Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-15

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 bar chart compares the average weekly spending by families in 1968 and 2018.

Overall it is seen that, food accounted for the highest proportion in 1968, while leisure was recorded to be the highest percentage in 2018. Additionally,household goods accounted for the same percentage.

Focusing on 1968, families spent the largest percentage of their weekly income on food in 1968 which accounted for 35%, and spent similarly on housing, and clothing with footwear, at 10%. They spent the lowest percentage of their income on Fuel and power. In 1968 and 2018, household goods accounted for an equal proportion with around 8%.

In 2018, families spent more

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0

The response is significantly under the 150-word minimum requirement, which severely impacts the ability to fully address the task. While you have identified some main features, such as the shift from food to leisure spending, the analysis is incomplete. You have not provided a full overview of the data, and the response cuts off mid-sentence, failing to report on the 2018 figures or make necessary comparisons between the two years. To improve, you must ensure all parts of the prompt are addressed, including a clear summary of trends and a comprehensive comparison of the data points provided in the chart.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The response shows a basic attempt at organization with an introduction and a body paragraph. However, the abrupt ending makes it impossible to evaluate the overall logical progression. The use of cohesive devices like 'Overall' and 'Additionally' is present, but the lack of completion prevents the text from flowing as a coherent piece of writing. To reach a higher band, you need to ensure that your ideas are fully developed and that you use a wider range of linking words to connect your observations across the entire report.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task but remains quite basic. You correctly use terms like 'proportion', 'percentage', and 'accounted for', which are appropriate for describing charts. However, there is a lack of variety in your reporting verbs and descriptive language. To improve, try to incorporate more precise vocabulary to describe trends, such as 'expenditure', 'fluctuated', or 'remained stable'. The current range is limited, and the unfinished nature of the response prevents the demonstration of a more sophisticated or flexible vocabulary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains some accurate simple sentences, such as 'The bar chart compares the average weekly spending by families in 1968 and 2018.' However, there are errors in punctuation and sentence structure, such as the comma usage in 'Overall it is seen that, food...'. Because the response is incomplete, it is difficult to assess your ability to use a wide range of complex structures. To improve, focus on ensuring your sentences are complete and grammatically sound, and aim to vary your sentence structure by combining simple ideas into more complex, compound sentences.

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

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