Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-04

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)

The bar chart illustrates the distribution of weekly household expenditure across seven categories in a single country, comparing data from 1968 and 2018.

Overall, the patterns of spending shifted considerably over the five-decade period, with significant increases in leisure and transport expenditure, while the proportion of income allocated to food saw a notable decline.

In 1968, food dominated household budgets, accounting for nearly 35% of weekly income, which was the highest percentage among all categories. Housing and transport each represented around 10%, while clothing and footwear, household goods, personal goods, and leisure all fell within the 5% to 10% range. Fuel and power was the smallest expenditure, at approximately 6%.

By 2018, the spending landscape had transformed dramatically. Transport had risen to over 30%, becoming the largest expense, followed by leisure at approximately 22% and housing at just over 25%. Conversely, food had dropped to around 15%. Other categories such as clothing and footwear, fuel and power, and personal goods decreased to approximately 5%, 4%, and 3% respectively, while household goods remained relatively stable at about 5%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response effectively addresses all parts of the task. You have provided a clear overview of the main trends and successfully selected and reported key features from the chart. The comparison between 1968 and 2018 is well-integrated, highlighting the significant shifts in spending habits, such as the decline in food expenditure and the rise in transport and leisure costs. The data is accurately represented, and the response maintains a professional tone throughout. To reach the highest band, ensure that all minor data points are consistently precise, but overall, this is a very strong and comprehensive summary.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph serves a distinct purpose: the introduction sets the context, the overview summarizes the main trends, and the body paragraphs provide detailed supporting data. Cohesive devices such as 'Conversely', 'while', and 'followed by' are used effectively to link information and create a smooth flow between sentences. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the information is presented in a way that is easy for the reader to follow. There is no evidence of mechanical or repetitive use of linking words.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic report. Phrases such as 'distribution of weekly household expenditure', 'spending landscape had transformed dramatically', and 'proportion of income allocated to' show a high level of control. The word choices are precise and contribute to the clarity of the report. While the vocabulary is accurate and fits the context well, incorporating a few more sophisticated or less common collocations could further enhance the lexical variety. Overall, the language is natural and error-free.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The writing exhibits a wide range of grammatical structures, including complex sentences and varied clause types. The control over punctuation and sentence construction is excellent, with no noticeable errors. You successfully use a mix of simple and complex forms to convey information clearly. The accuracy is high, and the grammar does not impede communication in any way. The use of passive voice and comparative structures is handled with precision, reflecting a high level of grammatical competence.

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