Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-21

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 information demonstrates how families in a country spent their weekly income in 2018 and 1968.

In 1968, families used to spent most of their weekly earnings on food which were measured at 35% while in 2018, the highest recorded was spent around 22% in leisure.

Families used to spent more income on food as it was the highest recorded at 35%. While housing, clothing and footware almost remained identical at 10%. Household goods, personal goods, transport and leisure almost remained between 7 to 10% throughout the year.

Furthermore, comparatively in 2018 there was highest decrease measured in food as it declined to approximately 16% of the weekly income. While Fuel and power, clothing footware and personal goods all three had decreased from 1968 while house hold goods still remains the same. The biggest rise was particularly in housing and leisure, in housing it almost became double at just above 18% and leisure was the highest recorded at just above 21%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response provides a general overview and identifies key trends, such as the shift in spending from food to housing and leisure. However, the analysis is inconsistent. For instance, the statement that 'housing, clothing and footware almost remained identical at 10%' in 1968 is inaccurate based on the data provided. Furthermore, the description of 2018 trends is somewhat confusing, particularly the claim that 'Fuel and power, clothing footware and personal goods all three had decreased'. The report lacks precision in data reporting, and some comparisons are unclear or contradictory. To improve, ensure that data points are accurately transcribed and that the comparison between the two years is logically structured.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organized into paragraphs, but the logical progression is hindered by repetitive phrasing and awkward transitions. The use of cohesive devices is limited and sometimes mechanical, such as the repetitive use of 'while' and 'as'. The second paragraph is particularly disjointed, with sentences that do not flow naturally from one to the next. Referencing is occasionally unclear, making it difficult for the reader to follow the comparison between 1968 and 2018. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring each paragraph has a clear focus would significantly enhance the coherence of the report.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision and variety required for a higher band. There are several instances of word-choice errors, such as 'used to spent' (should be 'used to spend') and 'footware' (spelling error). The range of vocabulary is somewhat limited, relying on basic descriptors like 'highest recorded' and 'biggest rise'. To achieve a higher score, you should incorporate more sophisticated synonyms and ensure accurate collocations, such as 'expenditure' instead of 'spending' and 'accounted for' instead of 'measured at'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Common issues include tense inconsistencies, such as 'used to spent' instead of 'used to spend', and subject-verb agreement errors like 'household goods still remains'. Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with comma usage in complex sentences. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. Focusing on consistent verb tense usage and proofreading for basic grammatical accuracy will help improve your score.

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

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