Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-20

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 chart gives information about how families in one country spent their weekly income in 1968 and in 2018. The average weekly spending by families are majorly on food in 1968 as compare to 2018.Housing took 19% of the income but in 2018 it was only 10%,less than 1968. Fuel and power is almost taking the same amount in 1968 and 2018 it is only on 3% difference. It was 4% in 2018 and 7% in 1968.cooking and footware used to be 10% in 1968 and 5% in 2018.The only thing that is on the same page was household that is 8% in 1968 and in 2018.Personal goods comparatively are on 8% in 1968 than to 2018.In 2018 transport takes more income to 14% but it was 8% in 1968. In 2018 Leisure become a thing for the families because it may show the lifestyle and status. It was not in 1968 because families do not pay more attention on the lifestyle and leisure.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response covers the main features of the chart, but the analysis is inconsistent and contains several factual inaccuracies. For example, you state that housing was 19% in 1968 and 10% in 2018, whereas the chart shows 10% and 19% respectively. Furthermore, the claim that 'Leisure' was not present in 1968 is incorrect, as the chart clearly shows a figure for that year. While you attempt to compare the two years, the lack of precision in reporting the data points significantly hinders the task achievement. To improve, ensure you carefully transcribe the data and focus on identifying the most significant trends, such as the major shift in food and leisure spending, rather than listing every category.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The essay lacks a clear structure, consisting of a single block of text rather than distinct paragraphs for an introduction, overview, and body details. Cohesive devices are used in a mechanical and repetitive way, such as the frequent use of 'in 1968 and in 2018' to start sentences. There is no clear logical progression; the information is presented as a list of observations rather than a synthesized summary. To improve, organize your response into at least three paragraphs: an introduction, a clear overview of the main trends, and specific details grouped by category or trend. Use a wider variety of linking words to connect your ideas more fluidly.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is somewhat limited and repetitive, often relying on basic phrasing to describe the data. There are also issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'majorly on food' (should be 'primarily spent on food') and 'on the same page' (an idiom that is inappropriate for describing statistical data). You also use 'cooking and footware' instead of the correct category names from the chart. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise verbs and nouns to describe trends, such as 'accounted for,' 'fluctuated,' or 'remained stable,' and ensure you use the correct terminology provided in the task prompt.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('spending by families are'), incorrect preposition usage ('on 3% difference'), and awkward sentence construction ('Personal goods comparatively are on 8%'). The range of sentence structures is limited, consisting mostly of simple sentences. To improve, focus on mastering basic subject-verb agreement and sentence structure. Incorporate more complex structures, such as using subordinating conjunctions (e.g., 'while,' 'whereas') to compare data points, which will help improve both your grammatical range and the flow of your writing.

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