Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-06

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 chart illustrates in one country families spent their weekly income in 1968 and in 2018.

Overall, families spent their income more on food, in contrast, fuel and power was less use than other daily needs.

Firstly, food is the highest demand and families spending income on this, followed by housing, and clothing and footware in 1968. But, household products, personal goods, and transport were equally spend their weekly income on them. They spend their income less on fuel and power.

In 2018, the percent of food declined and reached around 17% from 35%. Housing and leisure was dramatically increased, and became around 19 and 23 percent, which was the highest achievement in 2018. They spend their money more in transport then pervious. Fuel and personal goods were less invest by families. But, families spending their weekly income on household items around 8 percent in both years, which shows that it is the average needs of them.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response covers the main features of the chart, such as the decline in food expenditure and the rise in leisure and housing costs. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial and lacks precision in reporting data. For instance, stating that household products were 'equally spend' is unclear, and the comparison between 1968 and 2018 could be more effectively highlighted. While the key trends are identified, the lack of a clear overview of the most significant changes limits the score. To improve, ensure that all data points are clearly linked to the years provided and avoid vague descriptions of trends.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is mechanical and sometimes inaccurate, such as the transition 'But, household products...' which feels abrupt. The progression of ideas is occasionally disjointed, particularly in the third paragraph where the list of categories lacks a smooth flow. Referencing is sometimes unclear, making it difficult to track which data points are being compared. Improving the variety and accuracy of linking words would significantly enhance the logical flow of the report.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision required for a higher band. There are several instances of awkward word choices and incorrect collocations, such as 'less use than', 'highest achievement', and 'less invest by families'. These errors occasionally impede the clarity of the message. To reach a higher band, you should focus on using more precise terminology for describing trends, such as 'expenditure', 'proportion', 'fluctuated', or 'remained stable', and ensure that word forms are used correctly in context.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response relies heavily on simple sentence structures. While there are attempts at complex sentences, they are often marred by grammatical errors, such as 'families spending their weekly income on household items around 8 percent', which lacks a main verb. Subject-verb agreement and tense consistency are frequent issues, for example, 'food is the highest demand' (should be 'was') and 'transport then pervious' (should be 'than previous'). Frequent errors in basic grammar and punctuation are present, though they do not completely prevent the reader from understanding the main points.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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