Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-11

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 chart illustrate about how families spend their expenses in one country and their weekly income from 1968 to 2018. Their are 8 aspects in it.

Overall, judging by the chart their are many ups and down in it. It is clear that in 1968, food was at its peak and eventually started going down .Furthermore, their leisure was at its lowest and has denfiniently improved

Regarding the categories food had 35% of the weekly income and then in 2018, it became to approximately about 17%. Furthermore, housing was about 10% in 1968, and in 2018 it increased to about 19%. Therefore fuel and power was about 7% in 1968 and it came down to about 3%. On the other hand clothing and footware was about 10% in 1968 and then in 2018 it became 5%.

However, the household goods stayed the same in both the year which was about 8%. By looking at the personal goods categorie it was 7% in 1968 and was decreased to about 4%. Moreover, transport was about 8% in 1968 and went up by 14% in 2018. Additionally, leisure was around 9% in 1968 and was increased to about 22% in 2018.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers all key features of the chart, including the main trends and specific data points for both 1968 and 2018. However, the overview is weak; it describes the data as having 'many ups and down' rather than identifying the most significant trends, such as the shift from food to leisure as the primary expenditure. While the data is generally accurate, the reporting is somewhat mechanical, listing figures without sufficient synthesis or comparison. To reach a higher band, you should focus on grouping the categories by those that increased, decreased, or remained stable, rather than listing them one by one.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the information. However, the use of cohesive devices is often repetitive or slightly unnatural, such as the frequent use of 'Furthermore' and 'Moreover'. The transition between the overview and the body paragraphs is abrupt. Additionally, some sentences lack logical flow, such as the jump from 'fuel and power' to 'clothing and footwear'. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear thematic focus would significantly enhance the coherence of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks precision and variety. You rely on basic verbs like 'was', 'became', and 'went up'. There are also some errors in word choice and spelling, such as 'denfiniently' (definitely), 'categorie' (category), and 'footware' (footwear). To improve, try to incorporate more sophisticated verbs for describing trends, such as 'fluctuated', 'remained constant', 'surpassed', or 'accounted for'. Using a wider range of synonyms for 'increase' and 'decrease' would also help demonstrate a more flexible command of the language.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, including subject-verb agreement issues ('The chart illustrate', 'Their are 8 aspects') and incorrect preposition usage ('became to approximately', 'stayed the same in both the year'). While the meaning is generally clear, these errors are persistent. You have attempted some complex structures, but they are often marred by inaccuracies. Focusing on basic sentence construction and proofreading for common errors like 'their/there' and pluralisation will help you achieve a higher score. Aim for more error-free sentences by simplifying your structure until your accuracy improves.

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

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