new paragraph, and the transition 'after that' is informal and repetitive. The progression of ideas is sometimes hindered by awkward phrasing, such as 'the graph is very diverse with respect to the spendin'. While the paragraphing is logical, the internal cohesion within paragraphs needs more variety and precision to achieve a higher band score. Using a wider range of linking words would improve the flow.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks precision and sophistication. There are several spelling errors, such as 'spendin', 'poeple', 'leisures', and 'Hosing'. The student relies on basic phrasing like 'used to spend' and 'most of their income', which is repetitive. There is little evidence of less common lexical items or collocations appropriate for describing statistical data. To improve, the student should focus on accurate spelling and incorporate more precise terminology for trends, such as 'expenditure', 'allocated to', 'proportion', and 'fluctuated'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but grammatical errors are frequent and occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'families were used to spend' (incorrect verb form), 'the peak in the food' (unnecessary article), and 'spend samely' (incorrect adverb usage). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with unnecessary capitalisation in 'On the Other' and 'Hosing'. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of errors in basic sentence construction and verb tense usage prevents the response from reaching a higher band. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and correct tense usage is essential.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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