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 given chart illustrates average weekly spending by families in eight categories between 1968 and 2018.
Overall, families spent highest weekly income on food and lowest weekly income on fuel and power in 1968 while they spent highest weekly income on leisure and lowest on fuel and power in 2018
Looking at the details people spent highest weekly income on food at 35% in 1968 which was followed by housing which represented 10% in 1968 while on food figure face major decreased at 18% in 2018 and housing recorded up 19% in 2018. Regarding fuel and power they made up by 6% in 1968 and clothing and footwear showed figure at 10% in 1968 whereas both of it faced decline in 2018 at 4% and 5%.
In contrast Remaining categories, household, personal good and transport all reamained same at 8% spending weekly income in 1968 also household good recorded unchanged in 2018 at 8% but personal good fell at 4% conversely transport rose at 14% in 2018.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the chart, including the shift in spending habits between 1968 and 2018. You successfully identified the highest and lowest spending categories for both years. However, the report lacks a clear overview of the most significant trends, such as the dramatic decline in food expenditure versus the rise in leisure. Some data points are slightly inaccurate or confusingly presented, such as the claim that 'household, personal good and transport all remained same at 8%' in 1968, which is not clearly supported by the visual data. To improve, ensure you group information logically and highlight the most striking changes rather than listing every detail.
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 awkward, such as 'on food figure face major decreased' and 'whereas both of it faced decline'. The transition between sentences is sometimes abrupt, and the referencing is occasionally unclear, making it difficult to track which category is being discussed. To reach a higher band, focus on using a wider variety of linking words (e.g., 'consequently', 'in contrast', 'furthermore') and ensure that pronouns clearly refer back to the correct nouns.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it is repetitive and lacks precision. Phrases like 'showed figure at' and 'recorded up' are unnatural. There are also errors in word formation and collocation, such as 'personal good' (should be 'personal goods') and 'on food figure face major decreased' (should be 'expenditure on food saw a major decrease'). To improve, try to use more precise reporting verbs and nouns related to data analysis, such as 'expenditure', 'proportion', 'fluctuated', or 'remained stable'.
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. Issues include missing articles ('on food', 'on leisure'), incorrect verb tenses ('remained' vs 'remained same'), and awkward phrasing ('both of it faced decline'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with several run-on sentences and missing commas. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles. Proofreading for basic sentence structure errors will 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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