Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)

Here, the bar graph demonstrate the data

about how family use their weekly

income in 1968 and 2018

Overall, It is clearly visible that

more then quater money use

in food and minimal money spent on

fuel and power

In 1968 high money spent on food,

fuel and power, clothing and footwear,

personal goods. Comparingly in 2018,

However for these four categories money

spent is half in 2018. household goods

are same in both years.

In 2018 the most amount of money spent

in Housing, transport and leisure

compare to 1968. also half amount

of money spent for these three

categories in 1968.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the ability to fully develop the task. While you have identified some main features, the analysis is superficial and lacks the necessary detail to provide a comprehensive summary. The comparisons are often vague, such as stating 'household goods are same in both years' without referencing specific data points or trends. To improve, you must ensure you reach the word count by providing a more detailed breakdown of the data, including specific figures and clearer comparisons between the two years.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The essay is divided into short, fragmented paragraphs that lack logical flow. The use of cohesive devices is very limited and often mechanical, such as the repetitive use of 'In 1968' and 'In 2018' to start sentences. There is a lack of linking words to connect ideas within and between paragraphs, making the progression of information feel disjointed. To improve, focus on using a wider range of transition signals (e.g., 'in contrast,' 'furthermore,' 'consequently') to create a smoother narrative and ensure that each paragraph has a clear, unified focus.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is basic and repetitive, which limits your ability to describe the data precisely. Phrases like 'more then quater money use' and 'most amount of money spent' are grammatically incorrect and lack the academic tone required for Task 1. There is also a reliance on simple, repetitive verbs. To achieve a higher band, you should aim to use more varied and precise vocabulary related to trends and data, such as 'expenditure,' 'proportion,' 'fluctuated,' or 'remained stable,' and ensure correct word forms are used throughout.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains frequent grammatical errors that impede clarity. Issues include incorrect verb tenses ('demonstrate' instead of 'demonstrates'), missing articles ('the' before 'data'), and awkward sentence structures ('more then quater money use'). There is a lack of complex sentence structures, and the punctuation is inconsistent. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement, the correct use of articles, and building more complex sentences using relative clauses or subordinating conjunctions. Proofreading for basic errors will also help improve the overall accuracy of your writing.

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

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