Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-09

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 5.5)

The bar chart illustrates below gives knowledge about how families in one country spent their weekly income in 1968 and in 2018.Overall, the highest amount was in 1968 expenditure on food, and the least amount spending on fuel and power.

In 1968 families spent a large amount of money were spending on food, and the second category was housing and clothing, then households and goods, and the least amount spend on transport and leisure. Subsequently, in 2018, leisure activities cost more money than housing and then transport, whereas less is spent on household goods, clothing and footwear, and personal growth.

Weekly income is 35 percent on food in 1968, whereas in 2018 it is 17 percent, while housing and footwear are spent 10 percent in 1968, but in 2018 housing is 19 percent and clothing and footwear are 5 percent. The household, personal growth, and transport are spent 8 percent in 1968. Moreover, in 2018, household percentages are the same as in 1968, and personal growth is 4 percent, but transport is an increase of 14 percent. Leisure activities are 9 percent in 1968, while 22 percent are in 2018, whereas fuel and power are 4 percent in 1968, while in 2018 are 4 percent

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the chart and makes relevant comparisons between 1968 and 2018. However, the overview is slightly inaccurate; for example, stating that the 'least amount' was spent on fuel and power in 1968 is incorrect based on the data provided. While the response identifies key trends, such as the decline in food expenditure and the rise in leisure, the data reporting is sometimes confusing or imprecise. To improve, ensure that the overview clearly highlights the most significant changes and that all data points are accurately transcribed from the chart.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the logical progression within paragraphs is sometimes hindered by awkward phrasing and repetitive sentence structures. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'subsequently' and 'whereas', but they are occasionally used incorrectly or in a way that makes the flow feel mechanical. The referencing is sometimes unclear, particularly when comparing percentages across the two years. Improving the use of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear, singular focus would enhance the overall coherence.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the writer to describe the data, but it lacks the precision and variety required for a higher band. There are some inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'gives knowledge about' instead of 'provides information on' and 'personal growth' instead of 'personal goods'. The range of vocabulary is somewhat limited, relying on basic descriptors. To achieve a higher score, try to incorporate more varied synonyms for 'increase', 'decrease', and 'expenditure', and ensure that terminology is used accurately in context.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'the highest amount was in 1968 expenditure on food' and 'housing and footwear are spent 10 percent'. These errors in subject-verb agreement and preposition usage are noticeable. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents the response from reaching a higher band. Focusing on sentence construction, specifically ensuring correct verb forms and consistent tense usage, will significantly improve the quality of the writing.

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