Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

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

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 rendered bar graph gives information about average weekly spending by families in 1968 to 2018.

Overall, it quite apparent that people in 1968 are more likely to spent a large proportion on food. whereas, in 2018 individuals are more likely to spend on leisure expenses.

Evidently, it can be seen that in 1968 people used to spend 35% of there weekly income on food which is dropped dramatically to around 17%. In similar context, individuals in 1968 spend 10% of weekly income on personal goods which is also fell in 2018 to less than 5%.Furthermore, spending in 1968 on clothing and footwear, fuel and power also decreased significantly from 10%, 6% to 5%, 4% respectively in 2018 as people are less interested on spending on them.

Moving on further, in 2018 people are more likely to spend on leisure as in 1968 they spend only 9% of there weekly income but in 2018 it grows gradually to 22%. Strikingly, spending on household goods remains constant to 6% throughout the period. Whereas, spending on housing and transport increase where in 1978 it is 10% and 7% rapidly increase to 19% and 14% respectively.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers all key features of the data, including the significant shifts in spending patterns between 1968 and 2018. You successfully identified the main trends, such as the decline in food expenditure and the rise in leisure and housing costs. However, the analysis is slightly marred by some inaccurate data reporting; for instance, you mention 1978 instead of 2018 when discussing housing and transport. Additionally, the explanation for the decrease in clothing and footwear spending as 'people are less interested' is an assumption not supported by the data. To reach a higher band, ensure all data points are cited accurately and avoid speculating on the reasons behind the trends.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs. You use cohesive devices such as 'In similar context', 'Furthermore', and 'Moving on further' to link ideas. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical or forced. The paragraphing is appropriate, but the flow between sentences could be improved by varying the structure of your cohesive links. Referencing is generally clear, though the repetition of 'in 1968' and 'in 2018' at the start of many sentences makes the progression feel a bit repetitive. Using more diverse referencing techniques would enhance the overall cohesion.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'proportion', 'dramatically', and 'strikingly'. There are some minor errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'which is dropped' (should be 'which dropped') and 'in similar context' (which is slightly unnatural). You also have some spelling errors, such as 'there' instead of 'their'. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the main points, it lacks the precision and sophistication required for a higher band. Focusing on more precise collocations and ensuring correct word forms will help improve your score in this area.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While you attempt to use complex sentences, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with verb tenses and subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'people are more likely to spent', 'which is also fell', 'it grows gradually'). These errors are noticeable but do not generally impede communication. To improve, pay closer attention to tense consistency—especially when comparing past data—and ensure that your verb forms are correct after modal verbs or in passive constructions. More careful proofreading would help eliminate these recurring slips.

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