Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

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

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 presented bar graph emphasizes how families in one country spent their weekly wages comparing two time periods 1968 and 2018.

Overall, it is clear that families in 1968 spent most of their income on food compared with families in 2018. Meanwhile, families in 2018 spent significant percentage of their income on leisure.

Primarily, families in 1968 spent 35% of their income on food which is significantly high compared with families in 2018; as they only spent 18% of their income on food. In 1968 families spent 10% income on housing whereas, in 2018 families spent 19% which is 9% higher.

In both the eras, expenditure on household goods remained the same. Expenditure on fuel and power decreased by 3%. Money spent on clothing and footware also decreased. In 1968 income spent on transportation was 8% whereas in 2018 it increased vastly. Income spent on leisure in 1968 was significantly less compared with 2018 which is 9% and 23% respectively.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers the main features of the chart well, identifying the most significant shifts in spending, such as the decline in food expenditure and the rise in leisure. However, the report is slightly unbalanced; while the major trends are highlighted, some minor categories are described in a list-like fashion rather than being synthesized. The comparison between 1968 and 2018 is clear, and the overview provides a good summary of the primary changes. To reach a higher band, ensure that all data points are integrated into a more analytical narrative rather than simply stating percentages in isolation.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the main trends. Cohesive devices such as 'meanwhile', 'whereas', and 'in both the eras' are used to link ideas. However, the flow between sentences is sometimes a bit mechanical, and the transition between the discussion of specific categories could be smoother. The use of referencing is generally clear, though the structure of the final paragraph could be more cohesive to better connect the various categories mentioned.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the writer to convey the main trends effectively. There is some attempt to use varied terminology, such as 'expenditure', 'vastly', and 'significantly'. However, there are some minor inaccuracies and repetitive phrasing, such as 'income spent on' used multiple times. The spelling error 'footware' (should be 'footwear') is a minor slip. To improve, the writer should aim for a wider range of collocations and more precise synonyms to avoid repetition and enhance the sophistication of the report.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the grammar is generally accurate and communication is never impeded, there are some minor errors, such as 'in both the eras' (should be 'in both eras') and 'significant percentage' (should be 'a significant percentage'). The punctuation is generally correct, but the sentence structure could be more varied to demonstrate greater control. The majority of sentences are clear, and the errors present are non-systematic and do not cause confusion for the reader.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.