Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)
The bar graph illustrates the information about average weekly spending by families on different categories such as food, housing, fuel and power, personal goods, transport and leisure in 1968 and 2018.
Overall, it can be seen that large amount weekly income were spent on food in contrast to the others. Leisure come second while fuel and power recorded the lowest figure.
In 1968, families spent 35% of weekly income at food, making it the highest category in contrast to 2018 which is recorded around at 17%. In 1968, housing, clothing and footware accounted at the same proportion which is 10%, while in 2018 weekly income for these categories accounted for19% and 5%.
In 1968, approximately 8% weekly income were spent on transport and leisure and whereas 2018, both experienced a significant growth and recorded at around 14% and 22%.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the score. While you have identified the main features and provided some comparisons, the analysis is incomplete. For instance, you mention 'housing, clothing and footwear' in 1968 but fail to provide a clear, accurate breakdown for all categories in 2018. The summary is under-developed, and the failure to reach the minimum length means the task is not fully addressed. To improve, ensure you provide a comprehensive overview of all data points and extend your analysis of the trends to meet the length requirement.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally inaccurate. For example, the phrase 'in contrast to 2018 which is recorded around at 17%' is clunky and lacks clear logical flow. Transitions between sentences could be smoother to improve the progression of ideas. While there is an attempt to group information, the lack of sufficient detail makes the overall coherence feel disjointed. Using a wider variety of linking words (e.g., 'whereas', 'conversely', 'in comparison') would help connect your points more effectively.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and variety required for a higher band. You rely on basic descriptors like 'large amount' and 'lowest figure'. There are also some errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'accounted at the same proportion' (should be 'accounted for the same proportion') and 'footware' (spelling error). To achieve a higher score, try to incorporate more sophisticated vocabulary related to trends and data, such as 'fluctuated', 'remained stable', or 'witnessed a sharp decline', and ensure accurate spelling and word formation.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'large amount weekly income were spent' (missing article and subject-verb agreement error) and 'accounted at the same proportion' (preposition error). Additionally, there are issues with sentence structure, such as 'In 1968, approximately 8% weekly income were spent on transport and leisure and whereas 2018, both experienced a significant growth'. These errors are noticeable and detract from the overall quality. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and correct preposition usage will help improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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