Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-25

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)

Evaluation of this graph shows the difference between cost of living of families that varied from 1968 to 2018 This includes different necessities of life including food, housing ,fuel and power ,clothing and other measures

From the graph we can acknowledge the major expense back in 1968 was food that cost families about 35% and its share fell about 20-25% in 2018. Housing was comparingly cheap than 2018 as it used to range only 10% in 1968 and 15%-20% in 2018. The spending of income on fuel and power ranged as 5-8% and 0-5% in [redacted phone] respectively. Whereas household show no variation and remains same to 5-10%. Personal goods used to cost much about 6-10% in 1968 and 0-5% in 2018. Talking about transport that costed only almost 8% in 1968 increased to almost 15% in 2018 . At last, spending on leisure increased from 10% to 20-25% in 1968 to 2018 significantly.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the data and makes relevant comparisons between 1968 and 2018. However, the overview is weak; it merely lists categories rather than highlighting the most significant trends, such as the dramatic shift in food and leisure spending. Some data points are presented in ranges (e.g., '15%-20%') which are not clearly supported by the provided chart, leading to some inaccuracies in reporting. To improve, ensure the overview clearly identifies the most striking changes and avoid inventing ranges that are not explicitly visible in the data.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organized into two paragraphs, but the structure is somewhat disjointed. The introduction is brief and lacks a clear summary of the overall trend. While there is some attempt at logical progression, the transition between categories is mechanical, relying heavily on simple listing. The use of cohesive devices is limited; for example, the phrase 'At last' is used to introduce the final point, which feels slightly unnatural in this context. Improving the use of linking words and creating a more distinct overview would enhance the flow.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. There are several instances of awkward phrasing, such as 'comparingly cheap' (should be 'comparatively cheaper') and 'costed' (the past tense of 'cost' is 'cost'). The range of vocabulary is limited to basic descriptors, and there is some repetition of 'cost' and 'spending'. To reach a higher band, you should incorporate more precise terminology for describing trends, such as 'expenditure', 'proportion', 'fluctuated', or 'witnessed a significant rise'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Examples include 'cost of living of families that varied' (unclear phrasing), 'household show no variation' (subject-verb agreement error), and 'remains same to' (preposition error). Additionally, punctuation is inconsistent, particularly with spacing around commas. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they occur frequently enough to lower the score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and correct preposition usage will help improve accuracy.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.